Foam Inserts for Body Armour/Plate Carriers

[Kozure]

I'm looking at a few options for plate carriers and thinking ahead to the armour inserts. I know from talking to others that if you don't put an insert in, you tend to get a "floppy" looking vest.

I know there are decent replica sets out there that aren't too expensive:

http://www.evike.com/products/31234/

http://www.evike.com/products/46307/

http://www.herooutdoors.com/search-r...y=sapi&Search=

This video suggests closed-cell foam from yoga mats or sleeping rolls:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUc_1Gs0xZM

This set gives an option for $18.99

http://www.herooutdoors.com/emg-prof...9x12-set-of-2/

Are there cheaper/better solutions out there? I'm not going for authenticity once pulled out - I just want the plate carrier to look filled-out and be usable, ideally for under $20 CDN.

[graff]

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/gr...6097p.html#srp

cut your own, works fine

[Drake]

Yoga mats aren't shaped and I have a hard time seeing foam providing enough rigidity unless you're walking around with an empty vest.

There's some plastic ones for sale in the classifieds.

Depending on how you play, I suggest you drill holes in them and put some urethane insulation foam in them if they'll be subjected to stress.

[brock0]

Depends on the vest and what you're putting in it. I ran one without and it was fine.

The reviews I heard about dummy plates both purchased and home made was that they made the PC hot AF to play in. At my regular field with long games outdoor games in August it's definitely realistic if not comfortable.

[Desmodus]

I made some out of cardboard and they worked fine.

[Disco_Dante]

I made some out of insulation foam and regretted it.

[Desmodus]

Originally Posted by Disco_Dante

I made some out of insulation foam and regretted it.

Must've worked wonders on those cold nights at Picton though!

[Kozure]

A few other people suggested cardboard as well.

I went out at lunch and found a dollar store which carries four 15.2" x 15.2" EVA foam mats for $3.50 CDN.

If/when I get the plate carrier I'll try out both in the same environment and see how I feel about them and their differences. The nice thing is that I can use the templates I cut out of cardboard to trace the outline onto the EVA foam squares!





Thanks to everyone for suggestions. I was planning on cutting my own, but curious what most people did and their own experiences.

[Fulcrum77]

For one of my PCs I used a foam sheet plus I cut the same size out of a couple of sheets of plastic corrugated sheets so that there'd be a few air channels between the foam and myself. With the channels running vertically, there was some give to the sheet to curve a bit to the torso.

[Okawesome]

I used EVA foam floor mats as well. It works so well for the cosplay community it should be fine to fill out plate carriers. I have thin half inch floor mats so I needed to double layer it. I might contact cement the plates together to form a single thicker plate. If you have a heat gun you can use that to both shape the foam and close up the surface cells for durability. Normal cosplay usage would also include a step to seal the foam using a glue type substance (e.g. thinned mod podge - there are many options) but I don't know if that's necessary here since it will be encased in the PC.


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[BenG]

I measured my JPC and cut sheets of cardboard taped them together and laminated them in packing tape, survived 2 36 hour games, multiple 12 hour games and many many skirmishes, many in pouring rain, and still kicking. 50cent fake plates in a 250$ plate carrier

[OGRE]

http://www.shootercbgear.com/product...oducts_id=1298

I have two sets of these and no complaints, fit snug in a medium vest and they are super comfy!

[Gato]

Honestly, trace the shape on like a quarter to half a phone book, cut it out, tape it solid, then put a garbage bag over it and tape it up tight. Insert it into the armour complex. Stays nice and rigid and the bag keeps it dry.

[pestobanana]

use a cutting board and make a stab proof vest.

[graff]

Originally Posted by pestobanana

use a cutting board and make a stab proof vest.

is he still around? lol