Description
Testudo™ Gen 2 Plate Carrier
In 36 BC, the historian Plutarch gave the first description of the Roman Army’s formidable Testudo formation. It consisted of a group of soldiers tightly packed, with shields held in front and above, so that nothing could penetrate the advancing unit. The Testudo Gen 2 Carrier takes that vision and applies it to personal body armor: Having formidable protection by maximizing coverage.
The Testudo is made mostly of 500D Nylon, with bar tacks reinforcing all stress points and PALS webbing covering the outside for attaching your MOLLE-compatible pouches, holsters, and accessories. The generous padding also prevents chafing, making for an armor setup that’s easy to wear for long periods of time. The adjustable shoulder straps, made of nylon, also help you fit the carrier as the low offset makes the rear plate pocket ride at the proper height.
One of the biggest advantages of the Testudo is its cummerbund: A sash around the lower half of the carrier that both gives you side-plate pockets for extra armor and gives you full adjustability to tighten the carrier to a perfect fit. This adjustability makes the Testudo more than a “one-size-fits-all” solution since the size itself can be changed to best suit you.
If you’re looking for a carrier to accommodate your best armor and best gear, while keeping you comfortable the entire time, the Testudo Gen 2 is right for you. Get it by itself or in one of our bundles today.
TESTUDO GEN 2 PLATE CARRIER VEST
- Material: 500D Nylon
- Supported Plate Size: 10”x12” & 11″x14″
- Size: For body types M to 3XL
- Weight: 3.6 lbs
- Features: Built-in Cummerbund with side plate pouches, kangaroo pouch, and admin pouch
- Manufactured: Vietnam (Armored Republic)
A2 BODY ARMOR
- Armor: 2 A2 10×12 Level 3+ A2 body armor Plates from Armored Republic
- Material: Ballistic steel alloy blend of 650 hardness on the Brinell scale, with FragLock™ Coating
- Protection: 5.56×45 M193, 5.56×45 M855/SS109 at 3,000 FPS (+/- 30 FPS) and 7.62×39(ie AK-47), 7.62×51 M80 NATO Ball (ie .308) at 2,850 FPS. Not rated for AP rounds.
- Capability: Edge-to-edge multi-hit protection
- Form: Curved
- Dimensions:
- Weight: 6.5 lbs (per plate)
- Shelf life: 20 years
- Compatibility: Testudo, Valkyrie & Invictus Carriers
- Manufactured: United States
A Series: Alloy Body Armor
The A series consists of our classic rifle-rated steel alloy plates. We’ve come a long way since our first piece of Armored Republic in 2012 and we now utilize custom metal alloy blends to achieve better characteristics than the commonly available steel used in targets and other armor plates.
A series plates offer full edge-to-edge protection, perform great against steel core “penetrator” rounds like the M855, and have the least backface deformation of any category. They also boast a 20-year shelf life.
When it comes to multi-hit protection, there’s nothing close to monolithic alloy armor. While other materials can often handle several hits if they’re evenly spaced across the plate, you do not want to get hit in the same spot twice. Alloy plates don’t have that concern. They can take dozens of rounds in a close group and maintain their integrity. That’s why they often make sense for close-quarters scenarios.
Within each category of our product identification framework, we number our armor inserts to reflect their relative performance rating. For example, you’ll see two alloy armor inserts, labeled A1 and A2. The A1 insert is your entry-level A series, while your A2 insert is an alloy upgrade with additional benefits.