Propper® Aegis SAPI Armor Carrier

NTOA Member Tested and Recommended

With reviews from three different NTOA members, the Aegis SAPI Tactical Vest - Carrier Only received their seal of approval garnering an overall score of 4.31 out of a possible 5 with its design, performance and durability praised across the board.

Reviewer 1

I was excited to be chosen as part of the NTOA Member Tested and Recommended Program to review the Propper International Aegis SAPI tactical plate carrier. Upon taking the plate carrier out of the box I looked over the product which seemed to be durable with double stitching around the entire vest. The vest overall is appealing. I really liked the large velcro areas on the front and rear of the vest for placards which I found on other plate carriers to be smaller in size. The velcro closures were strong. I also really liked that this plate carrier had already been equipped with gear pockets on the side panels of the vest instead of on the front so I can attached other mag pouches to my liking on the front without buying a separate piece. I then went to the range and put on the vest. The vest was very comfortable specifically over the shoulders were pads were attached by Velcro straps. The pads did not seem to hind me to should mount a long arm and were not bulky. The adjustable straps for fitting the vest properly were easy to use and accessible even while being worn which made fitting very easy. The plate pockets were also very well constructed with a pull tab release of the enclosure for easy placement or removal of the ballistic plates which has its advantages especially if the need arises to do so under stress. Overall the plate carrier was very well constructed with comfort in mind for the operator wearing the plate carrier.

Reviewer 2

The Propper Aegis SAPI (small arms protective insert) will check all the boxes for those wishing to bridge the gap between a concealable soft vest and a traditional heavy vest. The overall design and methodology in the Aegis plate carrier allows for the benefits of the protection of the traditional heavy vest as well as the comfort and ease of movement of a soft vest set up. First and foremost, a proper body measurement of the wearer is key to selecting the appropriate size. Sizing should be completed by a third party. Furthermore, proper measurements will reflect in the comfort and efficiency of the kit set-up but ultimately, it will ensure that the vital organs and vulnerable body areas are effectively protected. Once the correct size is accomplished, a variety of colors is available to the owner. The design of the Aegis SAPI vest is simple as well as efficient and offers the wearer a number of options for additional accessories and gear storage. The make-up of the vest is durable and well thought out consisting of a versatile outer shell, comfortable foam inserts and mesh linings on the interior of the vest. MOLLE is abundant on the exterior of the vest, the cummerbund area and the interior of the vest allowing the user a number of options to add accessories for storage without feeling overly burdened. Furthermore, the wearer can choose to add hard side plates for additional protection. The front and back SAPI plates are easily inserted and removed and are securely held in place to prevent any interior movement during transit or usage. Of particular note is the overall comfort and strength of the shoulder straps. This aids in preventing fatigue to the wearer when wearing the kit for an extended period of time. The cummerbund contains three pockets on each side wide a securing mechanism for M4 magazines, radios, flashlights etc. Additional features include areas for identification placards, badges and patches as well as an emergency vest removal system that allows the wearer to effectively shed the kit in the event of a medical emergency. Worn in a number of extreme conditions, the vest held up very well to heat, cold and wet conditions and easily married up to a variety of base uniform options to include battle shirts and short/long sleeve range shirts. The kit was donned and doffed with relative ease in static and enforcement operations as well as free-standing and vehicular scenarios. There was little to no ride-up when seated in a vehicle and was quite comfortable to wear in a car for extended periods of time. Ease of movement was easily attained while wearing the vest even while shooting, running or in CQB environments. Storage of the vest was easy with minimal space necessary and the vest would maintain its structure and form while secured in the trunk of a vehicle for extended periods. The vest was easy to clean and air out and quite durable. Overall a solid design to incorporate the ease of movement of a soft vest and the protection of a heavy vest while offering the wearer a number of options and choices.

Reviewer 3

Propper AEGIS SAPI vest plate carrier At first look the plate carrier is well made, it has a grab handle on the rear and dragging someone at 200 pounds was no problem. The plates are securely held in with a large portion of Velcro. The front closure is also a large Velcro patch which gets the job done. During the testing I was able to wear the vest during a basic firearms academy class which I instructed so for a good 4 hours at a time. The carrier was comfortable the padded shoulder straps are nice, I found that the sharp corners tend to rub my neck throughout the day. From sitting in an Impala, it wasn't too hard to get out and get into action. Deploying from an armored truck or the MRAP was easy with no issues. The carrier arrived without plates and the fit of my plates was good but not perfect. The adjustments were easy to make though time consuming. But once adjusted the fit held its shape well. The padded interior is great and even in warmer Texas weather wearing the carrier an extended amount of time it didn't seem to hot. There are two magazine pockets on each side of the carrier with elastic hold down straps, which will accommodate either 5.56 or 7.62 magazines. Both sides were easy to reach and I was able to pull the magazines without any problems. The carrier came with two other MOLLE pockets which were ideal for carrying gloves, pens, cuffs, flashlights and a med kit. While wearing a helmet You can move your head up and down just as if you weren't wearing the plate carrier. The vest seemed to shed the light rain and didn't become soaked. The vest held up well and is easy to use with or without soft body armor. Even with a regular uniform and concealable armor this vest adds that rifle protection and is easily donned when needed. It would be a good addition for active shooter or stand alone for warrants, and fast changing situations when a full SWAT vest might not be available. The drawbacks are if you were injured the paramedics would have a hard time getting the vest off of you, as the Velcro is large and holds very well. With the MOLLE covered flap sewn across the front flap, and pouches attached it proved difficult to hold out of the way and get the Velcro lined up while adjusting the side straps correctly.

Carrier only. Ballistic armor panels not included.

• Accepts shooters cut or SAPI hard plates
• Reinforced bottom loading plate pockets
• 360° MOLLE attachment system
• MOLLE cummerbund with M4/radio pouches
• Removable side hard plate pockets
• Foam inserts and mesh backing for comfort
• Front and back loop fields for identification
• Fully-adjustable padded shoulder straps
• 2-point emergency release system
• Kangaroo pouch
• Vest offered in S-2XL sizes
• Made in USA

Options

• ID Placards (up to 3" x 9")
• Level III or Level IV plates, Custom Soft SAPI Armor 
• Special threat plates
• Available cummerbund soft armor inserts
• ACE accessories compatible for throat, collar, groin and bicep protection 
• Kangaroo pouch insert