Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1516388
GUARDIAN PLATE CARRIER Guardian Plate Carrier was developed as a mid-tier armor carrying solution for everyone. No matter if you are a compe- tition shooter, tactical shooter, military or law enforcement, this might be an affordable solution for you. It is reaso- nably priced, well-made but without all the bells and whistles you could find in the top tier carriers from big brands. Nobody tries to hide the fact that Gu- ardians are made in Asia. The key is to keep the quality control – almost the whole world, even big outdoor brands, are doing their manufacturing in the Far East. From the end user perspective it has one significant feature: affordable price tag. Base fabric for Guardian is durable Cordura 500D nylon fabric which will withstand extreme use and abuse. Some parts are made of Hypalon, there are nylon MOLLE webbing straps, Wo- ojin buckles and YKK zippers. So now, after this short intro, let's take a closer look at the carrier and its accessories. PLATE BAGS The core of the Guardian Plate Car- riers are front and rear plate bags and are available in medium or large size. These are Cordura 500D fabric on the outside and stretch fabric on the insi- de. Both are sized for SAPI/ESAPI hard ballistic inserts but Shooter's Cut plates should also fit the bags. In the upper part of the torso panel (front plate bag) there are two rows of MOLLE webbing, with some loops cove- red with Velcro pile (for patches and IFF). GUARDIAN DURING THE IWA OUTDOORCLASSICS 2023 TRADE SHOW, THE HELIKON-TEX COMPANY WAS CELEBRATING A 40TH ANNIVERSARY AND WAS HOSTING A HUGE PARTY FOR ALL THE VISITORS. IN THE MEANTIME, HELIKON-TEX ALSO UNVEILED A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW PRODUCTS, ONE OF THEM BEING THE GUARDIAN PLATE CARRIER SYSTEM. FINALLY, WE HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT IT. The story of Polish Helikon-Tex dates back to the 1980's when it started from surplus sales. Then they started manufacturing and wholesale of USGI uniform copies. And finally, they started to develop their own clothing and equipment and became a globally recognized brand with a couple of product lines dedicated to military, law enforcement, shooters, bushcrafters and other outdoors enthusiasts. Ironically, now some of the Helikon-Tex products are being copied in the Far East! Helikon gear is now priced accordingly to its quality. It's good, "mid-shelf" stuff with affordable pricing. Even pro's will find something in their offer, but they are not the main customer group. 35 www.fragoutmag.com EQUIPMENT