Plate Carriers - Never used one, opinions?
 

Hey guys,

For as long as I have been playing I have been using chest rigs for the longest while, and i'm looking to make the transition to a plate carrier. Due to the options on the market and the ability to integrate with my D3CR until I can get my hands on the type of pouches I would like to acquire, I have narrowed it down to 3.

1. Mayflower APC

• Lots of molle space
• Elastic ends to cummberbun
• Integrated kangaroo pouch

http://i.imgur.com/OUA42FT.jpg

2. Ferro Concepts FCPC

• Very modular,
• Tons of accessories
• Canadian made

http://i.imgur.com/HqlCNlA.jpg

3. Perroz Designs LPSPC

• Low profile
• Minimalist
• Option for custom work
• Canadian made

http://i.imgur.com/lIUrr6P.jpg

All three are great options that have strengths in areas i'm looking for, just cant choose one...help..

Of those three, I'd take the first option. Lots of MOLLE, kangaroo pouches are great, looks good, looks comfy. The second one has those mag pouches integrated in the side, but it looks really uncomfortable both to wear and to reach for. The third one simply has no MOLLE and is therefore not of much use since we aren't trying to actually stop any bullets.

first spear STT

http://i.imgur.com/B6JSJEl.jpg

Like this?

The FCPC has interchangable cummberbuns, and the LPSPC is a slick carrier.

Mayflower APC has my vote. I've been running with it for about a year and a half now (if not more) and have been doing PT with training plates in, with no discomfort.

How's the Cummberbund?

I like the mayflower and banshee, smaller, less bulk, they also sit lower end of the pricing spectrum for the quality you get. It's a good tradeoff.

If you want to support the little guy, perroz and ferro do make nice stuff. Just keep in mind the more modularity you think you're getting, the more weight you might be adding, for example the exchangeable front panels, there's a few extra layers of material to facilitate the swap-ability of differently configured front panels.

I like the idea of less velcro if I were going with a PC. Loop side does tend to wear out over time, there's a limited number of times you can stick and tear. Elastic will eventually oxidize before the cordura will. Think old socks or underwear when the elastic gets crackly.

I personally like running chest rigs because they're lighter and less bulky and also less hot, it's much easier to manage body temperature. It's airsoft, there's no need to run plates, so it sort of negate the need for plate carriers.

That being said, it's however you want to look.

I have enjoyed running chest rigs for awhile for similar reasons. However now I kinda need more real estate.

I'm unsure when it comes to the fcpc. I have heard good things about it in its newer generations

I started out in airsoft with a chest rig, went to a PC for more space and somewhere to hang a hydration carrier (first spear STT I can vouch it's awesome), and now I'm going back to chest rig.

If you go with a PC that is 6 channels wide up front (like the STT or the Mayflower APC) you might actually be losing real estate. You can only fit 3 mags across a PC like that (6 if you're double stacking) and then it comes down to putting stuff on your cummerbund. I never put anything on my cummerbund on my pistol side to preserve a clean draw without crap in the way. That doesn't leave much space unless you like stuff mounted under your weak side arm (which I don't).

As lurking said above, PC means weight and heat. Unless you're running training plates of course, then a PC makes sense.

2016 has been the gear downsize year for me... no more PC and bulky battle belt. I get more real estate and more comfort with a chest rig and hsgi drop leg panel.

If you need a PC though, STT is great.

Of those, the Mayflower is the lowest quality, but probably the best suited to a new player, or the average player for that matter. There's a lot of molle on there, and the construction of the carrier and cummerbund are good-enough. The kangaroo pouch is pretty lacklustre in my opinion however, as anything other than STANAG mags have the capacity to get caught while trying to draw.

FC and PD are excellent companies, but designed for someone with more specific tastes, especially with Perroz. The FCPC can be built into something along the Mayflower, albeit of a higher quality, but certainly a higher price point to boot.

The Perroz LPSPC will be my next plate carrier, but likely not for Airsoft. With probably the simplest, and best cummerbund of the three, and the ability to run my Haley Strategic D3cr chest rig attached to the front when I need more than a belt.

I'm becoming more inclined to get the Mayflower, it's price point allows for me to have a bit of breathing room with more things to put on it straight out of the gate

Either of the first two are adequate. If you get the right PC they are far superior to chest rigs, especially for comfort, weight distribution and modularity. I'd recommend also the Crye JPC and First Spear as well. Personally I run the High Ground Gear PC, it's epic.

When it comes to my mags. I don't run more than 8 mid caps. 2 of them are always on my first line for drawing and tac reloads and I refill those from my second line.

Being more inclined to go with the Mayflower do to the kangaroo, price

Bear in mind, Milan is very open to custom work, so if you get either Perroz rig, you could have somethings done that you won't get with the mass-production Mayflower

I'd vote Ferro.

True that, Milan is a great fella to deal with

I've run the Banshee, 6094a, Mayflower, ATS, and the Ferro.

I prefer the Ferro above the others due simply to its weight, modularity and heat management.

I will keep that in mind, i bought a couple of patches from him last year. i was very satisfied. Thanks DuffMan

Which Gen FCPC do you run Steve?

I only have experience with the latest, so 4.2?

I removed the original one, ran with the Perroz Elastic Cummerbund for a while and thoroughly enjoyed that. It was extremely comfy.

I'm now running the Ares Armor DERMA Cummerbund instead due to it's quick donning and doffing.

If you wanna check out the rig in person, you can come to Siege Airsoft and I'm there like 98% of the time.

Milan is busy with contracts at the moment and is not doing any custom work aside from patches as far as I know.

Ferro Concepts Assault Solution is a great base to start from. Gives you all the base pieces you would need to start playing and at $400CAD it's reasonably priced for what you get, and for the quality.

I run a Mayflower APC with the Ferro Concepts Carry Elastic Cummerbund, Mayflower Kangaroo insert, and BFG Triple Ten Speed shingle. Have run it this way for nearly two years now and it is easily the most low profile and comfortable setup you could ask for, in my opinion.

The only thing I would like to do is take a note from Patrol Incident Gears PIG PC pontoons. This would further increase the comfort as well as create more air channels for venting of sweat (plate carrier sized sweat spots on shirts is a common occurrence with plate carrier use).

I will take you up on that offer

Damn, well i can always wait until he has time, Thanks Zach.

You should try sending him an email. He didn't mention being booked up when I talked with him recently. Perhaps he's cleared his plate since Zack talked with him last

Just borrowing the thread for one second.
Is Warrior Assault System DCS any good? For $220, It does look like a good option to me.

I run a Warrior Assault 901 Elite Ops M4 Bravo and it is very good as a chest rig or when I put the Assaulter's Back panel on and run it as a PC with dummy plates. Tons of real estate if you want it or you can really minimize it and run it clean.

I've just looked up that one. That certainly is a good combo assuming the rig can get you through the hot days and run the panel when you need the extra estate. But price is a bit hard to swallow for me at the moment. Do you notice a significant temperature/ventilation difference between with and without the panel?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No question that having the back panel on leads to far more heat retention.