Armor Sizing Guide

Safeguarding vital organs starts with a precise fit for your armor plates. The diagram to the left is a good representation of what a properly fit armor plate should cover. The heart and lungs are the primary organs you'll want to shield with the plate. Other essential organs such as the liver and kidneys may receive partial protection from the front and back plate, but side plates are recommended for better coverage of those areas.

Properly fitting your plates isn't only to ensure coverage of the vital organs, but also to make sure that mobility isn't compromised. This might seem intuitive, but I'll say it anyway, if your armor plates are too big, you'll just be restricting movement and adding weight. On the other hand, if the plates are too small you risk not protecting the vital organs. A properly sized armor plate should allow you to move your arms with ease, shoulder a rifle comfortably and bend at the waist.

So, what size plate should you go with? The diagram on the left is a good example of what a properly fitted armor plate should look like. The top of the plate should sit just below the sternum notch while the bottom of the plate sits approximately 3 inches above the navel. To make sure the width is correct, you'll want to the edges of the plate to basically be nipple to nipple as shown. This fit maximizes both protection and mobility.

We recommend that you use a measuring tape to get your exact plate measurements in accordance with the fitment previously described, but in general this is how the different plate sizes usually fit different people sizes.

• People shorter than 5’2” (157.5 cm) will be best suited with 8”x10” plates.
• People taller than 5’2” under 6’3” (190.5 cm) will best be suited with 10″x12″ plates.
• People taller than 6’3” may use the bigger 11"×14" plates but this is where you'll definitely want to measure to double check the width of the plate fits because people who are tall but thin might still want to go with the 10"x12" plates for optimal mobility and to cut weight.

Again, those bullet points are a general overview, and we highly recommend that you measure yourself properly before purchasing body armor. If you're still unsure and need help with sizing, please feel free to reach out to customer service for one-on-one help.

But wait! What About Plate Carrier Sizing?

Plate carrier sizing is the easy part. Carriers will be fit to the plate itself, so if you need a 10"x12" plate make sure the carrier is built to hold that plate size. After verifying that the carrier holds your plate size just make sure the carrier also fits you T-shirt size. Most carriers allow for quite a lot of adjustment, ensuring the perfect fit. If you plan on running side plates for extra coverage, also make sure the carrier you are interested in can accommodate them.