DBT Praetorian GTG?

I've been perusing the interwebz for a plate carrier, something reasonably priced and of good quality(I know the two don't mutually go hand-in-hand typically). I didn't want to over-invest into something that I'll be messing with on a trial basis. Primary purpose is SHTF/zombies

Anywho, stumbled across the Ebay vendor who has been clearing out the old DBT goodies and grabbed a Praetorian set. Any opinions, as I wait for my new toys to arrive?

Once it gets here, should I like the rig, I'll be asking/reasearching more regarding soft armor/plates...then hopefully spending some coin in that department.

I've been procrastinating the exact same item, in the ACU. Had it in my ebay cart for well over a month now. Seems too many people feel you ain't cool enough if it ain't multicam or a-atacs.

Please, let me know if you like it. I always hear DBT is good to go and for the price, perhaps I should quit procrastinating.

I just picked up 2 of the DBT Predators Gen 2.

The stitching is good. Love the cummberbund on it too.

It was too good to pass up for $50 each.

I was also eyeballin' those Predator Gen 2's, but they didn't have any left in Medium/Black. For now I'm just rockin' my USGI FLC.

Yeh, the combination of made in America, MSRP, and current price; made it difficult to pass up. It should be here Monday.

ETA: Oh, and as far as I'm concerned ACU is grand at doing what it does. So many folks have the misconception that camo should make a person disappear into their environment. Camo is intended to trick the eye into missing outlines, and ACU tricks my eyes pretty well

It was standard issue for PACAF for a while. Wish the .mil would have gone with it instead of the IOTV. I wore one daily for two deployments, never had any issues. While it's still not exactly comfortable, it is more comfortable than either the IOTV or the Interceptor.

The Praetorian is an armor carrier and not just a plate carrier. Its a good carrier and I find it more comfortable than my old CIRAS. I picked up an ACU one from the same vendor and hit it with OD Krylon. Came out a pseudo ranger green color.

It's great to hear from some folks who have used it in real-life scenarios. Thanks to both of you for your service by the way!

By the statement above, I assume this means it can carry both soft and plate armor? Pardon such an elementary question, but I haven't found a wealth of information on this particular carrier online. I bought it simply on reputation of the maker, combined with the great price.

Oh, if it wasn't assumed from above, I bought mine in ACU as well. I also snagged a condor triple kangaroo, a "BROKENSVT" nameplate and another fun patch for it

Yes. It's set up to carry full coverage kevlar as well as front/back and side plates.

Perfect! Thanks for the quick response. I have much research to do once it gets here. What size plates, what material, kevlar shopping. I'll probably be purchasing the soft armor first, now that I know it can carry both.

You'll need to buy kevlar specifically for that vest. It's nothing like the more common Interceptor or IOTV. What size plates depends on the size of vest you got, best bet would be to measure the plate pockets when the vest gets in, I don't recall what the exact sizes were for it.

One piece down, main piece(s) to go...and yep, I know the Pmags were upside down. The kids put them in for me(don't tell them, shhh).

I sure HOPE they're GTG, 'cause I just bought one. I've successfully avoided PCs for all these years, just trudging along with my ol' FLC and my old school black vest underneath, but a Praetorian with all the pouches for $87.99 shipped, just couldn't be resisted.

Now I just have to wait until things back east cool down and the feller I loaned my armor to doesn't need it anymore and I'm good

As for ACU, in my AO, it's as good or better than Multicam–– which, for some reason, stands out like a fluorescent clown costume.

Haha, yeh it's an amazing price.

Where I live, it's mostly hardwood forest and agrictulture. I've seen a lot of folks dust their ACU with OD Krylon. I may experiment with a spare pouch and see how it looks.

RIT dye works pretty well also.

from where?

Mine is on its way in the UPS truck right now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/320913419919?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

If someone wants one cheap I may be letting mine go, decided I liked the Predator 2 better even though it doesn't have emergency release feature.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320844560245

Hot link for the large size. Says there are 7 left. Sizing charts say that large fits 230+ pounds, 72" plus height. Medium fits 170-230 pounds, up to 72" height. I figured that, while there's every possibility Imma get bigger as time passes, there's little chance I'm ever gonna shrink, and I'm right on the cusp between the sizes.

In looking back, the price may not be quite as amazing as I thought in the wee hours. While the shoulder pads and etc have the armor, the soft armor pads for the main carrier, along with the floatation pads are not included. I didn't really consider it an issue, as I was planning on transferring pads and plates from an older, non tactical carrier, but it may be an issue for some, and the missing armor inserts may tip the deal from amazing to meh.

Can the predator be used without Soft Armor? Or will it just float around in it without soft armor? Or is it just a carrier..

I feel that the price is still phenomenal. After searching through mounds of carrier options out there, not many can come close to matching the value. Finding a combination or quality, ability, features and sub-$100 price tag isn't east if possible at all.

Damn it, I knew you guys would find these before I had a chance to buy a bunch of other crap from redcat.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320844560245

Hot link for the large size. Says there are 7 left. Sizing charts say that large fits 230+ pounds, 72" plus height. Medium fits 170-230 pounds, up to 72" height. I figured that, while there's every possibility Imma get bigger as time passes, there's little chance I'm ever gonna shrink, and I'm right on the cusp between the sizes.

In looking back, the price may not be quite as amazing as I thought in the wee hours. While the shoulder pads and etc have the armor, the soft armor pads for the main carrier, along with the floatation pads are not included. I didn't really consider it an issue, as I was planning on transferring pads and plates from an older, non tactical carrier, but it may be an issue for some, and the missing armor inserts may tip the deal from amazing to meh.

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I may be wrong, but wouldn't you want to get the medium as it adjusts bigger? I'm thinking the large may not shrink to fit smaller. Perhaps both have ample adjustability in either direction.

I'm right at the bottom edge of the large size (230lbs and up, 6' tall and up) and right at the top end of the medium (170-220 lbs, and up to 6'). According to their size range, if I was an inch taller, I'd need a Medium Long.

Like I said, as I age, I tend to get fatter, not skinnier. I'd rather start at the bottom and grow into the carrier than start at the top and grow out of it.

I also figured that, inasmuch as I live up north where it gets hella cold in the winter, it's not unreasonable to expect that I might have to deploy this bad boy over a heavy coat or two. At which point, I think Imma be really glad I got one that has room to adjust out.


If you look at the guy's "Other Items", there are some carriers that don't come with the pouches, and those have the size ranges in them. For some reason, DBT doesn't have anything on their site, nor in their catalog about sizing.

In any case, it's too late now.

No, you're right. I'm tired tonight. Now you got me thinking perhaps I too should look into the large. No, I'll just get smaller after not working out. Well, my belly is getting bigger....

Mine showed up today(rather than yesterday, shipping issue with UPS). My name plate showed up the other day, had to slap it on:



While I knew that it came with the armored shoulder pads, it was a pleasant surprise to find that the sides also included soft armor in the pouches! Next project, shopping suitable soft inserts!

Here's the reply I got for the sizing question.

Hello,

The vests are based on this Sizing Chart:

Small (170 lbs. and below)
Medium (170-230 lbs., 72" or below in height)
Medium/Long (170-230 lbs., 73" + in height)
Large (230 lbs. +)
X-Large (290 lbs. +)

UPS says it'll be here Thursday

I went with medium, being 5'9" and 195 lbs(soon to get back to my solid 185 I used to be ). It's a great fit, and provides great coverage.

Here's where I am now:

By all means, more pics, please. How does it feel? I read someplace online that .mil soldiers weren't digging the fact the Praetorian kept "falling off". I don't know what they mean and there was no follow up on the statement. I did watch a youtube where the guy pulled the quick release and it still took some jumping and shaking to get it to drop free. And one more review from a few years ago the guy was saying the only thing he didn't like were the shoulder straps. I understand the cable actually holds it all together. But it seems it leaves a lot of play in the shoulder area.

Please give me your opinions on all the above. Lookin' good!

I'm thoroughly impressed with it so far. I didn't expect the comfort of a quality fleece jacket, and didn't get that...but it's comfortable enough when fitted properly. Fitting it was a cinch, upon watching the YouTube video on the subject. I got it within reason by donning/removing it a couple of times and adjusting it while off; then when the wife got home(and stopped giggling at me), had her give the adjustment straps a final tug or two.

I'll snap more pictures tomorrow evening after work for certain. And more as pieces come in via USPS and UPS, of course. My Gerber LMF should be here in the next couple of days, and I have some arranging of pouches to do.

I'm shopping war belts as well right now. I plan to use the double M4 pouches that came with this "kit" on the belt, and if I don't care for them it's nothing to purchase another Condor kangaroo(probably in the double variety) for the belt. Speaking of pouches and the like, no issues at all here with the stitching or construction. This stuff is well made, and every piece sports at LEAST one "Made in USA" tag.

ETA: And as I mentioned in my first post after unpacking, the side soft armor was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. When you start adding up all the "add-ons," the $88 really starts stretching out in your mind. I couldn't purchase side soft armor + shoulder soft armor + 1-2 of the pouches for the $88 were we talking MSRP.

Thanks for the additional update. I'll be watching this one, but time is of the essence. Someone else may decide to buy them out. I was really wanting to go with ATACS-au, but this is such a great deal. And for something that will spend 99% of its life in a closet, unless there were a SHTF scenario.

You're welcome. And Krylon

Seen but one left in medium, and now there are none. Got one.

Incoming[crummy cell phone] pics! I'll certainly be looking at a solution to the shoulder straps not being "fixed" in position. The front and back halves of them sort of float around, and when donning the armor they don't always land where you want them(on your shoulders, duh). Here's a pic of the saggy area mentioned:



Though unrelated to the DBT carrier, or redcattactical, I love the condor kangaroo pouch:



Where it now stands:



The baton pouch that came with the set, minus the flap, makes a nice pouch for my Leatherman. The vertical pouch in the admin works great for a small flashlight.

I purchased the DBT war belt and inner belt today. Can't wait for it to arrive so I can set it up with the double M4 mag pouches and double pistol pouches that are just laying around now

Can someone please demonstrate how to put the Praetorian on? The only pictures I have seen of the attachment method is the one from the manufacturer.

It looks like a pretty comfortable vest but it also looks like it would take some time to put on. Especially once it was loaded with armor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_sgANYePFU

It's certainly not the easiest thing to do...er, not the most time-efficient. It's easy enough, and after the second or third time it becomes simple. My wife still laughs at me as I put it on, and as I wear it. Whatever

Well, crap! Got mine today and it looks like they remembered to take the side armor panels out before they shipped it. I was hopin', but nope–– just empty pockets.

In any case, other than looking somewhat faded, the stuff looks good. I'll see tomorrow whether it fits or not.

Admin pouch looks handy and my flashlight even fits in it, which is no sure thing with that fat sucker.

Also, it looks like the sale's over, so you guys who were waiting, you are assessed the snooze penalty.

Say it ain't so. Well, minus one extra bonus.

Thing is, I both hope I get the chance, and never get the chance to use this. Like I said, it's pretty much shtf shit for me. Mine shows up tomorrow.

Bummer. I'm curious to see Bizill's experience when his comes. Wonder if I'm the anomale, or the norm. When he reports back, if he gets inserts I'd email them about it.

I will post up tonight. They are good about emailing back so you could try that in the meantime.

Waiting to see some updates, whenever you guys are done playing with your new toys! I ordered some HSGI shoulder pads tonight, they have the hooked velcro on top to mate with the loops under the Praetorian's shoulder straps. They should reign in the floppy strap syndrome I experienced, plus raise the armor a hair. I felt like it sat a bit low on my frame, even with the straps adjusted all the way in.

Sorry guys. I didn't get to play with mine. Had to go fishin'. I can say that I did NOT get the soft armer side insterts. Label yourself as lucky to have had some extra armor tossed into the deal.

Stitching seems nice and rows all line up nicely. A welcome thing, for sure. Seems tough and durable. I hope I get to flub around with it this weekend.

When I was issued one, I flipped the kevlar shoulder pads around and ran the front and back shoulder straps in between the pad and the connecting strap.

Mine came with the shoulder pads already installed. I gave them a glance, but didn't really see that the floppy shoulder bits from the Praetorian would fit under the elastic straps.

Anyway, today was crazy hectic, so I didn't get to play with it much. Tomorrow or Sunday–– scratch Sunday, it's fadda's day and I'm supposed to go to me daughter's house–– tomorrow or Monday, I'll switch my stuff over from the FLC integrate some of the new pouches, and see if I can fit the thing. I'll see if I can get some pics up after that.

It's a pain in the ass, but they fit.

Well I inadvertantly found a simple solution to the floppy straps. A coworker's brother gave her all of his old duty gear from two Army deployments, and she passed it along to me(with a bit of compensation on my part).

Among the first load of goodies was an issue "front yoke and collar". The item has two patches of hook velcro on the front, which mated perfectly with the loop velcro beneath the straps. It also has snap-down straps at the rear which worked perfectly over the rearmost straps. I've not gotten to test it for comfort or fit yet, but I found it interesting how well it solved the problem. This of course, after I already ordered the HSGI pads.

I'll still be installing the HSGI's, but wanted to share that this might be an option for anyone with access to surplus items. I'll snap a picture or two tomorrow given the time.

Much obliged.

Here we go, a couple of pictures showing how it integrates. Again, maybe not the best option, time will tell.

I have a Paretorian and have not even tried the IBA collar on it, but being a military carrier no suprisee that it is designed to fit. A lot of carriers are actually designed to take it and the "nut guard" panel.

The IBA collar, other than pushing your head a bit forward when prone actually makes for a great load bearing assembly on most of the vests I have tried, especially with split shoulders. It works so well I have actaully thought about having a custom piece sewn up with 1/8" close cell foam and most the "collar" part removaed to use as a shoulder pad unit for a heavy armor carrier.

[ETA] One thing that I have noticed abotu the collar on some other quick release carriers that is a good thing to know- on the Praetorian does it beind the front and rear halves together and thus negatate the quick release function of the carrier?

That's a great observation. Due to the split nature of the front and rear straps, and the method I mounted the front collar assembly, the carrier would still disassemble as intended. The rear strap would simply slip out of the snapped strap.

Well dang, I was going to put the collar I have on the DBT Praetorian I have, but the collar has "walked off" somewhere in the storage room. When i find it I will give a run through and see how it feels.

I have the DBT Praetorian and a few other armor carriers I am going to do a video review of on my Youtube channel when I get some free time!

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