SIG MMG 338 Program Series

Sneak Peek – 221B Tactical Maxx-Dri Plate Carrier

221B has been working on the Maxx-Dri Plate Carrier prototype. They are shooting for the worlds lightest and only 100% breathable tactical plate carrier. This isn’t an insert, it’s the actually plate carrier made from their proprietary fabric which will accept both soft armor and hard plates. 

www.221btactical.com

Tags:

21 Responses to “Sneak Peek – 221B Tactical Maxx-Dri Plate Carrier”

  1. Joe says:

    Dumb unless someone invents breathable Kevlar and ceramic

    • Lasse says:

      What about breathable steel plates?

    • HK says:

      Shouldn’t be an issue if there’s mesh between plate and skin. Then air can circulate or at least evaporate sweat. My only concern is getting dirty in the brush with this, as little rocks and pickies may get stuck in there and mesh may snag too easily on thorns. But for urban / leo this seems pretty… cool.

      • Jack says:

        Then that’s the same as like 75% of plate carriers out on the market today that has 3d spacer mesh interior with air channels. The only difference with this is their 3d spacer mesh like fabric (proprietory according to them) is on the outside as well just from looking at it. Spacer mesh on the exterior is 100% unnecessary and factors into decreasing the vests overall durability compared to using high abrasion resistant tightly woven material (like cordura) on the exterior.

        Yes, that material is great for comfort and breathability on the interior side touching the torso, but it’s 100% redundant when on the exterior.

  2. Luke says:

    Dang it! I just bought one of those USMC under-armor spacer vests and was going to make one like this.
    I think it’s great idea, provides lots of cushion and plenty of ventilation for the cummerbund and straps. Should actually provide some airflow under the plates as well.

    • Luke says:

      Looks just like the heavy spacer made by gehring-tricot, black for non-FR, coyote for FR?

  3. Mesh is coming back in. Time to break out my NFL shirt cut-offs.

  4. STEPAN1983 says:

    Whats the point of having 3D mesh over the armor plate and soft armor? Also if they stitch PALS webbing directly to this mesh without reinforcement bartacks area on the inside surface (like a vertical thin webbing) this stitching will fall apart uder pressure

    • Luke says:

      While I would personally use a solid fabric on the outside (at least over the plates) I actually have quite a bit of faith in the mesh. Stuff is like rope on the inner and outer face. Actually quite a bit like the raschel knit mesh on the MOLLE II FLC; that stuff seems to hold on to PALs webbing fine.

  5. Lance says:

    Bonus feature: To add additional environmental camouflage, the soldier simply needs to low crawl 10 feet for all the stickers and other vegetation to then be permanently embedded into the mesh…

  6. Eddie says:

    Would love to see the sag factor on that when you put plates in it. Plates are a tad heavy, and I am pretty sure THAT kind of mesh stretches out with weight over time. RIP

  7. 1988 called….

  8. Jon Meyer says:

    I would say for urban use only.. Think about the tics and so forth that could get embedded in that thing.

  9. kemp says:

    i think paraclete used to make a mesh outer concealable carrier back in the day.

  10. STEPAN1983 says:

    I wonder is there any similar under-the-shell liner 3dmesh solutions for footwear on the market? like a boot liner sold separately. Besides new arcteryx boots. Google don’t help much. Just a fantasy. Imagine jungle boot without lining, and you have this mesh liner. Unlike stitched-in liner it has less stitches that stops air circulation, liner can be taller, standing over the boot collar (again no obstacle) and you can easily wash or change the separate liner

    • joe says:

      I like where you’re thinking, but would it contribute to blisters due to the texture?

      I don’t know if this material is the technology solution to wet feet, but it needs to be addressed before we end up in a tropical conflict.

    • BravoMike says:

      Damn, beat me to it! Hahaha

      • Diddler says:

        Yeah I was about to type, “let off some steam Bennett!” and go down in Internet glory but I wasn’t soon enough.

  11. mike says:

    Um, Borat wants his string vest back. You better not have washed it