REVIEW: Ares Armor Aspis PC

Ares is the ancient Greek god of war, and even in antiquity, hoplites wore breastplates. Ares Armor from the USA also produces such armor, but 2,000 years later. The chest and back are not covered with metal but made of 1000 Cordura and carry SAPI plates. We took a look at the Aspis Plate Carrier for you, which is available in Germany at SNIPER AS.

The front and back of the Aspis. Ares Armor openly declares that their carrier is not a miracle weapon, but a classic solution that does what you need: carry SAPIs and provide space for pouches and magazines. The shoulder straps are thin and could use some padding. A robust handle is located at the back.

The Aspis can be easily worn without the cummerbund for a mission. However, the straps can be removed with the buckle if a cummerbund is used.

The cummerbund is robust: it has exterior and interior MOLLE (left), is in two parts and held together with Shock Cord. It is also hollow inside. We are inside up to the elbow here (right). This allows for inserting soft armor and looping side SAPIs on the inside.

The closure is classic. Tabs from the right and left, with the flap coming from the top. Interestingly, the flap is quite long. The carrier is not only velcroed closed, but the flap is also folded over and secured at the back inside. This extra step seems unnecessary. The amount of velcro in the front prevents any accidental opening.

The usual kangaroo pocket is on the abdomen. Here, a divided pouch can be inserted to carry magazines.

The inside is lined with mesh for ventilation. At least as much as possible. Here, you can see that the pocket for the plates is closed with a huge flap on the outside. The flap from the front secures the cummerbund on top.

CONCLUSION: A sturdy plate carrier that holds its ground. Some solutions may seem complicated, like the bulky cummerbund or the flaps on the plate pockets. However, this does not affect the functionality negatively. Shoulder pads and a kangaroo pouch are available separately from Ares Armor.

The Ares Armor Aspis PC is available in Germany at SNIPER AS . It costs $196 at the manufacturer in the USA.

http://youtu.be/uxODqZ_D-Zo

Video from the manufacturer about the Aspis Plate Carrier.