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A plate carrier for the big boys: AR500’s Testudo Gen 2 is a good pick for large frames

Plate carriers are among the most fiercely debated pieces of kit on the market today and it’s easy to see why. With so many options and prices that can range from thirty bucks to three hundred, just about everybody has an opinion on what you need for your purposes. Like most things, it’s been my experience that neither the cheapest nor the most expensive options on the market are right for most users, and what really matters is finding the kit that works best for you, rather than the one that’ll score you the most cool-guy points in the Tacticool subreddits.

AR500 offers a number of different kinds of plate carriers meant to meet various needs and budgets. I opted to review the Testudo Gen 2 because it can support both standard 10″ by 12″ ballistic plates as well as the larger 11″ by 14″ plates reserved for those of us that shop at Big and Tall outlets. I’m not as skinny as I was on active duty, so the Testudo also offers the added benefit of not making me look like a gorilla in a tank top.

I ran this carrier with plates provided to me  by ShotStop that are among the lightest on the market, which when combined with the 3d webbing AR500 uses on most of the interior of this plate carrier, made running and gunning in the Georgia woods survivable even in June when the humidity is just north of what you’ll find in the Amazon rain forest. The combination of light weight and breathability made my range session not only tolerable, but as pleasant as Georgia summers can get.

At $160, this probably isn’t the right plate carrier for preppers that like to stockpile their gear but rarely run and gun in their kit. If, however, you’re a bigger dude that wears your plate carrier for work, the 3D webbing and good quality stitching make this an excellent choice. That same 3D webbing, however, can be pretty abrasive if you’re wearing a thin undershirt. I’d imagine that gets better over time, but at least so far, I’ve stuck to thick tee shirts and had no trouble.

You can get your own Testudo Gen 2 Plate Carrier from AR500 Armor here.

And you can get your own ShotStop Ballistic plates here.

Bulletproof Backpack Inserts: What You Need to Know

Bulletproof Backpack Inserts: What You Need to Know

Not all bulletproof backpack inserts are the same. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know when it comes to ballistic backpack inserts.

Are you looking for a bulletproof backpack insert? Whether you landed here because you’ve seen them in the news or you just decided to look for new ways to protect yourself or your kids, you probably have a lot of questions:

  • What guns/ammunition will it stop?
  • How much does it weigh?
  • How much does it cost?
  • Will it actually keep me/my child safe?
  • And many more…

In this article, we’ll look at several bulletproof backpack inserts and share some details about each. We are not here to tell you to buy our backpack insert. It’s totally up to you to decide 1) whether you want or need to buy one and 2) which one is best for you/your child.

What are the different types, or levels, of bulletproof backpack protection? The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has been setting voluntary body armor standards since 1972. The NIJ standard is the only nationally accepted standard for the body armor worn by law enforcement and corrections officers, and its ballistic resistance standard classifies body armor by levels of ballistic performance. The chart below shows those classifications:

Bulletproof Backpack Inserts: What You Need to Know

Most bulletproof backpacks are classified as Level IIIA, which means they will stop at least four rounds from most handguns. The majority of ballistic backpack inserts on the market fall into this classification; they are meant to protect against multiple rounds from 9mm, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum ammunition.

In our research, we found the following bulletproof backpack inserts at the Level IIIA (handgun) protection level:

Bulletproof Backpack Inserts: What You Need to Know

**NOTE OF CAUTION**

Be sure to check the Ballistic Lab Report and any NIJ Compliance letters referenced on all websites. We have found that many manufacturers show a lab report or compliance letter that may be for a different product or an outdated NIJ standard. For example, the current NIJ standard set in 2008 is NIJ 0106.01. We have seen several of these backpack inserts noted as NIJ 0108.01, which was the standard set back in 1985 – much has changed since 1985 when it comes to guns and ammunition!

Bulletproof Backpack Inserts: What You Need to Know

Watch our video “How to Read a Ballistic Lab Report” to make sure you’re getting what you think you’re getting.

So, what does a Level IIIA backpack insert really stop?

Here is a video testing the ShotStop Level III3a backpack inserts:

ShotStop ballistic inserts offer high quality protection without breaking the bank

In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have to be discussing ballistic protection that you can slip into your backpack, but being prepared means taking the world as it is, not as we’d prefer it to be. In this era of active shooters and mass casualty events, more and more of us are looking for some level of ballistic protection we can carry with us, without constantly feeling like a Marine back on post. Sure, a plate carrier or flak jacket may be appropriate in some environments, but what about during class, in the boardroom, or at the airport? That’s when you need ballistic protection that won’t draw attention to you, won’t weigh you down, and is convenient enough that you don’t mind carrying it every day just in case something bad were to happen.

ShotStop’s line of BallisticBoard inserts offer a variety of options depending on the level of threat you anticipate, the bag you intend to carry the insert in, and of course, your budget. My favorite product is the BallisticBoard Clipboard — a non-threatening looking clipboard you can use while you do your job that doubles as a ballistic plate you can tuck into the front of your shirt to keep you from getting riddled with holes as you make a break for the exit (or the shooter) if Red Dawn were to unfold in your workplace.

Add an insert to this High Speed Daddy diaper bag and you just became Super Dad.

Their IIIA Backpack insert is thin and light enough to stow in your backpack and completely forget about… that is, until you need it. Rated to stop handgun caliber attacks, this lightweight insert is perfect for students and frequent travelers that could use that extra piece of mind while they go about their day. Of course, if the sort of threat you’re worried about is of the high-powered rifle variety, the BallisticBoard rigid insert is just the thing for you. This insert is thicker (at .95 of an inch) and heavier than the soft insert, so you’ll know when you’re carrying it. It’ll also stop a 7.62 round, so if you find yourself needing it, you’ll sure be glad you sprung for the extra cost (and weight).

We’ve got more from ShotStop coming at you soon, including a review of their plates inside the new AR500 Testudo Gen 2 plate carrier. In the mean time, check out ShotStop.com to pick up a set of inserts of your own!

ShotStop: The body armor Batman would wear

The tactical industry isn’t getting any smaller. Every day, my Facebook newsfeed seems all the more inundated with companies selling you the “operator” fantasy, keen to convince you that you need the same kit Seal Team 6 used on the Bin Laden raid to clear your kitchen when you hear a bump in the night. The truth is, you do need good gear when your life depends on it, but I’m way past aspiring to be an operator. I already served my time in the Marine Corps and I’ve got lots of special operations veterans in my rolodex — and we’ve all got one thing in common. None of us are bullet proof. Not like Batman is.

While some guys may wish they could be more like the Navy SEALs they see on TV, I’d much prefer rocking the kit Batman wears into a fight. While there were times that I felt like I could barely breath in full battle-rattle, Batman’s mobility is never compromised in favor of ballistic protection. In fact, the only time a cinematic Batman has ever asked for a suit upgrade in a movie, it wasn’t armor piercing rounds he was worried about… it was dog bites. Granted, Batman is a fictional character that isn’t burdened by the realities of physics… but I still think there’s something to aspiring for more than just rocking the same JPC we saw Garand Thumb wearing. We should be looking for as much mobility as we can find in today’s market, and in order to do that, we’ve got to dive into what’s riding along inside the plate carriers we wear and talk about the plates themselves.

And if you want to get as close to Batman-level mobility, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better ballistic plate option than the Diritium series of plates from ShotStop.

Of course, the folks at ShotStop didn’t set out to make body armor for aspiring Bat-men like me — their customer base is more law enforcement and military professionals and less salty-old-vet turned journalist — but through their efforts to produce the lightest, thinnest, and most reliable armor on the market, they found their way into where a Navy SEAL’s Venn diagram overlaps with that of everyone’s favorite caped crusader. Their plates are among the lightest you’ll find and come in a variety of cuts and sizes for shooters of all sorts, because Batman may not carry a gun, but I sure as hell do.

All that weight savings doesn’t come at the cost of ballistic protection, however — and here’s the proof. In this video, ShotStop’s Duritium III+PS plate holds up to a full magazine of .223:

These plates are light, hold up to tons of punishment, and most importantly, will save your life. If you ask me, that’s about as Batman as you can get out here in the real world. You can get your own ShotStop ballistic plates by following this link to find your nearest dealer, or just go to ShotStop.com and check out their gear for yourself.

In the mean time, you can also check out our previous review on ShotStop’s ballistic inserts and some of their other great piece of gear that are worthy of their own Bat-monikers.

The World's Most Advanced Body Armor for Police Officers

The World’s Most Advanced Body Armor for Police Officers

For the men and women on our front lines of law enforcement, the right body armor is the essential life-saving technology in active threat scenarios. Whether you are police, fire, security detail or tactical, but it’s been more than thirty years since any disruptive technologies in ballistics protection have been brought to market. Until now.

Introducing ShotStop’s life-saving ballistic technologies.

ShotStop’s advanced body armor plates are leading the pack in weight to protection ratio. With our stand-alone, multi-hit, lightweight armor plates made with our patented Duritium® technology. In fact, other plates can weigh up to three times as much as ShotStop’s poly plates made with Duritium®. Less weight means less physical fatigue, which leads to less mental fatigue, which equals more positive effect on decision making in intense and stressful scenarios.

ShotStop’s plates not only meet, but exceed established standard ballistic guidelines. ShotStop’s Duritium® technology uses less material, while maintaining the same or stronger threat level protection, which means more comfort and equal or better survivability. Thinner and lighter plates means less bulk, which leads to increase mobility and speed in active threat scenarios. Lighter plates keep you active and safe, and reduce weight displacement injuries, so common to those on duty over extended periods of time.

Utilizing ShotStop’s patented material technologies, designs, and processes, our plates are more durable than ceramic, safer than steel and offer a warranty, two to three times the industry standard. And in the unfortunate cases where an officer is shot on duty and the ShotStop® armor takes the impact, ShotStop® will replace the plate at no charge.

Warranted performance is not the only thing practical about choosing ShotStop®, we make your investment practical, too. Even when compared to ceramic, our Duritium-based plates, still compete on price. So, when it comes to working day to day and the protection of you and your team, choose the lightest, thinnest, and strongest advanced armor technologies in the world.

Advanced body armor, made with Duritium®, from ShotStop®.

Originally published on the ShotStop website

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