SHOT Hotness: AR500 Armor’s New Lightweight Body Armor Carriers

Body armor can’t protect you unless you wear it…

Whatever your reasons may be for wanting to wear body armor, everyone agrees on one thing: It’s kind of heavy and hot and can get unpleasant if you’re active or the conditions are warm. That’s why at this year’s SHOT Show, AR500 Armor debuted two new armor plate carriers designed to make the experience of wearing it much more pleasant. These two carriers, the Testudo Lite and the Veritas Lite, are the next iteration of the Testudo and Veritas carriers already known, trusted, and loved by law enforcement and the military. Because, after all, body armor can’t protect you unless you wear it…and you’re much less likely to wear it if it hangs on you like the proverbial millstone.

“These are more streamlined, with less bulk,” said Edward Cordova of AR500. “They’re more concealable under clothing, lighter, and cooler. But they have the same exact amenities as the originals…they just shed a pound or so.” (And if a pound doesn’t sound like all that much to you, chances are you’ve never worn body armor.)

The Testudo Lite features removable shoulder pads, built-in side plate pouches, inner-plate retention straps, and a Velcro cummerbund for ease in dressing. The Veritas Lite also feaures removable shoulder pads, Hypalon easy-to-grip pull tabs, and reinforced stitching. The Testudo will retail for $75; the Veritas for $45. Both are available for pre-order now, and will be shipping in March. Click here for more details!