REVIEW: Agilite K5 Plate Carrier

Small, fine, and fits well in the hand: what you see here is the K5 Plate Carrier from Agilite in Multicam. Israeli manufacturers are rather exotic for us: you can get the plate carrier in Germany at BEST PROTECTION. In terms of dimensions, it reminds us of the lightweight Crye Precision JPC. And yet it's completely different...

Frontal view: the K5 is easily recognizable by its relief straps that run from the shoulders diagonally across the chest. This is intended to make the plate carrier more stable, as there are no attachment points at the shoulders that can be stretched or torn by the weight. Although, we have not seen any plate carrier fail in this area, it must be said.

The shoulders are always important. They are excellently padded and multi-layered. There is an integrated cable tunnel for radio and hydration hose, and the Velcro straps can also be used as emergency handles.

Transition area to the front plate pocket: this is where the length of the shoulder straps is adjusted.

Most companies use Velcro here, but Agilite's admin pouch has a zipper.

The zipper is a real asset. There's no annoying ratcheting, and you have great access to the compartment for essentials.

There's Velcro on the front, perfect for attaching the limited edition SPARTANAT Patch in Multicam. You can see the sewn extensions of the shoulder straps here. Otherwise: MOLLE...

... MOLLE as far as the eye can see. The lower half of the front plate pocket is designed for you to customize it with magazine pouches as needed.

Nice detail: the Agilite logo as plastic tabs on the left and right at the bottom of the abdominal flap. Helps with opening the plate carrier. Do it with style!

This is as classic as it gets with most plate carriers: lift the flap, secure the cummerbund, and close it.

And this is the back side, where you can see that the cummerbund is not continuous, but also attaches at the back. It also has a built-in expansion joint along its rear length.

Agilite also opted for an "AirLite" version for the cummerbund: straps and plenty of air, provided you don't load it up with pouches. The straps are made of firm material and are not individually reinforced.

Also on the cummerbund: a small logo. Can't hurt.

We always love the back. This one delighted us, because there's so much Velcro. Together with the closures, it forms the prepared mounting system for the integrated assault pack. So it's worth considering the plate carrier alongside a backpack from Agilite, such as the AMAP or other Assault Packs from the manufacturer.

Close-up: one of the four buckles that secure the backpack on the sides and bottom.

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