FirstSpear STT Plate Carrier Base, SKD Exclusive

This is an excellent plate carrier for those seeking mobility and protection. Be warned, however, it is a tighter fit than most. Even though I measured the smallest size, I ordered the next size up just to make sure and it was still tight. The Tubes and 6/12 systems are excellent and make weaving your pouches into the carrier a breeze. The only downside to buying the plate carrier is that it does not have any mesh insulation on the inner sides, so be sure to pick up a liner or PIG AFC Pontoon set to help give you some breathing room.

I found this to be an exceptional value given its price point. It is true that you do not get the nice mesh material in the standard FirstSpear plate carrier but the 6/12 and Tube tech more than make up for. I would highly recommend getting both the pontoons and shoulder pads for this rig though - it is pretty bare bones.

Ive used many different plate carriers, from condor, military plate carriers, and my current go to carriers are my LBT 6094 and SKD PIG. my PIG's velcro is getting worn out and ive been checking out the strandhogg but wasnt all that keen on paying 400+. so i tried the STT. its a very nice kit, comfortable, affordable, and well put together. NOW for the draw backs...youre gonna want to invest in the 6/12 pouches as standard molle pouches are a bit of a pain to thread through and i actually tore one of the slots a little...just be very careful when attatching pouches. Since it is lighter material, it is rather floppy even with soft armor. depending on which plate/soft backer you use, its going to be tight, and some combinations may not fit. i use 3a backers and military esapi plates. the cummberbund i use is m/L and its overlapped half/half in the rear. its comfortable but i couldve probably bumped up to the next larger size and be better off. im 5'9, 195 lbs and am average build.

I made the decision to buy this instead of the Crye JPC. This pc is great because its lightweight and donning on/off is fast. Let me tell you what I do not like about it. Quick adjustability is none existent with the tubes compared to velcro. As an LEO, I wanted to have options for when I needed to wear over my concealable body armor, a plain shirt, or if my partner had to use it . This is not possible anymore unless I remove the cummberbund to readjust. I ordered the size S/M cummberbund as I am a 39in chest with 33 in waist. It seems like it is on the low end of the sizing spectrum for this size but I have adjusted the cummberbund to the max where the velcro is to the edge of the vest. A size M/L cummberbund would be a better fit. I believe the cummberbund should be measured by waist instead of the chest as it is not accurate. The specs show that the M/L and L/XL have 2in additional stretch which may solve my problem but I dont have it on hand for review.

First things first.. shipped to me in APO AE in OnE WEEK!! I bought this carrier with full mission capability in mind. I needed something lightweight and easy to move it. The six twelve works amazing with mole easily but i would recommend order some six twelve gear. If your using a cummerbund and have to use side plates per Regs, make sure to order the extra cummerbund that supports the plates. The cummerbund that's shipped is great for just soft armor though. Now, for the ones with weak shoulders, build them up but not to worry this carrier is amazing on the weight distribution. There are so many great qualities to this carrier. I love it for my mission. First Spear has made an amazing plate carrier for SKD for the operators ability at low cost. Highly recommended and SKD and First Spear have my business as I progress through my BATT. RLTW!

Pros: Tubes are by far the greatest way to don and doff your kit 6/12 reduces weight plus looks great Real slick and smooth, minimalist PC (spend the money on 6/12 pouches, makes it even better) Well made, great stitching Best value out there Cons: Not as much molle space as you'd think. For example, probably won't allow you to run an admin pouch with a mag shingle. The tubes are great but they do cost you around 2 columns of molle. Still wortht

BLUF: currently the best bang for the buck on the market. The good: very high quality for a relatively low cost. The vest is completely flat when not outfitted with pouches. Makes it very low profile and versatile in a low-vis scenario. Tubes on the shoulder allow you to doff the carrier without having to take off the helmet and comms. The bad: front pouch in medium is not large enough for both the plate and the backer. Although I'm probably gona switch to a small plate in the front anyway. The M-cummerbund is a bit tight when worn with side plates (I'm 5'8", 165lbs). I'd advise to go with the middle option.

To be clear, this PC for the money is miles above the rest. I needed the ability to detach a shoulder strap, so I could keep my helmet on when putting it on or taking it off. The closure flap in the front attaches to the female Velcro on the backside of the slotted panel. When you weave the pouches in, the molle straps of the pouches block half of the Velcro and weaken the Velcro contact of the closure flap. Plus, the pouch I think is too small to use with a medium ESAPI and a plate backer. Always wanted to switch to a small ESAPI plate in the front. Well, now I have to :(

I was looking for a lightweight minimalist plate carrier for 3 m4, 2 pistol mags and large Lvl IV plate. The SST fit the mission perfectly. The design has everything you need in a minimalist design and nothing you don't. Compared to the SKD PIG, this carrier gives up a little padding and comfort around the plates and on the shoulders, but does so comfortably while saving a lot of bulk and weight. If you are looking for a simple lightweight design that you can just throw on and wear comfortably for hours I recommend this. Padded shoulder straps would be welcome for daily wear under heavy loads. The Tubes closure system is fast, secure and simple to open or close. The Tubes closure is a welcome innovation compared to the velcro flap closure on the PIG. The SST is a great product. SKD did an excellent job collaborating with FirstSpear in bringing an affordable high quality plate carrier to the end user.