5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier Review: Strong On The Outside, Soft On The Inside. Everything You Want In A Carrier

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRICE

IS THE 5.11 TACTEC PLATE CARRIER WORTH YOUR HARD-EARNED CASH?

Yes. 5.11’s TacTec carrier, priced at $220 USD ($308 CND), which is middle to low middle of the pack price-wise, offers you a lot for your money. It’s lightweight, extremely comfortable, and highly customizable.

The comfort TacTec provides is, at worst, equal to or far exceeds that of other plate carriers of the same price and much higher.

OVERALL

In nearly every area of critical evaluation, the Tactec plate carrier excels. It’s comfortable, mission compatible, holds tight to the body, doesn’t swing all over as you run, and it’s lightweight.

The TacTec utilizes several of 5.11’s unique features you won’t find anywhere else, such as its quick-release cable system and its unique yoke-shoulder strap system.

On the front and the rear, the TacTec has laser-cut MOLLE on the top with standard nylon MOLLE on the bottom. Along with the elastic cummerbund, this gives the TacTec an amazing amount of space to customize your load out.

The inside front, rear, and shoulder straps are all covered in some of the most comfortable padding you’ll find on any carrier, let alone one in this price range.

Unfortunately, the plate pocket was built with a small nylon pull tab instead of a larger nylon handle, making the plate pocket not the easiest to open among carriers.

Inside the plate pocket are four hook-and-loop nylon straps to hold your armour extremely snug and prevent all movement. They work well but can be pretty challenging to use.

The cummerbund is a three-strap minimalist design that perfectly holds the whole carrier secure and snug to the body.

Although without any reinforcement, the cummerbund can be a tad difficult to put on, especially if it’s got gear attached to it.

Overall, though, the TacTec is a solid carrier.

FIRST IMPRESSION

I can fully admit that I was a huge fan of the TacTec from the moment I first got it in my hands and put it on.

I have used the 5.11 Rush72 pack for years (over a decade) and love 5.11’s yoke system.

Knowing that the Rush72 is comfortable and extremely tough, my expectations for the TacTec were high.

Two qualities really stood out to me when I first got the TacTec. First was the sleekness of the carrier, how slim and streamlined it was. Second was how thick the padding was on it.

It has some of the thickest padding I’ve seen on a carrier, making it one of the most comfortable carriers I have ever worn.

I was also a huge fan of all the MOLLE. Although laser-cut MOLLE isn’t my preference, and the material is pretty flimsy, it is better than no MOLLE.

The bungee cummerbund also stood out because it was different. I like 5.11’s minimalist intent with the cummerbund, but I would prefer if it were a little more rigid.

HOW DOES IT HANDLE IN THE FIELD?

I spent some solid days at the range and in the field wearing and living in the TacTec.

I spent time both long-range and tactical shooting while moving and stationary, and I was highly impressed with how good I felt afterward.

The padding on the TacTec is top-notch, and I’m sure it is one of the main reasons this plate carrier has become a staple in the CrossFit community (although power lifting is where its at).

Thanks to its narrow and streamlined profile, even though it has thick padding, I found that it doesn’t impede shooting or movement.

A couple of areas where I did have some slight issues were with the plate pocket, inserting my plates, and then dealing with the hook and loop straps that keep the front panel in place.

These are not the easiest to deal with and although they perform their function well, they leave you wanting to deal with them as little as possible.

QUALITY AND DESIGN

ID PANELS

The TacTec does not have an ID panel as large as many other carriers. It only has an ID panel large enough for a name patch or equally sized morale patch.

However, the entire chest area where the laser-cut MOLLE is, is made of a suede or felt material that can hold onto patches quite well.

MOLLE

The front and back are covered in MOLLE, utilizing standard nylon and laser-cut PALS.

Although all this MOLLE is awesome, I am not a huge fan of laser-cut PALS. It does cut down on space and, in some situations, can be helpful, but often it isn’t as strong as nylon PALS.

It can tend to hold gear a little less securely, and the material, which often isn’t as thick as nylon, can start to show wear and tear more quickly.

That being said, I definitely like how much room I have to customize my gear set-up.

CUMMERBUND

The cummerbund has a traditional minimalist three-strap design. The rear of the cummerbund is nylon, and the front section is elastic to allow for some minor stretch.

The front ends of the cummerbund are hard and formed and are covered in loop panelling, as the panelling on the body and the outer flap are both hook panelling.

This makes the whole cummerbund hold very securely to the body of the carrier. However, it limits individuals’ ability to customize their TacTec with other cummerbunds.

As seen in the second photo, the outer cummerbund panel attaches to the primary carrier using two small hook and loop pieces of nylon webbing.

These two straps hold the cover well, but it can be quite a hassle to detach and reattach as you often miss when reaching for them, and they can easily get hung up on clothes.

Overall, the cummerbund is generally quite comfortable and strong and secures the carrier to the body well.

PADDING

The padding on 5.11’s TacTec is top-notch, on par with other carriers such as the Agilite K19. This makes the TacTec extremely comfortable.

5.11 carefully placed the padding specifically where the plates would rest on your muscles. Helping to prevent muscle fatigue after long periods of use.

The padding is covered in a dual layer of breathable mesh, allowing greater airflow through and over the padding.

This not only helps to cool you down but also helps your gear dry from sweat and water when you’re done with it.

SHOULDER STRAPS

5.11’s yoke shoulder strap system is one of the best and most comfortable sets of shoulder straps among all tactical gear.

I have used the Rush72 pack with the yoke system for at least 10 years. I have carried a lot of weight, for long periods, for a lot of km’s, and I have never had serious issues.

The yoke system transfers the weight evenly through your shoulders and back, and the padding ensures you stay comfy even with a full load on your carrier.

Each shoulder strap is held together by the cable system that threads through nylon loops underneath the top flap.

By opening the flaps and removing the cable on each shoulder, you can adjust the size of the carrier.

ADMIN POUCH

The admin pouch on the TacTec is on the upper chest above the mags versus lower on the carrier underneath the mags.

Considering that it’s purely meant for administrative purposes, the pocket is a decent size.

The pocket has good depth but is relatively narrow. It’s held shut by two thin hook and loop straps, except for the very middle of the pouch, where there’s a nylon pull tab to help get the pocket open.

Accessing the pocket is more manageable as your mags never get in the way; however, accessing items such as pens (or chocolate bars) that have fallen over in the pouch is a bit harder.

PLATE POCKET

The TacTec has a relatively generic design; it’s not too plate-shaped. This allows it to handle a variety of plate shapes and sizes.

5.11 says it is best suited for M or L ESAPI plates and can fit sizes up to 10.25″ x 13.25″.

Inside the plate pocket are four nylon webbing straps to prevent your plates from moving. There are two vertical straps and two horizontal straps.

Although they function well in preventing plate movement, they can be extremely challenging to adjust as there is very little room inside the pocket once your plate is in.

DRAG HANDLE

The TacTec’s drag handle is one of a kind, as it extends out from the main carrier.

The main nylon handle is held to the rear of the carrier by hook and loop. When pulled, the handle detaches from the carrier and extends a solid 15.5 inches.

This greatly aids the rescue operation of the downed individual as the person doing the dragging can comfortably stand upright, making dragging the victim much easier.

The handle, extending and allowing most people to stand or nearly stand upright, ensures the person can drag for longer, further, and faster with much less fatigue.

QUICK RELEASE CABLE SYSTEM

Quick release systems in themselves are not unique, but the cable system used by 5.11 is unique. This light plastic cable holds the entire carrier together.

The integrated quick-release cable system attaches to a nylon handle on a hook and loop panel on the front of the carrier right at the top by your collarbone.

If you need to drop the carrier quickly, you pull off this handle, give it a quick tug, and the entire cable system comes out, causing the carrier to fall off in two separate pieces.

The cable itself is made from a strong yet lightweight plastic. One of the most substantial criticisms I’ve heard about the TacTec is that 5.11 used a plastic cable over a steel cable.

The reality is, however, that any metal would add weight, and many synthetic materials are extremely strong, so metal just isn’t needed.

Altghou different and unique, 5.11’s quick-release system performs flawlessly at its given task.

5.11 FLEX TRIPLE AR MAG COVER POUCH

5.11’s Flex Triple AR Mag Pouch is a solid option for your standard load out.

It’s made from 500D nylon, has loop panelling with laser cut MOLLE on the front, Duraflex G.C. snaps on the rear, and each pouch has elastic compression sides which hold mags securely in place.

It can fit all standard AR-style magazines as well as AK-style magazines. However, the AK mags are too long to close the cover on.

That doesn’t affect anything, however, because when you run the mag pouch, it’s best to tuck the covers inside it so you can access the mags quicker and easier.

As I mentioned above, the aspect I like most about this mag pouch is how securely your mags are held in place. There’s never a worry about them coming out as you’re running and moving.

Yet there’s enough stretch in the elastic that you’re also not fighting to get your mags in and out when you need to swap them.

5.11 FLEX LARGE ADMIN POUCH

To add more weight and gear to the vest for testing, I attached 5.11’s Flex Large Admin Pouch.

Overall, the admin pouch was designed very well. Made from 500D nylon and holding 61 cubic inches, the admin pouch provides that little bit of extra space that may be needed for mission-critical supplies.

It has large nylon ties on the zippers with hard plastic covers, making opening the pouch with or without gloves easy. The front also has a loop panel with laser-cut PALS.

Inside the pouch are stuff-it pockets for larger items and plenty of elastic loops to hold your pens, knives, flashlights and other equipment tight.

5.11 also added two nylon ties inside to prevent the admin pouch from flopping open. When opened fully, these ties keep the pouch at a 90-degree angle, ensuring any less secured kit doesn’t fall out.

Like the Flex AR Mag Pouch, the Flex Admin Pouch is held on by 5.11’s Duraflex G.C. snaps. These light, flexible straps on the admin pouch secure it well with little wiggle.

WHAT I LIKE BEST

YOKE SHOULDER STRAPS

I stated it earlier, but I’ll state it again. 5.11’s yoke system is one of my favourite shoulder strap styles. They are incredibly comfortable and well-built.

Whether I wear the carrier or any 5.11 packs for hours and days with a full load my shoulders, traps, and back have always felt good at the end.

As many criticize, this style doesn’t allow you to make the shoulder straps as small as some people may need. However, I have never had an issue with their length.

5.11’s yoke shoulder straps are strong and comfortable and distribute the weight evenly over your shoulders and back.

PADDING

The padding is phenomenal on the TacTec.

Thick, breathable, and very cushiony. The carrier feels excellent whether you’re using training plates and are just going for a run or whether you’re overseas spreading that good ol’ freedom.

The quality of the padding on the TacTec is equal to that of much higher-priced carriers such as the Agilite K19, AR500 Testudo, or LOF Defence CQR-M2.

5.11 hit it out of the park with the quality of comfort they put into the TacTec.

DRAG HANDLE

I love the drag handle on the TacTec.

It makes dragging a downed buddy so much easier. I am 6’4″, so bending down to grab most carriers’ little drag handles can be hard.

With most carriers, people are left dragging the person while bent over, which is hard on the back.

This drag handle allows you to stand nearly upright as you drag, saving your back and letting you use your legs’ full strength to pull.

It can be a little hard to get back in once you pull it out, but that’s a really minor issue.

CONCERNS AND CRITICISMS

WEAK LASER CUT MOLLE

Don’t get me wrong, laser-cut MOLLE has its place. It is good at being used in areas where you don’t have room for standard nylon PALS. However, most materials are generally weaker unless it’s built into nylon.

The material the laser cut PALS are on is I believe a softer suede leather or a felt type of material.

It works great as an ID panel as patches will stick to it, but it bends quite easily and, because of that, doesn’t hold gear super securely to it.

5.11 would probably have gotten fewer nylon PALS on this section of the carrier than they did of the laser cut, but it would have held items much stiffer, giving a more secure feeling.

CUMMERBUND FLOPPINESS

I am a big fan of this three-bar style minimalist cummerbund, but choosing to go with nylon with no reinforcing, I don’t believe, was the best choice.

With no plastic or stiff reinforcement of any kind, the cummerbund dangles and flops around when it’s open.

When you have extra gear added to the cummerbund, such as my knife, magazines, or the admin pouch, the added weight also can easily cause the cummerbund to swing and become twisted as you put it on the carrier.

I do like the bungee for some added stretch, but I would have preferred some greater stiffness in the cummerbund overall.

CONCLUSION

5.11’s TacTec plate carrier is a solid carrier that hits, I would say, all the major aspects of a great carrier.

Its padding is high quality and extremely comfortable, and I never found it to create issues while shouldering a firearm and firing.

The yoke shoulder strap system is comfortable and makes carrying a light or heavy load a breeze, and the three-bar cummerbund with elastic holds the carrier snug to the body.

There are a few more minor aspects that I think 5.11 could improve to make the TacTec even better and more functional, but in the end, there is nothing that would deter me from running it regularly.

In the end, the TacTec offers a lot, and it provides it at a solid price point.