Page 38 - Airsoft Action Issue 126 June 2021

KIT & GEAR

PLATE CARRIERS

most effective materials available to counter differing all-important if you’re going to create an even halfway
threat levels. I won’t go into this area in any detail but decent MIL/LE airsoft loadout. Whilst the “military”
suffice to say you can easily look up the US National plate carrier has changed in increments though, the
Institute of Justice (NIJ) levels for “bulletproof (I’ll “civvy” versions are pushing the boundaries of design,
come back to that…) armour” which describe the even being created to carry mock, weighted “plates”
various strengths and sizes of ammunition that said for exercise purposes. I actually came across a guy
armour can protect against. Essentially, the higher wearing a 5.11 TacTec the other day when I was out
the level, the more powerful the round it can protect with the hound, running happily wearing it!
against and each level is capable of stopping lower There are even some interesting and unique
level attacks. designs out there designed specifically for airsoft use
and those are making the PC even more affordable
CARRYING TECH for even the most budget-oriented player, and you
However, as discussed earlier, as materials science know what, some of them are actually pretty darn
moved on apace armour technology moved swiftly functional!
on with it. Plates became more protective, better
able to withstand larger calibres (even though impact ONE CARRIER TO BIND THEM ALL!
trauma was still an issue - once explained to me in Whilst the majority of MilSim players will
no uncertain terms by a prior-service USMC friend undoubtedly want a plate carrier model from one of
who’d taken an AK round to centre mass and lived to the “Names” out there - and there’s nothing wrong
tell the tale thanks to his body armour!) and lighter, with aspiring to that level if you so desire - the fact
although “lighter” is a somewhat relative term. That is that there are now airsoft-specific PC designs at a
efficacy though meant that a plate carrier, or PC, fraction of the price that function well, and that mimic
that combined the vest with load-carrying capability some of the most up-to-date design concepts from
became both feasible and a reality. the real world.
In the real world soldiers and operators encounter Perhaps it’s because of my more widespread
high levels of ballistic threats, requiring the interests in “things tactical” that I seem to always see
highest level of protection possible and additional conversations online about the very latest “tacticool
attachments for neck, arm, plus groin protection are brand” and comments about how important it is for
often recommended as well. PCs therefore are (in my me to have them. Fact is that I gave up following
mind) quite a strange concept for airsoft in one way, fashion over function a LONG time ago and instead
as we really don’t need (I sincerely hope!) the ballistic look at what works best for me, not only on the field
protection they offer, or at least that given by the but also in terms of my bank balance! There are many
plates they conceal, to protect us from those dreaded systems out there on which to spend (or waste) your
BB hits, now do we? From an airsoft perspective money but at the moment I have to say that I’m a BIG
though, the humble “Armour Vest” has been fan of the “Buckle Up” plate carrier systems that give
transformed in recent years into something far more HUGE versatility for very little money.
useful, carrying not only protective plates but also all The premise of the “Buckle Up” system is really
the other “battle rattle” that we carry into contact all about the plate carrier and how you set that up.
with us! Some of us have been around long enough that we
When it comes to Plate Carriers themselves, what have multiple sets of gear to use with different AEGs,
we all use, almost to the point of exclusivity today, with different pouch configurations to take that into
are “overt” armour carriers. Unlike some of the low account. What the “Buckle Up” system does is to take
volume body armour vests (LVBAV) used by security that principle and give you a solution that is totally
and law enforcement personnel that are highly customisable and that’s achieved by having different
concealable, our carriers are made to be worn over pouch panels which do indeed simply “buckle up” to
clothing. Although they are pretty much all available a single PC.
in plain block colours, most designs will also come in a First off is the “Low Profile Plate Carrier” and
multitude of camouflage patterns. whilst they may look like other, much more expensive,
These days it’s almost impossible to find an image items that I own, they sell for as little as UK£30! Now
of a soldier - and indeed many police officers - where you might think that for that price you’ll be getting
some form of PC system isn’t in evidence and whilst I something “cheap and cheerful” and while the gear
would revert to my comment that perhaps we don’t probably wouldn’t stand up to a real-world combat
need the ballistic protection element, the “look” is zone, it’s certainly well enough put together to stand

38 JUNE 2021