INSIGHTS: Military, Law Enforcement, Civilian

Choosing the best plate carrier for 2025 isn’t just about brand recognition—it’s about performance where it matters most. Whether you're military, law enforcement, or a civilian preparing for the unexpected, your plate carrier needs to enhance mobility, durability, and efficiency.

This year, we analyzed real-world feedback from our audience—votes from social media, emails, and DMs—to rank the top plate carriers on the market. Our selection includes the First Spear Strandhogg V3, US Army IOTV, Qore Performance ICEPLATE EXO® Gen 3, Ferro Concepts Slickster, Armored Republic Testudo Gen 3, US Army MSV, and USMC PC Gen 3.

We break down the best and worst performers across key metrics so you can make an informed decision based on data, not hype. Ready to find the perfect plate carrier for your needs? Let’s dive in.

The AC1 Minimalist Plate Carrier is a part of T.REX Arms mission statement to Inspire, Educate and Equip serious citizens. Released in late 2020, the AC1 was intended to scale to an individual’s needs from a low profile setup, to an overt (but not full duty, there is a big difference) loadout as required. T.REX Arms has had an undeniable cultural impact in proliferating the concept of a highly trained civilian populace, but how does the AC1 hold up against the many other plate carrier offerings on the market today? Stay tuned to this installment of Qore Performance INSIGHTS to find out.

We are always looking for ways to bring ICEPLATE® Curve's cooling, heating and hydration capability to new end users. The latest addition to the IMS family, the IMS VERSA, brought many previously incompatible plate carriers up to speed, and now we're sharing how to mount IMS VERSA to your slick plate carrier.