CATAMARAN FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about the Universal MOLLE Plate Carrier Ventilation Adapter Panel for ICEVENTS®
CATAMARAN allows end-users to mount our best-in-class ICEVENTS® Classic Plate Carrier Ventilation Pontoons to any MOLLE-equipped plate carrier on the market today. Gone are the days of needing to have a uniform tailor sew Velcro loop strips onto your plate carrier to run ICEVENTS® Classic Ventilation Pontoons. Now, you can just add a CATAMARAN in a matter of minutes.
Below we'll be answering the most frequently asked questions about CATAMARAN:
1. In what colorways is CATAMARAN available?
CATAMARAN is only available in black because it is not visible when worn under a size Medium or larger plate carrier.
2 . Can I use CATAMARAN for front or rear plate bags or are they different?
Whether you purchase a CATAMARAN for the 'Front' or 'Rear' plate bag, they are identical. Both versions are interchangeable and offer the same mounting options. We've provided the selection on the product page purely to address and dispel any concerns regarding compatibility for your specific use case.
Above: TLDR, CATAMARAN 'Front' and 'Back' variants are identical.
3 . With which plate carriers is CATAMARAN compatible?
For users with plate carriers that lack the internal Velcro loop fields found in models like ICEPLATE EXO®, the ARC V2 from SHAW Concepts, and the rear harness of the Crye Precision AVS, CATAMARAN is the solution for which you've been waiting. CATAMARAN revolutionizes plate carrier comfort by introducing a Velcro® loop field to the inside of any plate bag to effortlessly mount ICEVENTS® Classic Plate Carrier Ventilation Pontoons. This ensures superior convective cooling and breathability, enhancing wearer comfort and endurance in extreme conditions.
Designed for universal mounting, CATAMARAN uses a variety of attachment methods, including MOLLE, Elastic Straps, Velcro One-Wrap, and Elastic Shock Cord. It is compatible with popular slick carriers such as the AC1 from T.REX Arms and the LV-119 from Spiritus Systems. In fact, CATAMARAN boasts broad compatibility, fitting seamlessly with most plate carriers on the market.
To further assist our end-users, we've listed a small sampling of specific plate carriers confirmed for CATAMARAN compatibility. These are just examples of more popular carriers for reference. CATAMARAN will fit any plate carrier with external MOLLE fields:
| Plate Carrier | Confirmed Compatible with CATAMARAN | Optimal Mounting Method |
| T.REX Arms AC1 | Velcro One-Wrap, Elastic Straps, Elastic Shock Cord | |
| Spiritus Systems LV-119 COVERT | Velcro One-Wrap, Elastic Straps, Elastic Shock Cord | |
| Spiritus Systems LV-119 OVERT | MOLLE, Elastic Side Straps, Velcro One-Wrap | |
| LBT 6094 | MOLLE, Elastic Side Straps, Velcro One-Wrap | |
| Crye Precision AVS (Front Plate Bag Only) | MOLLE, Elastic Side Straps, Velcro One-Wrap | |
| Crye Precision SPC | MOLLE, Elastic Side Straps, Velcro One-Wrap | |
| Crye Precision JPC 2.0 | MOLLE, Elastic Side Straps, Velcro One-Wrap | |
| Defense Mechanisms MEPC |
|
MOLLE, Elastic Side Straps, Velcro One-Wrap |
| FERRO CONCEPTS FCPC V5 | MOLLE, Elastic Side Straps, Velcro One-Wrap | |
| AWS SMU Operator Hybrid | MOLLE, Elastic Side Straps, Velcro One-Wrap | |
| Agilite K-Zero | MOLLE, Elastic Side Straps, Velcro One-Wrap |
IMPORTANT NOTE: The above plate carriers are far from the only setups compatible with CATAMARAN, this list is not exhaustive.
4 . Should I run my ICEVENTS® Classic Plate Carrier Ventilation Pontoons in Parallel or Venturi configuration?
It’s a matter of personal preference. Venturi is more suited to Shooter/Swimmer Cut and Single Curve plates, while Parallel is better suited to SAPI Cut plates.
5 . Does CATAMARAN work with Swimmer/Shooter Cut armor plates?
Yes, and it can be trimmed without losing structural integrity to best suit these plate shapes. We even included additional stitching on CATAMARAN yo maintain structural integrity even after trimming.
6 . Will CATAMARAN work with soft body armor?
Yes. Although CATAMARAN was primarily designed for hard plates, its mounting hardware is also suitable for certain soft armor carrier configurations with MOLLE or Velcro loop fields placed similarly to a plate carrier. CATAMARAN can also be mounted to soft body armor carriers without any alterations, via the included elastic shock cord, as shown below:
Above: CATAMARAN Front and Rear mounted to an Armor Express Revolution soft body armor vest. ICEVENTS® Classic Plate Carrier Ventilation Pontoons mounted for body armor ventilation.
7. Will CATAMARAN work with Slick plate carriers?
Yes. Designed for maximum versatility, CATAMARAN can be mounted with MOLLE, Velcro One-Wrap, Elastic Shock Cord and more. Elastic Shock Cord being how we mounted CATAMARAN to the AC1 plate carrier from T.REX Arms.
8. Does Qore Performance have any plans to make ICEVENTS® that will match the shape of a plate bag for the inside of plate carriers? In other words, instead of having two ICEVENTS® with space in the middle, will you eventually make one that will take up the entire space a plate bag that will offer more coverage?
We do not have any plans to make a full plate bag size ICEVENTS® pad. There are two reasons for this decision:
CATAMARAN is available now! Have any more questions about CATAMARAN? Ask them below and they could be added to the FAQ.
[ RESOURCES ]
IceAge Insights
- Plate Carrier Ventilation with CATAMARAN
- How Do I Wear ICEVENTS®?
- What is the difference between ICEVENTS® Classic and ICEVENTS® Aero?
- Padded Plate Backer: How to make your hard armor plates more comfortable when wearing your plate carrier
- Body Armor and Plate Carrier Ventilation Comparison: ICEVENTS®, MaxxDri, TacVent, Body ArmorVent, SKD PIG Pontoons
- How do I add ICEVENTS® Plate Carrier Ventilation Pontoons or ICEPLATE® Curve to the inside of my body armor?
The subject matter expert who reviewed and approved this article is: Justin Li
Since leaving law enforcement, Justin has invented and designed multiple innovations for military and law enforcement use which carry both U.S. and international patents.
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