Originally Posted by
RobertTheTexan
Plate Carrier:
I'm a big fan of Beez Combat Systems. They make really solid, durable, and well thought out gear. I like this particular PC because I pull the plates and have an excellent low viz level IIIa PC that I can and have worn under a button-down shirt and/or a jacket. A slick PC also supports my purpose-built chest rig philosophy. I do have on my roadmap a plan putting together a Beez APTUM PC and configure it with their APTUM goodies. That setup in my opinion, will be the ultimate one-all/do-all. I'll still keep my Beez slick PC because it will still have purpose as a low vis PC.
I think you will like the Aptum. I got one of their "gen 1" versions a few months ago. Couple minor gripes, but... this may be the unsung "one slick/scalable carrier to rule them all". Unless you want zippers, in which case, probably still Spiritus.
However, FYI, the current gen Aptum plate bags no longer have the full padded backing; it is now slick material with loop velcro strips for either their or other version "pontoon" style pads. I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing.
That being said, having owned/worn PCs with zero padded backing (APC, 6094, etc, etc) and PCs with a lot of padding (Scarab, AVS)... I suspect it won't matter, especially since the 3D padding they used was hardly the god-tier stuff something like the Scarab plate bags are backed with. It was a nice idea, but honestly kind of flat and underwhelming. Which is why I suspect the pontoon pads they offer won't be that great (neither are the Beez shoulder pads, get the ones from Velocity Systems or SKD PIG), and that SKD may be the way to go there. Or stick the Crye pads to it maybe?
It will be interesting to get a new version someday and compare which is better.
Also the price on the Aptum has gone up a little (was 170, now 190) so... yay.
"Once we get some iron in our souls, we'll get some iron in our hands..."
"...A rapid, aggressive response will let you get away with some pretty audacious things if you are willing to be mean, fast, and naked."-Failure2Stop
"The Right can meme; the Left can organize. I guess now we know which one is important." - Random internet comment
Bookmarks