There didn't seem to be a forum for this kind of question, so hopefully somebody with the right info can help out.

First off, I'm getting to be an old phart. For years I stuck with ALICE gear. I went to a civilian militia event once and I was one of three guys still carrying ALICE stuff. But, it's uncomfortable; its' cumbersome; it's ridiculous. You have a belt with suspenders - the equivalent of a modern "battle belt." Then you put a pack on over the top of that. So, you essentially have two sets of straps going over your shoulders and on top of that, you use a rifle sling.

We can now take a step up and have a plate carrier OR places want to sell you a chest rig- in which case you still need to have something on your back to carry water and essentials. So, you have a chest rig and a back pack... and two sets of straps coming across your shoulders, PLUS a rifle sling.

Back to the plate carrier. At 64, I'm not thinking about 17 pounds of plates front and back, plus a cumberbund holding two smaller plates, ammo, magazines, and probably a battle belt plus sidearm and your rifle OMG. I have a MOLLE fanny pack that a dealer said is hard to come by. So, what would be the downside to a plate carrier, no plates, ammo in front (3 mags), water bladder in the pocket on the back side of the plate carrier, and my fanny pack. It would serve as a kind of Bug Out Bag and get out of a riot, looter scenario. Anyone with any better ideas?

Check out the French milsurp tactical vest that Sportsman's Guide is selling for $35, their item # WX2-713115.

One of the guys who I hunt with bought this vest and said that he likes it, but he had to break it down and wash it several times to get the preservative smell out of it. He said that the vest that he received appeared to be new and unused, but had heard from someone else that the vest that person received had been used and was quite worn.

Nothing wrong with an ultra-light plate carrier like the Crye JPC 1.0, Crye Air Lite, or Eagle Industries Active Shooter minimalist carrier. You could add a couple of Kevlar Panels for Level III protection in a pinch without adding much weight. In fact, they tend to balance better with a bit of weight.

Wear just the front plate. Add pouches.


Hundreds of chest rigs: Get one and an "assault" pack...saves your back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P5oiFBwgDM.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFyDsMjb9s8