Reviews & Ratings for Spartan Armor Systems AR550 Body Armor and Plate Carrier Package — 2 reviews — Page 1

Great product for civilians who are trying to protect themselves against domestic threats. The vest itself holds up well, though some breathable mesh would be a great additon to it and better padded shoulder straps.

This is my initial impression after receiving and fitting the vest to me. First off, WOW what a value!! rifle rated plates and side plates with a carrier for this price. That's the reason I actually bought it - affordability.

I went with the swimmers cut, after waffling a little between it and the shooters cut. Swimmers cut was the right choice for me. I'm about average upper body build, 5'10" 175 lb 40" chest. I was concerned about having enough space to shoulder a rifle with the shooters cut. The swimmers cut is a great fit for me. It leaves enough room to shoulder a rifle and push your hands forward and together like a pistol shooting stance. Doing some quick dry fire presentations, felt good, no interference. If you have broad shoulders or a larger chest, you could probably go with the shooters cut and have enough room to work with.

The plates that come with this are the single curve plates, not the triple curve. I would say it's not a huge deal but I'm sure the other plates are slightly more comfortable. The plate kinda rests / presses against the part of your body that sticks out the most. Kinda like breathing between two walls. I bet the trauma pads would help even out the contact.

Fitting the carrier was pretty easy, it took two or three times to find something that felt good and fit correctly. Putting it on is pretty easy once it's setup - remove one side strap and fish it on, then reattach and fold the front panel down. I'd estimate the weight to be around 20 lb ...
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