Uncle Mike´s

Plate Carrier Vest with Cummerbund

As I started carrying a handgun for a living I went with the Uncle Mikes Pro3, since this was the only affordable retention level holster back in the days. Quickly Radio, Cuff, Light, Glove and, Mag.-pouches were added. The time went on and different tasks need different holsters. Back then UM just made Holster, pouches, stocks and accessories like this, having Butler-Creak in the same boat. Now UM belongs to the Bushnell Holding and the list of stuff they offer is growing up. They are also much deeper now in LE-Equipment, then they were in the past. One of the newer Products, that is attracting me, is the Plate Carrier Vest with Cummerbund. When I got things right then it was made by UM for Blackwater-Gear before. I have seen it in the past at the Blackwater-Shop in ACU (UCP), Coyote, black and OD-green. So far as I know ,they are just coming in black and OD since UM is the only one who is selling them.

The Plate-Carrier is coming in a 10 part kit. Front and back panel, shoulder straps left and right, two shoulder pads for the straps  Cummerbund left and right, plus a Cummerbund cover and a closing flap for the Cummerbund. The main material is a rough cordura fabric. There are 6 rows of PALS on both panels. 4 with 8 loops and 2 with 6. A small Velcro tape is sewn to one adjustable tie-down strap is attached to each side of the back panel. Two female fastex buckles are located on both sides of the front panel to work in conjunction with the tie-down straps coming from the back. The shoulder straps are fully adjustable and the fastex buckles can be mounted front or back for individual requirements. The with two “D”-rings equipped shoulder pads are fixed to the straps with Velcro and they are well padded. The top loading plate pockets are holding curved and non curved plates up to size “Large”. The position of the plate’s can´t be adjusted. A well sized Velcro flap is closing the plate pocked from the top. There is also a emergency drag handle sewn into each plate pocket. The handles can be positioned over the flap for instant use or folded down between the top of the plate but under the flap. So the handle is out of the way but team-mates just have to open the flap and start dragging.

The plate pockets are padded toward the body. With just the plates inside the pockets it is just fine. But if you add soft armor to the pockets they will get to bulky and the attachment point of the shoulder straps start to pinch. If just used as a Plate-Carrier without the Cummerbund the tie down straps will do the job. But the female fastex buckle on the right hand side is annoying me. This buckle is not really fixed in its position. What I mean is, that if I try to fasten the buckles in a hurry, the male buckle from the rare will push the female buckle at the front, inside the pocket were the buckle is mounted in. If you have to respond to an active shooter, you may just want to throw the plates over the soft armor you are wearing anyway. But if you try to hit the buckle, it will disappear in its pocket.

With the PALS, is the Cummerbund cover and the Cummerbund closing flap, fastened to the carrier. The front flap is securing the cummerbund very well. It´s PALS are equal with those of the Cummerbund and a Velcro pouch is hidden behind the for documents etc. The cover on the back is protecting the elastic band that is needed for the adjustment of the Cummerbund. I am not very big, but I have a 45” (115cm) chest. The added elastic band was too short for me, so I got me a replacement one at a local outdoor store. Now the CB will fit, but the eyelets of the CB have left the cover quite a bit. It gets even worse, when using soft armor underneath the plates and inside the CB. This circumstance is responsible for the shifting of the CB and the PC since the solid connection is gone. And this was just wearing a T-shirt and soft armor  underneath.

I have read a couple of bad reputations about the UMPC in the internet. Yes, it is not as tricked out, and may be not as durable as a CIRAS. But I guess, that was not the idea of the UMPC at all. I was just wondering, that the CB was that short. With a 45” chest I am not a big guy, but add some soft armor, a shirt and a windbreaker to it and the task of wearing it as a solid unit will be impossible. What I like, is to use it for its primary application. A Plate Carrier. If running patrol, stakeout or PSD I just like the idea of having a set of hard plates handy in case the crap hits the fan. With the PALS on the front and back I feel to have enough space for adding a radio, extra ammo or a IFAK for a short mission to the carrier. As a person of my size, I would not use the CB since it will not hold the gear firmly due to the length / rubber cord problem. The material is some tough nylon and I have not had any problems with it during training and operations. Like I told you before, I don´t know if it will stand month after month in the sandbox, jumping in and out of your technical twenty times a day. But as a plate carrier, supporting individual operatives in case to case situations, it worked fine.

I hope my review on the Uncle Mike Plate Carrier was useful for you.

Cheers,

Gunner