Originally Posted by
bruin
-What plate carrier do you currently use?
Mayflower Low-Profile Armor Carrier
-How did you choose this make/model?
I used to wear a Tyr BPC, but I wanted something lower profile and slim with soft armor only. I didn't want to deal with a separate concealment vest and PC with plates. I also shifted my load to belt carry and no longer needed pouches/MOLLE on the armor carrier.
-Likes/Dislikes? Strengths/weaknesses?
I like the flexibility to wear it concealed or over a shirt, soft armor only or with plates. Fit is very good and the carrier has a wide range of sizing adjustments. The wide c-bund elastic makes the carrier conform well around my torso and allows some flex during twisting and movement. The close fit also lets my torso bear some of the weight, so the shoulder straps are comfortable without pads. The plate riser straps are a nice touch; on the Tyr I had to jam spacers at the bottom to get the plates to ride high in their pockets. Stitching and construction are first-rate, typical of Mayflower. I also like the option to attach a chest rig via SwiftClips.
The biggest weakness - it's HOT. The carrier is worn tight against the body with zero breathability. I plan to add pontoons of some kind to create air channels for ventilation. For concealment cut soft armor inserts, the only practical source is Velocity (unless you can find Paraclete ones). On Multicam carriers it would be nice for Mayflower to use color-matched velcro hook on the c-bund, though I can see how this adds cost. The c-bund is made of double elastic layers, which could have been factory-sewn into pockets like the BFG Ten-Speed LMAC side closures.
I'm a civilian and the Mayflower LPAC is excellent for me. Right now I wear it sans plates at the range and during training, and it's unobtrusive and comfortable (other than the heat issue).
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