First impression is good. The shipping was very fast and was delivered with my add-ons as ordered. This is my first Shellback product so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The material and stitching looks to be good quality. This was meant to be a secondary for a vehicle I rarely use. Hoping to get to the range and test it a bit. The slim / minimal design leads me to believe it will be very maneuverable with the swimmer cut plates I put in. Bonus for the carrying bag. Hesitant to give 5 stars because I can’t speak to the durability, though I am optimistic it will hold up well.

I bought the carrier so I could have a grab and go set on the job as an LEO. Overall it’s a nice set up so far, plates fit perfectly and the built in kangaroo pouch saved some coin. Only critiques I have are the side straps and the shoulder straps. The side straps are dual adjusting (so both front and rear adjust) and the shoulder straps could use some extra padding. The dual adjustments give you a big range but it becomes a lot of extra fabric even in all my gear so you end up chasing it around if you’re in a hurry. the shoulder straps are good for short wear but if you’re rocking it all shift you’re gonna want some extra.

I had a couple plates without a home and the full kit is a lot. It’s not really something you want to lug around. I was looking for a simple solution and for the price and “everything you need” included defender you really can’t beat it. I can’t speak to longevity but I put my plates in and dropped a couple mags in. I wore it all day and night and it was very comfortable once adjusted. The simple, small bag, is a huge benefit. This thing will fit in a small backpack. I now have a highly mobile, quickly accessible, system including this plate carrier. Good job Shellback.