20 Best Low Vis Plate Carrier (2023 Updated)

I should get sponsored by Condor for this review. Honestly, this carrier could easily be priced much higher. You don’t get a better product for the money than with Condor. I get it, there are brands out there that are considered “high end” but for the price you pay for them you don’t gain much in quality over Condor if any at all.

This carrier is made very well and is quality. This particular model is exactly what I wanted and needed for a rapid deployment carrier for an active shooter type scenario. It holds my rifle plates perfectly (10” x 12”) as well as my rifle and pistol mag pouches attached to the molle.

Don’t waste your money on those other “high end” brands when this does exactly what they do just as well. Take the money you save getting Condor and buy the accessories for the carrier and set it up for your liking.

I’m sticking with Condor.

I bought in April, it’s now July. The thing has held up pretty well so far. I initially bought it for ruck style hikes, but have continuously used it with 25lb echo plates, for about 2 times per week during training outside of ruck hikes.

So far it has held up incredibly well, and contrary to some reports, I’ve even managed to figure out the strap adjustments to the point that i can jump rope in it without it bouncing around or slapping my chin.

Sure it’s no 5. 11 tactec, but I like it enough to give it a 5 star. If you’ve got the money for a 5. 11 go for it, but if you want to save a bit and still get a good solid training vest go with the Condor.

This Plate Carrier by NcStar fits standard size SAPI plates and has a lot of molle real-estate. These are the two reasons I purchased it. I use this for air soft so the load is slightly more light weight than what one would run in a PC in a combat situation or training simulation however for the purpose of combat sports, it’s great.

The double sticking on all the pals straps and reinforced seams stand out in comparison to similarly priced PCs. After the first couple of times wearing it, I did notice some fraying strings but they did not appear to be continues and affected the durability none.

Just normal wear and tear I suppose. I got paintball paint all over it and was able to clean it up with just a damp cloth. I”ve been able to attach a hydration pack and a multitude of other molle compatible pieces to the PC with no problem.

The shoulder straps also have pals webbing on them which aids in organizing hydration tubes and radio/communication wires. All in all a nice piece of kits for the avid air softer or anyone looking to train.

I was looking for a decent budget plate carrier that would fit and hold some stuff thats what this is. Holds two steel plates, has webbing, kangaroo pouch and Velcro the shoulder straps seem pretty good so far.

I havent tried to get the cummerbund, which has pockets, out but it looks like you could, if thats what yer into.

I have an extremely expensive entry vest for work. I wanted a plate carrier for every day carry. I bought this, and with some sweat equity and modifications its as good as my work vest. I added soft armor to the front, back, sides, and shoulder straps.

I added ceramic plates to the front and back, maybe the sides soon. Long story short. it was a good buy. I would do it again.

the buckles to close the carrier are at the rear and are awkward, at best, to use, I would recommend something with a velcro cummerbund or buckles at the front. I use this daily with weight plates, so perhaps it’s not as inconvenient if only using occasionally.

I would still recommend another plate carrier. 2-stars only because it is typical blackhawk quality, otherwise would have given 1.

The vender was great by the way. The vest on the other hand is poorly made. The material is not stiff at all so when loading a plate into it, it wants to sag and really is not controllable. I truly do not think much thought was put into the design of this product.

If you have to wear armor daily for over 8hrs at a time this is not the carrier you want. Spend some time looking around first then expect to pay a good amount for a quality vest. This would be a good backup vest in a pinch but not much better than that.

Low on features, but high on value. If you have multiple chest rigs, this is a great option. It’s super low profile, so under a jacket, it’s not very noticeable. I have not worn if for extended periods of time yet, but the shoulder pads seem solid.

My 10×12 swimmer cut ceramic plates fit with room to spare. If you don’t want to pony up for American made, this is a good choice.

I now have a few of these Condor vests. They are very durable and WELL MADE. This is my first Multicam colored Condor vest and it seems every bit as good as my other ones, mostly in Coyote Brown. I’ve purchased Condor specific (MOPC) soft armor for all of my vests, and they’ve all got front and back stand alone Level IV armor in them as well.

I have excellent all around coverage for this style/type of vest, and it’s surprisingly comfortable even with all of the armor, pouches etc. that I’ve placed on it. Oh! Forgot to say that I’ve also placed SAPI plates on the sides as well as the soft armor, used the USMC side-plate carriers, they’re tough as nails and attach fairly easily.

Highly Recommend! BigFootsCousin!.

This plate carrier is the worst plate carrier I have ever purchased. This thing is more like a plate carrier from the early 2000s and is so huge. The buckles on the shoulder straps are way too huge and can not let me shoulder my airsoft nerf as it just slides off my shoulder.

The design is meant for older armor designs and due to the huge armor pocket, I can not even put my plate armor in the carrier which would also be in the wrong position for the armor to sit as it is too low.

Another problem is the cummerbund due to the horrid design of the adjustment straps and the fact that this is a Chinese made piece of garbage, the cummerbund twists up in the carrier making it uncomfortable to wear.

Also, the side flaps do not help with comfort. This also said it will hold side armor, it will not hold it properly and this is also a lie. Finally, the material is so cheap, that the carrier was falling apart after 3 times of wearing.

Do not buy this save your money and buy something made in the USA.

I have 1 of each color. The med-2xl fits my xl body perfectly. Has room for side panels and accepts either soft or hard plate armor. The reason I bought this style over others is that I can mount my taser to the top tier of molle and still have room next to it for my body camera.

The camera does not impede the taser and slides out easily. There are generous molle attachments on the front, side and back making accessories easy to swap around. Overall this setup gets 5 stars. Excellent product and the price is definitely right.

Very well constructed. Not thin and flimsy as others are. Easily adjustable. Very very easy to adjust. I cannot emphasize the ease of adjustment for this carrier. Plenty of area for attachments. Highly recommended! Front and Rear Armor plates stay secured and in place where they belong.

I put my side plates in AFTER I put my carrier on then adjust them accordingly to my preference. THIS CARRIER IS NOT MANUFACTURER CONSTRUCTED WITH SIDE ARMOR PLATE POCKET SLEEVES. I USED MY SEWING MACHINE TO SEW MY OWN CUSTOMIZED MADE POCKETS FOR MY SIDE ARMOR PLATES.

I use my 20 year old POINT BLANK Kevlar (out of business) front and back, as a shock absorbing impact pad underneath my Armor Carrier. So I cannot state how it feels to wear this Armor for an extended period of time without some cushion underneath it.

Worth the money. You wont be disappointed.

Ordered it and received it after 10 days even though I live in California. I knew that given, I’ve ordered enough product from LAPG. Overall the carrier is nice and minimal. I’m building it to wear for training, however the cumberbunds I got we’re both for the same side.

Therefore the cumberbunds on the left side have the pockets orientated upside down and therefore are worthless. Emailed LAPD twice and after 8 days they said I have to return the whole thing. To much of a hassle so I ordered some spiritus cumberbunds.

Shoulder straps and padding are nice and comfortable. Not much to look at but that’s what I wanted. Something with molle and I can build it to what I like and this carrier fits that’s. Ordered some spiritus placards so I’m pretty excited to see what it’ll look like.

When I first ready about this, I went back and forth for a couple of weeks before ordering. My first impressions were good but I was temporarily doubtful if it was an upgrade from the budget PC I was currently using.

Pros: Light, integral pouches for 4 mags, plate pockets allow dangler/drop pouches to be used, thin shoulder strap makes for easier shouldering of the rifle (compared to my Condor), placard-friendly, cummerbund has some elastic so there’s some ‘give’ when moving around, cummerbund & shoulder straps are easily adjusted, mags to the side provide better balance than mags to the front.

Cons: Only 1 of the 4 mag pouches is easily accessible w/the support hand for me (YMMV), shoulder strap pads are a bit thin (only time will tell if they’re sufficient), mesh but no padding on the inside of the carrier (again, only time will tell if this is a problem), Velcro is loud (duh), loose shoulder strap ends need to be secured (easily fixed w/a bit of industrial Velcro), integral admin pouch is nearly worthless for anything other than a kerchief, paperwork or something similar.

What would I like to see different? Change the cummerbund so the mag pouches are a little more forward for easier access. Other than that, it’s pretty much GTG! I initially tried a multicurve plate in front & a single curve plate in the rear and the fit/comfort was satisfactory.

Tried multicurve both front and rear and experienced a significant improvement in both fit and comfort. Bottom line: Surprisingly good for the price point, an excellent budget PC I would recommend to anyone counting their nickels.

I really like this plate carrier. It fits very well on my body and the elastic cummerbund ensures a tight yet flexible fit. It’s truly low profile and doesn’t bulge out anywhere. I was able to comfortably fit this under most of my everyday jackets.

Construction seems on par with the price point. Two things to consider – when I added my chest rig loadout and plates, the padded shoulder straps didn’t do much. I will be adding the set from Shellback.

Also, the admin zipper pocket is great but once I put the plates in, it was not accessible. I didn’t plan on carrying anything in there anyway but with plates in, you likely can’t. Overall, a great lightweight low vis plate carrier at a good price point.

IšverstiShow in original languageI bought this vest carrier specifically to wear concealed on duty as a law enforcement officer. I must point out that I have already wear this vest on duty every day for two weeks before writing this review so that I could give it a good try before reviewing it.

Also be aware that I have experience using similar concealed plate carriers from other brands as well so my review is based on all of this. Ok so first off, I was greatly surprised at how conferable this vest actually is.

Even though it is very slim to remain concealed, there is a very thin layer of padding that makes a big difference when wearing this for long times. I have not seen another concealed plate carrier vest with this padding before.

2nd thing to mention is there are hidden straps inside the plate compartments to adjust for different sized plates. 3rd thing and possible the most important is I was very surprised at the over all durable quality of this carrier.

I has put up with my heavy steal plates without any issues what so every. Based on the quality of this I currently believe this carry will last for years on daily use. Also I should point out this vest and easily conceal under a button-up shirt.

when worn with a t-shirt however, you will need swimmer cut plates, otherwise the bottom corners of the plate might be noticeable though a t-shirt. maybe.

IšverstiShow in original languageI received my order on time. The quality of the product I received was great, I wasn’t expecting anything great for the price I paid but this product didn’t disappoint.

I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for a great fiting plate carrier. I’m 6ft 200 pounds and ordered the med size ind it fits perfectly and comfortable conceals nicely under clothing.

I will be ordering another one in a different color in the future. Great product!!.

IšverstiShow in original languageFits 1114 ar500 plates well( max fit) sadly does not have side 46 plate pockets. with these plates it does have some weight but worn for awhile, the body will adapt. Plates with curved edges feel the best and probably give the vest a longer life without edges poking at the sides.

Looks well made and will see how long it lasts. Overall I am quite happy. Side plate pouches to attach to the side of the vest or a sleeve to insert them in within the vest would be nice. I added 3 comparisons when worn.

I did notice that the back flap is visible under the shirt while taking the photos. To solve that, it might be a good idea to have the rear velcro flap attach inside the pocket on the outter inside part so it blends better but still holds tight.

I will feel much more comfortable while I carry with my ccw and permit in the event my assailant shoots first.

The Prime is 5. 11’s newest plate carrier as of this review. It’s the most slim and low profile plate carrier the company has ever put out and also the most minimalist. It offers a different type of modularity that their other carriers lack as it is entirely velcro-based.

In my opinion, it’s the best PC they’ve ever made. I believe they’ve gathered feedback and inspiration from some of the best and popular companies in the industry to make this and it shows. The slim nature of the carrier means it prints less under a jacket, and follows the ever popular “high speed low drag” mentality prevalent in the tactical community nowadays.

If I could compare it to another brand’s carrier, it’d be the Ferro Concepts Slickster, since they’re both velcro based and low profile. The side buckles are extremely convenient since there’s no flap and velcro to undo when putting on or taking off the carrier.

The degree of customization possible with the carrier is heightened when you see the amount of third party accessories you can mount onto the velcro. There are a few drawbacks to the carrier, but for the price and value, I believe it’s a very promising piece of equipment.

Pros:+Slim, low profile, minimalist+Shoulder straps are as slim as possible, allowing for after market shoulder pad customization+Cumberbund has QD buckles, for quick donning+Velcro based modularity, for quick accessory swapsCons:-Materials; though they are durable, could be better quality-Shoulder retention; the attachment points on the shoulder straps could be a possible point of failure-Real estate; the entirety of the surface of the plate carrier isn’t fully utilized, specifically the patch area-Drag handle; because the front and back of the PC are nearly identical, there isn’t any real way to add a drag handle, unless one mounts it to the shoulder straps-Cumberbund; the buckles are regular plastic buckles as opposed to something more heavy duty, the width of the cumberbund is quite narrow, disallowing customization unless the entire cumberbund is swapped out for a third party optionOverall, I’m very pleased with the plate carrier, and am perplexed as to why 5.

11 hasn’t marketed it more. As of this review, I haven’t seen any other reviews or videos of the carrier at all. I do think that 5. 11 should heavily market it more, as it could be a promising alternative to some of the other low profile plate carriers it competes against on the market.

The 5. 11 Prime Plate Carrier is a decent entry level option that functions as a low profile plate carrier. The threading is good, the nylon is reasonably thick and sturdy, and I would definitely trust my life to it.

That being said, there were some downsides to this plate carrier. First, the velcro strap adjustment system is clunky and could probably be improved upon using buckles. The optional addition of low profile shoulder padding would greatly improve the comfort of the carrier.

Also, the cummerbund is just way too slim. A thicker cummerbund helps hug the carrier to the body more effectively, preventing bounce when running. A solution to this is third party cummerbund options, like Ferro Concepts, but 5.

11 should consider providing their own offerings or improving on the design.

IšverstiShow in original languagethis is my third plate carrier purchase I have learned that there are always going to be compromises I had high hopes for this carrier and it mostly meets expectations.

the feel of the fabric and stitching are good I went over the entire vest with a bic lighter to eliminate all the thread ends the admin pouch was my number one priority and its great. it easily holds iphone 10 with otterbox defender cover and still room for keys, lighter and small wallet, power bar 6 cummerbund pockets add huge value figure $10 to $30 per pouch I have my HAM radio, knife and 5 mags.

easy and smooth cummerbund is also very easily removed I have 3 issues however: buckles on front make for awkward adjustment and also buttstock clearance/mobility, front kangaroo pouch has way too much velcro to even open it lastly, at 5’9”, 180lbs and 43” chest I cannot use the shoulder pads because I am near the limit of the shoulder strap adjustability overall however this is a winner I’ll keep it.

IšverstiShow in original languageI am green to the armor and carrier world, but I have tried a few other carriers before this one. I’m running AR500 plates so it’s heavier than ceramic, but it has good comfort and fits well.

The carrier has good channels in the padding for air flow, the rubber webbing on the shoulders make it easy to access the buckles, mag pouches in the side portions are nice, but I think would interfere if you wanted side plates.

Over all I think it’s well constructed and not complicated to use.

Ive become fond of Condor products in the past few years. They are a quality product you can depend on and are suited beyond typical civilian use. Tough stuff. They havent failed me yet. Condor has great prices and budget friendly options of all sorts of gear.

Glad I found this rig. I went with black. It is extremely light, but very tough and comfortable. This is a purposeful, easy on and off chest rig. Lots of options to add accessories and plenty of room including full front and back webbing.

The molle strips are built well as they should be, along with the Velcro or hook & loop. Everything is sturdy and appears to be double/triple stitched. The grab handle feels plenty sturdy. It fits two soft panel plate carriers 10X12 very nice.

The weight is fantastic. This is level IIIA armor. It will fit other styles of plates as stated in the description. I chose a shooters cut in the front and squared cut for the back. I may change to shooters cut, front and back if necessary.

The square fits perfect on the back IMO. Highly recommended, but I wish it was able to have a tighter fit. Its a bit too loose with only a T-shirt on. Im sure if youre bigger than 150lbs and taller than 6 it will fit just fine.

Also, with more clothing, it appears to fit better. This is the only reason Igave it 4 stars. Otherwise, excellent product!.

The Good – Built well, solid stitching, handles real NIJ rated Plates (NOT AN AIRSOFT PRODUCT – ITS THE REAL DEAL) – Standard molle/pals compatible – Holds 10x12x1 and possibly 10x13x1 plates, including rectangular (the reason I got this).

– Has built in cushioning behind plate. – Is super lightweight, almost non-existent when unloaded. – A lot of molle for its size (more that the swimmers/shooters cut ones) The OK – Condor Tan isn’t Coyote Brown, so it is harder to match with non-condor accessories / patterns.

It still fits ok with desert tans like multi or despat. Doesn’t fit as well as Coyote Brown with woodland patterns. Also Condor makes tons of accessories so you can get everything you need from them and fully match your rig so this isn’t a huge problem.

– Stitching on center molle is perfect, but at edges, the last loop/webbing is larger than others. Still works, just not as tight. -The side fastener’s are nothing more than a strip of webbing. Not good or bad, just not as solid of feel as a cumberbund.

The Bad -Shoulder padding is super thin. It is not as comfortable as the Condor MOPC padding. Luckily additional wrap padding can be purchased/added to easily fix this if you want. – The molle loops at the bottom of the carrier are part of the fold up pocket.

If you permanently install you’re plates it is not a problem as everything lines up well, but if you want access to your plates, you cannot use the last molle row. Overall this is a solid, light carrier.

It has no frills and is not meant for long duty. This is duty grade construction, but I wouldn’t recommend this for long/everyday use. When using rifle threat plates, I think this makes an excellent rig for fast deployment over existing soft armor for active shooter situations.

It also makes a great carrier for training as it is inexpensive, yet durable, and can handles the stress of real weight plates. If you want a solid, quick, light, special use carrier this is great! If you want a wear every day carrier I suggest you look for something else.

Padding is Great for a minimalistic style carrier. Molle and stitching A+. For med and large plates (no strap or adapter for small plates). Awesome price and suitable to have set up in the casa or in the trunk for unusual events.

Did a lot of research for a weighted vest that would be secure, adjustable, and any bonus versatility. The Molle system is excellent to attach water and pouches for supplies, snacks, and anything else you need directly to your body.

This vest does it all and the adjustability is so simple and fantastic. I probably peak weighed 400 lbs and was nervous about fit. I am 6’3” have a large chest and stomach and was mostly doing powerlifting, I purchased the extenders from the 5.

11 webpage and the vest fits perfectly. I have lost somewhere north of 65 pounds using this vest (and diet regimen) with rogue cast iron plates and no longer require the extenders. If you’re on the edge about price, I think the 5.

11 tac vest is a no brainer especially if you’re hiking, the adjustability alone is worth it in my opinion. The vest takes some getting used to when using weighted plates since you’re not typically carrying weight on your trapezius muscles.

So far the fest has stood the test of time and I look forward to testing its true longevity.

I am 5 7 135 and this actually fits great. A little over hang below the plates as I am using 10×12 and the carrier can fit up to 11×13 but no sliding around or looseness. The shoulder strap system is by far the most comfortable I’ve tried so far and the cummerbund is awesome.

The only problem I can find with this is when using ak magazines on the front flap it doesn’t fold complete out of the way as the mags stick up farther than 556. It still isn’t too hard to get the cummerbund hooked up quickly just a little extra effort to hold the flap out of the way.

The padding is awesome and lightweight, the molle is very high quality and no bad stitching. 9/10 would definitely recommend especially bigger guys and honestly anyone comfort wise but there’s is a little extra room using 10×12 or someone wanting to use it to workout with.

I’ve had my vest for a little over a month now and we’ve already been through a lot. I just completed my first Murph with my vest, and I did even better than I’d planned. The vest is surprising comfortable once get it adjusted to your body and take it for a spin.

I was worried about the shoulder pads rubbing and my belly button ring getting snagged, but I didn’t have an issues at all. When I go on runs, the front pouch is big enough to store my keys, phone and ID so I don’t also have to bring my fanny pack.

The vest is also safe to travel with. I didn’t experience any issues taking it with me during vacation. Overall, so far so good. I will be purchasing more plates in the future to increase my strength and the challenge.

Great plate carrier, reminds me of the types my buddy used in the USMC when I saw his and got to try it on, heavier than LE vests and feels more durable. Pros: -Adjustable sides can be made slighly wider/more narrow -Sides fit several 30 round mags or tools/kits or radios of similar size, on each side – handy storage with MOLLE webbing to boot.

-Easy donning/doffing, the front peels up (or can be removed with the buckles and peeled away from the velcro field), and straps easily adjusted for any chest size/clothes thickness when donning – easy adjust, easy on/off makes this great.

-Fits thin or fairly thick level III+ plates – mine are beefy and it took them with no issue, and the thinner ones don’t bang around. Cons: -Getting to the magazines stored on the side is tricky, and may be difficult if not standing (e.

g. from a crouch). -The side storage does not appear to accept armor -Lots of velcro; adjustments are not very quiet, but the vest is not otherwise bad with noise discipline concerns. -Not a lot of attachment points to the front, though the sides and a battle belt easily make up for this.

-Adjustment is tricky if you want access to the side mag pockets, too much pull on the sides when no mags are present will obscure them in the back portion of the vest. Overall, I very much like this vest – it is not overly cumbersome, though it can feel bulky compared to lighter vests, I do not find it difficult to move normally while wearing this.

Thank you, Galls for having this and doing what you do!.

Pros first. Well made. Good materials. Comfortable and some nice features. Shoulder pads are nice, the integrated cummerbund good touch. Venting and reinforcing well done. Cons: Size. It is small. I can wear it at the max adjustment but it looks like a child’s plaything on me.

Is this a problem for everyone, no. I did speak with 2 other confirmed purchasers and they will not be using it, but passing it along. Size is an issue for them and me when using the integrated mag pouches.

They are shoved into my armpits. The mag pouches and adjustments are not intuitive on how to adjust and open. Overall if you wear 40 or larger jacket you might want to look at another carrier. If smaller, this is a nice light and well made set up.

It will take some time to set it up but works well. Hopefully a larger one is available soon.

IšverstiShow in original languageI work 40 hours a week doing armed security, and wanted to carry 10″×12″ III+ steel plates. This carrier is perfect for it. Durable and easy to adjust. I even went boujee and bought a kangaroo pouch zipper conversion, and first spear quick release adapters for it, now it’s easy to put on and take off.

My only complaint is how the quick release/ adjustment straps stack on top of each other. It’s forces the lower of the plates into the back when seated against a back rest; such as sitting in a car. But this thing works great, and is affordable on an hourly wage.

IšverstiShow in original languageDuring the crazy times when the options are very limited, you go for what’s available. Condor gets bashed a lot. If you use your equipment hard then go with what’s tried and true.

I see no visible quality issues with this PC. Fits ceramic plates well. The shoulder straps are a little stiff. It does interfere with shouldering a weapon, but it is expected. Go with a different cut.

Great value for what it is.

IšverstiShow in original languageVery comfortable and a great value compared to other brands costing 3-5 times more. Basically a Shellback Banshee for $100 to $150 less; they share the same basic layout and features.

If your plate carrier isn’t going to see regular, very hard use, you’re not likely to see any benefit to paying the premium for some of the more expensive PCs. If I were to improve anything, it would be to eliminate the virtually useless “quick release” feature.

If emergency personnel need to remove your PC for medical treatment, they are going to cut it off. Unlikely they would even know the quick release is there, much less how it functions. It’s not practical to use for removing the plate carrier on a regular basis, either.

It serves no useful purpose and makes the back of the carrier slightly uneven and bumpy. It’s not hugely uncomfortable when riding in a vehicle or sitting, but you can still feel it. Essentially, it adds bulk and unnecessary complications to the adjustment system for no added benefit.

Get rid of it, Condor. Overall, I still rate this product as excellent and very usable.

Crye quality is already well known and documented, so no more need be said. What DOES deserve noting is the TD service. I had my order from TD BEFORE I received other kit purchased on the same day from a very reputable company located only a couple hours away.

I didn’t spring for “Sweet baby Jesus on Fire”- fast shipping either; TD just got off the X that much quicker. Seven years I’ve been a loyal customer, and I see no end in sight. Top marks all around!.

This vest fits well. I ordered a large. Nice and snug. Looks awesome in black multicam plus it’s made by Crye! Tactical Distributers sent this out with a quickness! I’m all the way on the Pacific North West and the shipping was fast regardless.

TDI rocks! Shipped lightning fast! Even had a couple toy soldiers in the box for a nice added touch, I must say. The Crye JPC 2. 0 is a Gucci plate carrier and worth every penny. We all already knew that though.