What side straps actually add
The sides are the gap in most armor setups. A front and back panel protects what a threat sees from the front, but a plate carrier leaves the ribs and the area under the arms open, which is where movement and cover geometry often expose an officer. Tactical side straps close part of that gap and stabilize the carrier when it is loaded with plates and gear.
DESCRIPTION
Set of TWO Tactical Side Straps. Designed for increased stability while carrying a full load out and extra protection when needed. Tactical Side Straps include low profile pockets for optional 5″x7″ side armor panels. Tactical Straps come standard on the Tactical Carrier.
OPTIONAL PROTECTION LEVELS
- Level IIIA– Bullet, Strike & Slash Protection
- Reliably defends against all common handgun rounds including .357, 9mm, 45acp, all the way up to .44 magnum and 12 gauge slugs. Additional strike and slash protection comes standard.
- Level IIIA+ – Bullet, Strike, Slash, Stab, Taser and Armor Piercing Protection
- All of the protection from level IIIA in addition to stabs up to 36j of force, tasers, and typically armor piercing handgun and shotgun ammunition (Liberty Civil Defense & FN 5.7)
- HYPERLINE™ IIIA–Hyper thin and hyper lightweight. Handgun, Shotgun, strike and slash Protection
- Providing an unprecedented level of protection, weight saving and thinness (0.19″), Hyperline™ is hyper performance proprietary composite armor with excellent blunt force protection and multi hit capabilities.
- FRAS – Rifle Rated! .223 and 5.56 protection including Green Tip, M193, M855, SS109 as well as 7.62×39 lead core ammo.
Sizing and setup
Side straps are sold as a set of two and include pockets for optional 5 by 7 inch side panels. Fit them so the carrier stops shifting when you twist at the waist, but not so tight that the front panel rides up when you sit in a vehicle. If your carrier came with standard elastic cummerbunds, these replace them.
Choosing a protection level for the side panels
Level IIIA covers common handgun rounds plus strike and slash. The IIIA+ option adds stab, spike and taser resistance, which matters most in corrections, hospital security and crowd work, where the realistic threat is an edged weapon rather than a firearm. Match the side panels to the same threat level as your front and back panels; a IIIA vest with nothing on the sides is a decision, not an accident, and it should be a deliberate one.
Care
Wash the straps with the carrier, never with the panels. Inspect the hook-and-loop at every wash — retention that has gone soft is the usual reason a carrier starts to shift mid-shift.
