Plate Carrier Guide - Plate size / Fitting

[Gepard]

I often see players who haven't fitted their plate carriers properly. Whether it's riding too low, too high, or just using one that's not in proportion with their body size.

 

This guide will show you how to choose a PC that's right for you, and explain the steps to insure that you've fit it correctly. 

 

1. What size should I get?

 

When you purchase a plate carrier you will be given the option of choosing what size you want. What this really means is what plate size do you want?

 

As a general rule you should look for a front plate that measures from the bottom your collarbone to about an inch about your bellybutton. Whilst you can use larger or smaller plates what you're looking for is a size that provides the most protection to your vital organs without hindering your ability to move about.

 

So when buying a plate carrier look at what plates it uses and find out which size comes closest to your body measurements. 

 

Here is an example of the areas you're looking to protect:

 

 

2. Fitting your Plate Carrier

 

So now you've got the right size it's time to fit your Plate Carrier. It helps to have a friend during this, but you can still do it by yourself using a mirror - it just requires a bit of guesswork until you get it right. 

 

First you'll want to place the top of the front panel of your PC so that it's resting just below the bottom of your collar bone. 

 

Your back panel should then be placed so that it is level with the front. 

 

Next you'll need to adjust the shoulder straps so that it stays put. This is where a friend comes in handy. They can adjust this for you whilst you hold the panel in place. 

 

Each carrier is different. Some like the JPC use a sleeve which you need to slide away and others like the 6094 have Velcro covers. Either way, once it's out of the way you can then pull the strap apart and tighten it up. 

 

Once done it should then sit comfortably in the position you put them in earlier. 

 

3. Cummerbunds

 

Some Plate Carriers come with cummerbunds. There are a few types, but the adjustment is typically the same. For this example I'll use an elastic two part. 

 

Lift the front panel of your PC and remove the two panels of your cummerbund. Then, flip it over so that you're looking at the rear panel.

 

Undue the elastic cord and remove the two parts. After that flip your PC back over. 

 

Now lift up the flap and attach the two panels. Line the them up evenly in the center and Make sure they're not overlapping.

 

You'll need to then loop the molle together using the shock cord you untied in the pattern it was in earlier. 

 

Now you can adjust it to fit your torso size. Tighten or loosen the shock cord to where it's comfortable for you. It may take a bit of trial and error until you get a good fit. 

 

Make sure it's tight enough so that it moves with your body, but not so much that you can't breath. You want the shock cord to stretch as you breath. 

 

Do a few exercises to make sure it's comfortable and adjust as needed.

 

4. All done! 

 

It's as simple as that. There's plenty of video guides out there if you need a more visual aid but hopefully this will have helped you to buy the right size plate carrier and more importantly fit it correctly. It should feel a lot more comfortable to wear now!