The Best Plate Carriers of 2023

The Best Plate Carriers of 2023

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In our continuing effort to raise awareness for the value of an empirical approach to equipment analysis as well as sharing the importance of thermoregulation in boosting human performance, we started our Technical Plate Carrier Review series earlier this year. We've compiled the entire series here, in addition to the ICEPLATE EXO® Ultralight Ventilated Plate Carrier data we promised in the video itself for easy reference. We figured that would be easier than being frustrated by the YouTube algorithm. 

 

Click here for The Best Plate Carriers of 2024

 

We intentionally omitted our ICEPLATE EXO® Ultralight Ventilated Plate Carrier because our goal is education. It isn’t to just shill our own plate carrier. ICEPLATE EXO® makes up less than one percent of our unusually diverse business. For those of you who are new to Qore Performance, we live for Building A Superhuman Future. It is why we exist. This means we help customers be the greatest version of themselves, to create competitive advantages where none previously existed. To accomplish this, we design, build, and manufacture thermoregulation and hydration solutions that weaponize temperature to improve performance and survivability for a wide range of end users. Our customers include military, law enforcement, prepared citizens, pilots, outdoor enthusiasts, and dozens of America’s greatest companies which we all know and love. You might have even seen some of our products while in line at your favorite drive thru. Anyone in the mood for some awesome coffee or fried chicken?

IceAge Ecosystem Integration

IceVents Aero IceVents Classic IceVents Classic Ventilation Pontoons IMS Combo IMS Pro Combo IceShield Hand Warmer CATAMARAN
Qore Performance IcePlate EXO®
N/A
Crye Precision AVS  
Ferro Concepts FCPC V5
 
Crye Precision SPC
 
 
Crye Precision JPC 2.0
 
 
Spiritus Systems LV-119
 
 
Velocity Systems SCARAB LT
 
 
Agilite K19      
 

Plate Carrier Dry Weights

Weight Dry (ounces)
Qore Performance IcePlate EXO® 16
Crye Precision SPC 21.15
Ferro Concepts FCPC V5 21.6
Crye Precision JPC 2.0 22.95
Spiritus Systems LV-119 23
Velocity Systems SCARAB LT 33.25
Agilite K19 41.6
Crye Precision AVS 48.35

Plate Carrier Wet Weights

We fully submerge the plate carrier in water for 60 minutes, then let it hang dry for 60 seconds. The scale is always zeroed for the weight of the container bin. All of our wet weight tests are conducted in our climate controlled office (~70F) to account for evaporation, sunlight and other external factors that require consistency.

Weight Wet (ounces)
Qore Performance IcePlate EXO® 26.5
Ferro Concepts FCPC V5 31.5
Spiritus Systems LV-119 32.4
Crye Precision SPC 34.9
Crye Precision JPC 2.0 39.6
Agilite K19 62.8
Velocity Systems SCARAB LT 66.3
Crye Precision AVS 70.95

Materials

Qore Performance IcePlate EXO® Crye Precision SPC Ferro Concepts FCPC V5 Crye Precision JPC 2.0 Spiritus Systems LV-119 Velocity Systems SCARAB LT Agilite K19 Crye Precision AVS
NYLON  
LAMINATE
       
TWEAVE
 
TEGRIS  
     
ELASTIC
 
POLYMER
 
 
METAL    
     
VELCRO/HOOK & LOOP
500D CORDURA          
   
1000D CORDURA            
 
YKK ZIPPERS        
   
ULTRACOMP          
   
IcePlate EXO® Laminate
             
SPACER MESH  
     
 
HANK      
       
HOOK RECEPTIVE LOOP              

Thermal Transmittance

First, we’ll use our FLIR camera to take surface temperature reading of the body facing side of the plate bags. Next, we’ll place a single, fully filled IcePlate Curve, fresh out of the freezer, into the plate bag of each plate carrier. Then, once we’ve closed the plate bag, we’ll place a Tencate Level III hard armor plate on top of the plate bag for 30 seconds to simulate the effect of putting on the plate carrier. We are using a shorter exposure time to make sure we test efficiency and not capacity. Finally, we’ll remove the Tencate Level III hard armor plate from the subject plate bag and take a new FLIR surface temperature reading. The difference between the two readings is the Thermal Transmittance of that plate carrier.

Thermal Shift
(Big Numbers = Good, Small Numbers = Bad)
Qore Performance IcePlate EXO® 18.0-38˚F
Crye Precision JPC 2.0 20.9˚F
Spiritus Systems LV-119 18.0˚F
Crye Precision SPC 14.0˚F
Ferro Concepts FCPC V5 8.8˚F
Crye Precision AVS 4.0-9.0˚F
Velocity Systems SCARAB LT 7.0˚F
Agilite K19 4.7˚F

Attachment Mechanisms

Crye AVS Pattern MOLLE Velcro Swift Clip G Hook Proprietary Zipper
Crye Precision SPC
 
Ferro Concepts FCPC V5  
Crye Precision JPC 2.0
 
Crye Precision AVS
 
Spiritus Systems LV-119  
Velocity Systems SCARAB LT  
Qore Performance IcePlate EXO®  
 
Agilite K19  
 

Size

Small Medium Large XLarge One Size
Crye Precision SPC
 
Crye Precision JPC 2.0
 
Crye Precision AVS
 
Velocity Systems SCARAB LT
 
Spiritus Systems LV-119  
 
Ferro Concepts FCPC V5  
   
Qore Performance IcePlate EXO®  
     
Agilite K19        

Color

Black Coyote Ranger Green Wolf Grey MultiCam MultiCam Black MultiCam Tropic MultiCam Arid Woodland
Spiritus Systems LV-119
Crye Precision JPC 2.0
 
 
Ferro Concepts FCPC V5
     
Agilite K19
     
Velocity Systems SCARAB LT
       
Crye Precision SPC
 
       
Crye Precision AVS
 
       
Qore Performance IcePlate EXO®
 
       

Sizing Adjustability

Shoulders (inches) Cummerbund (inches)
Agilite K19 4.5 32
Qore Performance IcePlate EXO® 4 14
Velocity Systems SCARAB LT 4.5 10
Ferro Concepts FCPC V5 4.5 8.5
Crye Precision SPC 3.5 8.5
Spiritus Systems LV-119 3.5 7
Crye Precision JPC 2.0 3 8
Crye Precision AVS 4 0

Accepted Plate Sizes

SAPI ESAPI Swimmer Additional Notes
Qore Performance IcePlate EXO®
9.5" x 12.5" up to 1.1" for Medium ESAPI armor plates.
10" x 12" and 10" x 12" Shooter Cut up to 1.1" thick for Medium SAPI plates*
Ferro Concepts FCPC V5
M & L plates up to 1" thick
Crye Precision SPC
  Specific Model S-XL
Crye Precision AVS
  Specific Model S-XL
Crye Precision JPC 2.0
    S-XL
Agilite K19
  All 10x12 plates up to 1.5" thick
Spiritus Systems LV-119
    M-XL up to 1.2" thick
Velocity Systems SCARAB LT  
  S-XL up to 1" thick
*Use of 10" x 12" Medium Shooter Cut Armor Plates thinner than 1.1" may require sewing additional Velcro fields to the bottom plate retention flap (see instructions and placement in product photo gallery).

Country of Origin

USA Outside of USA
Crye Precision SPC
 
Ferro Concepts FCPC V5
 
Crye Precision JPC 2.0
 
Crye Precision AVS
 
Spiritus Systems LV-119
 
Velocity Systems SCARAB LT
 
Qore Performance IcePlate EXO®
 
Agilite K19  

Price

Price Extras
Crye Precision JPC 2.0 $241.90 AVS Detachable Flap MOLLE $41.10
Crye Precision SPC $252.00 AVS Flap M4 $101.00, Airlite Detachable Flap MOLLE $29.60
Spiritus Systems LV-119 $283.35 Placard 5.56 $59.95
Agilite K19 $289.00 Pincer Placard $69.90
Velocity Systems SCARAB LT $338.00 Quad SwiftClip Placard $90.00
Ferro Concepts FCPC V5 $385.00 Kangaroo Front Flap $50.00
Qore Performance IcePlate EXO® $500.00 IMS Pro $165-170
Crye Precision AVS $661.40 AVS Detachable Flap M4 $60.80

Best/Worst Tally

Crye Precision SPC Ferro Concepts FCPC V5 Crye Precision JPC 2.0 Crye Precision AVS Agilite K19 Spiritus Systems LV-119 Velocity Systems SCARAB LT
Integration       BEST WORST    
Weight Dry BEST     WORST      
Weight Wet   BEST   WORST      
Materials   BEST          
Thermodynamics/Hydro       BEST WORST    
Thermal Transmittance     BEST   WORST    
Unique Features     WORST BEST (tie) BEST (tie)    
Attachment   BEST     WORST    
Variety         WORST BEST  
Sizing Adjustment       WORST BEST    
Plate Bags         BEST   WORST
COO         WORST   BEST
PRICE     BEST WORST      

Best: FCPC V5, AVS, K19 (4)

Worst: K19 (5)



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2 comments


  • Alejandro

    This is a very well thought out a review. I do have a plate carrier that I think you guys should test out and review. The Prime Warrior Plate Carrier 3.0 by Prime Armor, based in Texas


  • Esteban

    Can u test also LBT 6094 Gen3v2?


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