Putting on a plate carrier is simple in essence, but if you are wearing a helmet or the front load is a bit heavier, it can become annoying over time. Also, in an emergency, the plate carrier is not necessarily easy to take off quickly. The solution is a quick release – and that's exactly what HELIKON-TEX offers for the new Guardian plate carrier.
This is what you get delivered. Two waistbands with 2M buckle large, two Velcro adapters with matching counterpart, and one adapter with a small 2M buckle for the shoulder strap. metal strapping buckles
Yes, only one shoulder strap. So, you have to decide whether left or right. It's a matter of preference, but we recommend the side where you do not primarily attach your weapon.
Attaching the shoulder adapter is easy. If you have already assembled your Guardian plate carrier, open the shoulder strap again.
Then pull the tab of the front through the buckle and attach it to the long Velcro strip at the back.
Once assembled, the back looks somewhat like the image above.
The second half is simply Velcroed to the back Velcro strap. The full length will probably not be needed. You can either cut off any excess (not recommended) or simply fold it back.
Thanks to the shoulder cover, the folded back part remains securely in place.
The shoulder quick release fully assembled. Looks quite nice. And it's practical.
Let's continue with the cummerbund. The Celtic part goes in front, and the rest of the cummerbund is mounted the same way as the normal cummerbund.
Here on the left is the normal cummerbund, on the right is the buckle. When mounting, you just need to decide beforehand if you prefer to open the buckle upwards or downwards. Both have their pros and cons. Personally, I prefer to open the buckles downward, even though they could open during crawling and sliding. But I think that is the more intuitive direction.
Both halves of the buckle mounted on each side and the front flap fastened over it. The advantage now is that you don't have to untie and flip up the front flap to put on or take off.
The cummerbund at the back is simply velcroed on. Actually very self-explanatory.
The quick release cummerbund is shorter by one MOLLE/PALS column due to the buckle.
This is how the Guardian Cummerbund Quick Release looks when fully installed.
Putting on the Guardian Plate Carrier is much more comfortable with this cummerbund, but of course, there is also a new weak point, the plastic buckles. These can break.
CONCLUSION: A practical upgrade for the Guardian Plate Carrier from HELIKON-TEX. The quick release buckles on the cummerbund are loved by many, hated by others, but those who put on and take off their plate carrier often will appreciate it. If your plate carrier has the same velcro areas on the front and back as the Guardian, the Guardian Cummerbund Quick Release will also fit, of course.
Available at 74.99 euros in a total of five color variants or at all retailers carrying HELIKON-TEX, such as CAMOSTORE.
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