Plate Carriers?

[skyscraper]

Do any of you guys keep a plate carrier vest with some sapi plates in them with you in case of (for example) an active shooter situation in which you would want extra protection over your standard vest? Im going into the academy in January so this isn't something I need right away. But two of my buddies are on the force already and they are looking for a good company that sells vests and also a place to get plates. With all of the different websites out there, it's hard to know who is legit and who is not. And since this is expensive stuff, I thought I'd ask some of you guys.

I have been browsing online and was wondering if anyone has any any experience with this company/vest:

http://www.eagleindustries.com/product.php?productid=246&cat=94&page=1

Or are there any others you guys would recommend?

As Far as sapi plates, running a search here shows that most people seem to get their plates from bulletproofme.com. Anyone know them.

Thank you

[marinelar]

Each of our cars has a vest with plates and extra .223 ammo. I would think a majority of PD's have something similar. As far as the Eagle Industries vest goes, I was issued a similar plate carrier from them in the Marines. It withstood everyday use in Afghanistan for seven months, so I would say yes, its a good buy.

[Big D]

I highly recommend the TAG Banshee. Well made, removable cummerbund and less expensive than the Eagle. I have a ton of TAG gear, including the Banshee, and it is all well made and stands up to daily patrol abuse.

[Spdjunkie]

A great company to deal with:

https://www.skdtac.com

[hitman13]

I highly recommend the TAG Banshee. Well made, removable cummerbund and less expensive than the Eagle. I have a ton of TAG gear, including the Banshee, and it is all well made and stands up to daily patrol abuse.

Same here, except that TAG doesn't make it, Shellback Tactical does....

[gschoelles]

Eagles are great carriers, just be prepared, they are the male erector set of clothing and get pricey. You might try cheaper Condor Knock-offs while figuring out what works best for you. I've built quite the collection of molle gear that is no longer part of my rig. there is also a good gear thread at m4carbine.net as well.

Do any of you guys keep a plate carrier vest with some sapi plates in them with you in case of (for example) an active shooter situation in which you would want extra protection over your standard vest? Im going into the academy in January so this isn't something I need right away. But two of my buddies are on the force already and they are looking for a good company that sells vests and also a place to get plates. With all of the different websites out there, it's hard to know who is legit and who is not. And since this is expensive stuff, I thought I'd ask some of you guys.

I have been browsing online and was wondering if anyone has any any experience with this company/vest:

http://www.eagleindustries.com/product.php?productid=246&cat=94&page=1

Or are there any others you guys would recommend?

As Far as sapi plates, running a search here shows that most people seem to get their plates from bulletproofme.com. Anyone know them.

Thank you

[mixicus]

Shellback Banshee is a very well made vest. Don't let the price fool you (~$120). Put a double or triple shingle of AR mags on the front, hang your trauma kit, slap on a "police" patch and you are set. There are other good carriers out there as well and you can burn all your paycheck if you so desire.

Bulletproofme is a reputable company and helpful on the phone. Their prices are very good too. The stand alone, level 4 multi hit, triple curve, shooters cut plates for ~$200 are a great deal. Only draw back is the weight (8lbs/ea).

[skyscraper]

Thank you guys for posting some other options. I think they will like the price range of these better.

From what they tell me, patrol officers aren't issued these, only swat. So it is up to them to provide for themselves. When the time comes I will want one as well.

[Rico911]

I got Maxpro Police plates from USCAV on sale $175 each. You need department letter head to purchase. I got a Condor plate carrier on ebay for cheap (less than $100), Blackhawk mag pouches, velcro ID patches.

[TASK, LLC]

Nylon gear follows the rule of "You get what you pay for." Do some research and invest in quality gear. While some would say, "Nylon is nylon," I would also say that zippers, velcro, buckles, stiching, and other factors exist also which go into the end price. Companies who invest in Quality Control also check that their zippers dont snap when pulled and that their MOLLE is the correct size (there are less expensive companies who sometimes have their MOLLE sewed incorrectly so you cannot mount your gear).

As for plates, it is also Buyer Beware. Relying on cost alone and the sales person can be tricky. It is like buying a less expensive car just because the sales person told you the car is just as good as the more expensive one. It may be or it may have features that you consider Must-Haves, but it depends on what kind of mileage and use you expect from it.

As for armor plates:
Inconjunction plates require that a specific type of soft body armor be worn behind it to make it work correctly. This can be problematic if you do not deploy with the same soft armor.
Stand Alone plates are just that, they work and are rating by themselves.

Weight and thickness can vary based on protection level, size, and material composition. Some officers avoid ceramic plates since they can micro-fracture which require an x-ray to check.

Stay with reputable manufacturers. Some plates do not pass independant testing and may have issues with spalling and backface deformation.

Good luck on your acquisition. Buy smart and you will only buy it once for your entire career.

[splitmx]

Tag or Eagle industries. If you want to get the Gucci of all gear, look into Crye Precision....But it costs over 1000$ (we can all dream right?)

Eagle is what is issued to active duty Marines today. Awesome equipment if you ask me!

[1911su16b870]

High Speed Gear Inc. nice but spendy.