Technical Plate Carrier Review: US Army MSV Military Plate Carrier

The US Army's Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) was first introduced in 2018 as part of the Soldier Protection System (SPS), aimed at replacing the Improved Outer Tactical Vest or IOTV. Designed to provide soldiers with adaptable protection in both high- and low-threat environments, the MSV offers a modern solution to weight reduction and scalability. The vest can be worn in various configurations, allowing soldiers to adjust their level of armor based on mission requirements, a key departure from its predecessors, which were often more rigid in their use.

In this Qore Performance INSIGHTS episode, we take a deep dive into the MSV, exploring its technical specifications, performance metrics and how it compares to other plate carriers in use today. Let’s jump in.

Click here for The Best Plate Carriers of 2024

Format

If you're new to this series, our videos are far from typical "reviews." They’re designed to answer frequent customer questions about how to best integrate our IceAge Ecosystem's thermoregulation and hydration tools with popular plate carriers. We take a purely data-driven approach, offering objective, measurable insights backed by instruments and documentation whenever possible. Facts don't change most people's opinions because most people don't base their opinions on facts. Instead, they shape the 'facts' to fit their opinions. We strive to change that. With life-preserving equipment, there is no room for letting bias and emotion stand in the way of performance. In our reviews, you will find no opinions or guesswork

Relationship Disclosures

We have no relationship with any of the manufacturers of the Modular Scalable Vest.

IceAge Ecosystem Integration

Now let’s talk about IceAge Ecosystem Integration. Upgrading your plate carrier with thermoregulation features boosts performance in austere environments. The MSV seamlessly integrates our thermoregulation tools, like the IMS Versa, for mounting ICEPLATE®—our flagship solution for conductive cooling, heating, and hydration capability. For convective cooling, ICEVENTS® pads increase airflow between your body and gear. You can enhance shoulder comfort and load distribution with ICEVENTS® Classic or Aero pads, while ICEVENTS® plate carrier ventilation pontoons improve airflow by attaching to the body-facing side of your plate bags through our CATAMARAN Combo.

For turn-key solutions to upgrading your MSV, check out our Plate Carrier Upgrade Kits:

• Universal Plate Carrier Upgrade Kit - Ventilation only
  
  

• Universal Plate Carrier Upgrade Kit - Ventilation and Hydration

• Universal Plate Carrier Upgrade Kit - Ventilation, Cooling, Heating, Hydration

IceAge Ecosystem Integration Comparison Chart

Materials

The MSV is made with laser cut laminate, nylon webbing, hook and loop, duraflex buckles, and YKK zippers.

Weight

Dry Weight

One of the main complaints for the IOTV was its weight. The MSV has supposedly gained some ground on this problem and is marketed as being 26% lighter than its predecessor. With just the front and rear plate bags and cummerbunds, the Testudo weighs in at 3.3 pounds, or 52.8 ounces. Keep in mind this weight does not include the soft armor inserts. Want to see how this compares to other carriers we’ve tested? Click the link in the show notes below to check out our "Best Plate Carriers of 2024" article and video.

Wet Weight

Does wet weight matter more than dry weight? It depends on the mission. Whether it’s saltwater or sweat, how well a plate carrier repels and sheds water can greatly impact your performance. Let’s dunk the MSV and see how it holds up.

As with all our tests in the Technical Plate Carrier Overview series, we keep it simple: submerge the carrier in water for 60 minutes, hang dry for 60 seconds, and record the weight. We run all tests in our new HQ2 facility in Knoxville, TN, to eliminate environmental variables like sunlight or wind.

After submerging, the MSV weighs___ pounds, or ___ ounces. It is important to note that this weight does not include the soft armor inserts. For full comparison data, be sure to check out our "Best Plate Carriers of 2024" article—linked in the show notes below.

If you have watched any of the many videos in our Technical Plate Carrier Overview series, you’ll know that our experimental design is simple and is the same for all plate carriers we test in this series: submerge the carrier in water for 60 minutes, remove and hang dry for 60 seconds, and then record the weight. We conduct all of these tests inside our brand-new HQ2 facility in Knoxville, TN, to ensure external variables, like sunlight, wind, etc., are absent.

Wet, the Berry compliant variant with just the front and rear platebags and side strap, ICEPLATE EXO® Gen 3 comes in at 21.6 ounces or 1.35 pounds. With the AXL Equinox cummerbund, that weight comes to 32 ounces or 2 pounds.

Wet, the USMCA compliant variant with just the front and rear platebags and side strap, ICEPLATE EXO® Gen 3 comes in at 21.6 ounces or 1.35 pounds. With the AXL Equinox cummerbund, that weight comes to 30.4 ounces or 1.9 pounds.

Thermal Transmittance

What is Thermal Transmittance, and why does it matter for plate carriers? 

Thermal transmittance refers to the rate at which heat moves through a material. In the context of plate carriers, it specifically pertains to the body-facing side of the plate carrier plate bag.

When a material, such as a wall or a plate bag, is well-insulated, it has low thermal transmittance, making it effective at protecting against external temperature changes—ideal for homes, vehicles, or cold-weather gear. Conversely, poorly insulated materials have high thermal transmittance, which is beneficial for active or athletic apparel like running gear, PT outfits, combat uniforms, or plate carriers. High thermal transmittance allows the body to release excess heat generated during intense physical activity.

Given that tactical gear inherently provides some level of insulation, it's crucial to choose equipment, particularly plate carriers and body armor, with the highest possible thermal transmittance. Essentially, you need gear with minimal insulation to enable your body's natural cooling processes to function optimally, helping you manage body temperature independently of your gear. This is critical to prevent heat-related issues, ensuring you remain effective and increasing your survival chances in the field. Some plate carriers, such as our ICEPLATE EXO® Gen 3, augment and enhance your body's natural thermoregulation mechanisms, boosting your physiological performance. For carriers lacking this feature, you can integrate items from our IceAge Ecosystem, like the IMS Pro, IMS Versa, ICEVENTS®, and CATAMARAN, to improve their thermal efficiency.

For a detailed understanding of heat transfer methods and their relevance to your gear, check out the infographics in our INSIGHTS blog article titled "The Methods of Heat Transfer," linked in the show notes below.

For all of the super nerds out there who want to know the Experimental Design for our Thermal Transmittance testing, here it is: [on-screen text] 

1. 
   FLIR camera surface reading of the body facing side of the plate bags at room temperature
2. 
   Place a single ICEPLATE® Curve, fresh out of the freezer, into the same plate bag
3. 
   Close the plate bag and place a hard armor plate on top of the plate bag for 30 seconds to simulate the effect of putting on the plate carrier. Use short exposure time to test efficiency, not capacity. 
4. 
   Remove the hard armor plate from the surface of the subject plate bag.
5. 
   Take a new FLIR surface temperature reading.

Without the soft armor inserted, The MSV recorded a baseline surface temperature of 80 degrees fahrenheit and an ICEPLATE® inside temperature of 62 degrees fahrenheit resulting in a thermal shift of 18 degrees fahrenheit. When the soft armor was inserted, the MSV recorded a baseline surface temperature of 81 degrees fahrenheit and an iceplate inside temperature of 78 degrees fahrenheit, which yields a thermal shift of just 3 degrees fahrenheit. 

What do these numbers mean? The smaller the spread between the Initial or Baseline Surface Temperature and the surface reading at room temperature, the lower the Thermal Transmittance of that plate bag. We've provided two data tables for an unbiased analytical context: Mean on the left and Median on the right. As a quick refresher, the Mean, often called the average, is the sum of all values divided by the number of values. The Median is the middle value of a dataset when ordered from smallest to largest. If there is an even number of observations, it is the average of the two middle values. When the data is symmetrically distributed, and you want to account for all values, including extreme ones, you should use the Mean. The Median is the preferred analytical tool when the data is skewed or contains outliers that might distort the Mean.

Plate carriers with low thermal transmittance readings will trap and retain more heat, making you hotter. The larger the spread between the Initial or Baseline Surface Temperature and the surface reading at room temperature, the higher the Thermal Transmittance of that plate carrier. Plate bags with these larger spreads are better at removing heat to let your body's thermoregulation mechanisms work as naturally as possible.
 

These tables show how the Modular Scalable Vest compares to the other plate carriers tested: 

 
Below is a comparison of plate carrier's Thermal Shift that we have tested. Let’s talk about what Thermal Transmittance actually is and why it matters.

Thermal Transmittance is the transfer of heat through matter. In our case, that matter is the body-facing section of a plate carrier plate bag. Plate carriers are insulating by nature, so finding plate carriers with the highest possible Thermal Transmittance will help maximize your performance in the field. In other words, you want to find plate carriers and body armor with minimal insulation.

Learn more about Methods of Heat Transfer here.

In the data we are about to present, the smaller the Thermal Transmittance number, the worse the carrier is at expelling heat from the interface between your body and the plate carrier. The larger the Thermal Transmittance number, the more efficient the plate carrier is at expelling heat from your body/carrier interface. In other words, smaller numbers mean you run hotter; bigger numbers mean you run cooler. When it comes to Thermal Transmittance, big numbers are good.

Unique Features

The MSV utilizes MOLLE as its primary attachment mechanism, with alternative methods such as Swift Clip integration requiring aftermarket additions.

Variety

From colorways to sizing, let’s talk about the Modular Scalable Vest’s variety. For colors and patterns, the MSV is only available in the MultiCam-like Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), also known as Scorpion W2.

Sizing Adjustability

As for sizing, the MSV comes in extra small, small, medium, large, extra large, and two ex large, which boasts a wider variety of sizing selection than the IOTV. The MSV’s shoulder straps have 4 inches of adjustability while the cummerbund has 13.5 inches of adjustability.

Plate Bags

With the multiple sizing options, the plate sizes that the MSV accommodates break down as follows:

The medium-sized plate bag will fit Medium SAPI plates sized 9.5 inches by 12.5 inches.

The large-sized plate bag will fit Large SAPI plates sized 10.5 inches by 13.5 inches.

The extra-large-sized plate bag will fit extra-large SAPI plates sized 11.5 inches by 14.5 inches.

The plate bags will also fit ESAPI plates in the corresponding sizes.

The MSV side armor pockets will fit six by eight side armor plates as previously covered.  

Country of Origin

Country of origin is a critical consideration when selecting a plate carrier. COO is a dependable but not absolute indicator of innovation, quality, and craftsmanship. So, where does the MSV come from? The Modular Scalable Vest is produced domestically in the United States from U.S.-sourced materials and is Berry Compliant.

Country of Origin Comparison Chart

Price

Price should always be a secondary factor when it comes to life-preserving gear like plate carriers. The priority is ensuring that the equipment can perform when needed most. That said, most people using the Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) haven’t purchased it themselves—it’s typically issued as part of their standard gear. With the MSV currently not commonly available for private sale, any direct comparisons to commercial pricing is challenging.

The exact cost of the Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) without armor is difficult to determine precisely, as prices vary based on government contracts, manufacturing, and specific configurations. However, estimates for the vest, excluding the ballistic inserts (hard plates and soft armor), typically range between $700 and $1,000. This would include the base carrier’s modular components, such as shoulder straps, cummerbund, and attachment points for pouches and equipment.

The overall cost could fluctuate depending on procurement factors, but this range gives a general idea of the value of the MSV without the armor components.

Conclusion

That concludes our technical overview of the Modular Scalable Vest. We hope you found it both informative and enjoyable. Have you been issued the MSV? What are your thoughts on it? Share your stories and insights in the comments below!

If you want the latest in All-Aspect Thermoregulation, follow us on Instagram at @qoreperformance and subscribe to our LaunchPad email list to join us in Building A Superhuman Future.

Thanks for watching, and until next time, StayFrosty

About Qore Performance

For those of you who are new to Qore Performance, we live for Building A Superhuman Future. It is why we exist. We help customers be the greatest version of themselves, to create competitive advantages where none previously existed. We design, build, and manufacture thermoregulation and hydration solutions that weaponize temperature to improve performance and survivability for military, law enforcement, prepared citizens, pilots, outdoor enthusiasts, and industrial professionals at America’s greatest companies. If you’ve purchased chicken or coffee from a drive thru in the United States, there is a high probability you’ve seen our ICEVEST HiVis Safety Vests, our ICECASE iPad Cooling cases or both in use while rolling through one of these corporate powerhouses.

Check out our SAFETY + DEVICES Collection.