In this Premier Body Armor review, we’ll test two of Premier Body Armor’s top sellers: the Fortis Level III+ GT/RF2 Plates and the Fortis Alpha Plate Carrier.
While body armor may not be the first thing that comes to mind for emergency preparedness, it is an important part of defending your family, especially during a widespread event when law enforcement is overwhelmed or not available.
Our testing team for this review consisted of a diverse group of experts. Altogether, these experts bring over 50 years of experience in military service, self defense, and firearms.
The Fortis Line by Premier Body Armor is designed to be more affordable than other body armor out there. But is it the best budget body armor? Is it any good?
Keep reading to find out and also find how you can save 5% off!
Premier Body Armor Fortis III+ GT/RF2 Multi-Curve Review
- Weight: 4.5 lbs (per plate)
- Size: 10”x12”
- Certification: III+ GT/RF2
- MSRP: $395.95
Out of all the body armor I’ve tested, the Fortis III+ GT/RF2 Multi-Curve is one of my favorites and is highly recommended by our experts.
As the name suggests, these plates are designed to stop threats up to level three and green tip, which means they stop up to 5.56 M193 and 7.62x54R. It’ll stop most conventional rifle rounds, like 7.62x51mm NATO and .223 Remington.
The “+” is not an official designation given by the NIJ, and it can mean different things to different companies. Premier Body Armor uses the “+” to mean that the plate also meets RF2 standards, meaning it stops up to 5.56mm M855. Simply put, this armor meets III NIJ standards and protects against 5.56mm M855.
One of our experts explained it this way:
“The Fortis III+ GT/RF2 plate’s ability to stop threats like M855 and 7.62x54R makes it a top choice for both law enforcement and civilian users looking for reliable rifle protection.“
Premier Body Armor has never had an NIJ certification revoked (which is something that many other body armour companies cannot say). This means that their plates have passed every surprise test by the NIJ, instilling a lot more confidence in their plate’s effectiveness.
This armor is positively buoyant, which means that it floats! I tested this myself, and this armor does float. This positive buoyancy is really important if you ever end up in the water. You cannot swim easily in your average body armor, but this armor would actually help you stay afloat.
Like me, many of our experts were enthused about this feature:
“Positive buoyancy is a game-changer. Floating armor provides a critical edge in water-based situations where traditional plates would weigh you down.”
Based on our hands-on testing, the armor offers truly edge-to-edge protection. It has a very small foam comfort ring, providing extra padding and comfort. The front and back of the plate are slightly padded to provide protection against drops and add some extra comfort.
During our water testing, the foam comfort-ring sucked up water very quickly. While the cover is somewhat water-resistant, it is far from waterproof.
Premier Body Armor offers both single-curve and multi-curve options. I recommend the multi-curve for comfort (and it is only a few dollars more). One of our testers explained it best:
“The multi-curve design significantly reduces pressure points, making extended wear much more bearable. Armor is only helpful if you actually wear it!”
On inspection, I noticed that the armor has a hexagonal armor-plating design, which is a bit of a newer way to go about armor plates.
In other words, the armor is made up of different hexagonal plates. If one is hit and compromised, the rest won’t be. Hypothetically, this armor could take many rounds as long as they were all in different places.
This armor is reasonably priced at around $800 for a set. It’s surprisingly budget-friendly. The company’s level IV/RF3 plates are even more budget-friendly at about half the cost but almost twice as heavy.
Premier Body Armor uses Advanced Solvent-Based Thermosetting Resin to ensure that all layers of the plate stay stuck together. This is a common problem with cheaper armor. The pieces can slowly separate and compromise the armor.
This plate is made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, which is why it floats. However, this also means it is a bit thicker than other types of body armor. It did not fit in all plate carriers we tested, even some advertised as having a large plate bag.
This is one reason you might want to purchase the Premier Body Armor plate carrier below to go with this armor. While it isn’t our favorite plate carrier, you can rest assured that this armor will fit in it. Premier Body Armor does sell a complete Fortis Level III+ GT loadout that has two plates and the plate carrier at a lower cost.
Our experts all reported that this armor exceeded their expectations. When asked if he would recommend the plate, one of our veteran testers said:
“Finding a plate that provides protection, comfort, and buoyancy at this price point is rare. This is my new go-to armor plate.”
Premier Body Armor Fortis Alpha Carrier Review
- Material: 500D Nylon
- Mounting System: 1″ QASM buckles
- Sizes: One size fits most
- MSRP: $124.95
Next, let’s look at the plate carrier.
After testing, we decided that the Fortis Alpha Carrier is an average plate carrier. It’s a lot like other options on the market. However, its main selling point is that it will fit the Fortis Level III+ GT/RF2 Plates, which I highly recommend.
These plates don’t fit in all plate carriers by other companies, based on my testing. The fact that this plate carrier is designed to carry these awesome plates is a huge bonus.
That said, most of our testers didn’t feel like the cummerbund (the straps around the waist) were adequate. They are half the size of other plate carriers I’ve tested and not nearly as adjustable. The cummerbunds are slightly elastic, but the fitting isn’t nearly as varied as we would have liked for a “one size fits most” design. One of our testers reported:
“The cummerbund rubs as I move and results in raw spots after I wear it for several hours.”
Therefore, this plate carrier would work best for someone of average weight. If you’re even slightly outside of the “normal” range, this plate carrier might not fit you well.
Our testers also reported that the carrier didn’t snuggly hold the plates against their bodies. The plates moved around during all of our active tests. Many of our testers also complained about the shoulder straps:
“Any crossbody work causes the shoulder straps to bite into the front of my shoulders. It’s very square. You do not have all your movement available. It’s easy to make the seams straight like they did here, and you can tell that they chose the easy option with a very simple, non-contoured design. The seams stick out, for instance, which can get uncomfortable overtime.”
It does have some nice, modern features, though. It has SwissClip or QASM buckles for attaching a placard. The laser-cut MOLLE is a nice addition.
Our hands-on testing revealed that the attachment field is slightly oversized compared to our other slick carriers but still performs fine. In fact, it might fit some bigger placards better than other carriers.
The shoulder straps are modernized with a hook-and-loop closure mechanism. No worrying about straps there!
I tested several placards with QASM buckles on the carrier. One of the placards, the one on the KRYDEX Micro Chest Rig, got stuck. The plate carrier’s buckles did not provide enough clearance for the placard’s buckles to be pressed after I inserted it, and I had to remove them with pliers (and a lot of brute force).
This is one of our favorite placards, too, and it works perfectly fine with other plate carriers I have.
The plate bag does hold the plate nicely. I had no doubt that the plates would stay snuggly inside the carrier.
I liked that the company included Velcro retaining straps for the cummerbund to help with strap management. They don’t include shoulder pads, though, and this is common in many of the plate carriers available today.
I also liked the breathable mesh liner; the plate carrier doesn’t have a bunch of superfluous nylon and padding, which is also nice.
While this carrier does include an admin pouch, it is not particularly high-quality. You have to stick your hand past uncomfortable Velcro, and there are holes in the outside nylon, where maps and things could fall out.
I’ve seen some recommend this plate carrier for discrete protection, but that isn’t what it’s designed for at all. You cannot comfortably or discretely wear it under your clothes. The shoulder straps are separate from the plate bag, making the plates naturally jut out. I wouldn’t count this against the plate carrier; it just isn’t its purpose.
One of our testers described this plate carrier as:
“It does what it says on the tin. It is a solution to carrying body armor, but I wouldn’t call it the best solution. “
Based on my testing, this plate carrier is a decent budget option, and the plates I really like fit in it. While it isn’t the absolute best plate carrier out there, it definitely has some appeal. See our guide on the Best Plate Carriers for more options!
Recommended upgrades: We recommend adding a pair of Shoulder Pads and a Triple Mag Panel to your plate carrier.
How We Tested Premier Body Armor’s Plates and Plate Carrier
We did a lot of hands-on testing to provide you with an accurate, helpful review of Premier Body Armor’s Fortis III+ GT/RF2 Multi-Curve plate and Fortis Alpha Carrier. We know that what works well for one person doesn’t necessarily work well for another, so we had several different people participate in our testing process.
That’s how we figured the Fortis Alpha Carrier doesn’t work well unless you have a very average weight and build. Anyone outside that range couldn’t get a proper fit during our testing.
So, what did we do to test the body armor and plates? Here are just some things that went into our testing process:
- Expert team: Altogether, our testing team has over 50 years of combined experience in military and tactical situations. We don’t always agree, but this diverse experience reveals things about products that we couldn’t figure out otherwise.
- Certification deep-dive: The NIJ certifies all ballistic armor under strict testing. Their testing shows us far more about the plate’s capabilities than firing a few rounds in the backyard ever could. To take advantage of this testing data, we take a deep dive into the NIJ’s certification of the plate we’re reviewing, including if that certification has ever been challenged.
- Company testing: We also look at available company testing data, especially if the testing was done by a third party. This testing isn’t held to the same standard as NIJ certification but can sometimes provide interesting insight.
- Buoyancy evaluation: To verify the plates’ positive buoyancy, we conducted water tests to make sure that they really floated.
- Comfort and fit: Each team member wore the Fortis Alpha Plate Carrier for extended periods while performing various activities such as running, crawling, and crossbody work.
- Durability checks: After testing, we checked the armor and plate carrier for wear and tear.
- Compatibility analysis: We tested the plate carrier’s compatibility with gear and add-ons, like placards. This included evaluating how easy it was to get everything on and off and managing straps.
- Design review: Our experts assessed the design of both products for practicality and innovation. In this review, we checked features like how curvy the multi-curve plates were and whether the armor was truly edge-to-edge.
- Situational considerations: We also considered the specific situations in which the products might work well. For instance, does it belong on a bug-out bag list, or is it too heavy?
Through these rigorous tests, we ensured that our review reflects the strengths and limitations of Premier Body Armor’s products, helping readers make informed decisions.
What is UHMWPE and Why Does It Work Well for Body Armor?
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a specialized type of thermoplastic polymer ideal for body armor. Here are some reasons it works so well for body armor and Premier’s plates specifically:
- Enhanced mobility: This material is very lightweight, so body armor made of it is much lighter, too. Lighter is always better.
- Multi-Hit capability: UHMWPE plates can stop multiple ballistic threats without catastrophic failure.
- Buoyancy: This material is buoyant. So, body armor made out of it is buoyant, too!
- Non-Spall properties: Unlike steel, UHMWPE doesn’t shatter when it gets hit, reducing the risk of secondary injuries.
UHMWPE offers a perfect balance of lightweight protection, durability, and versatility. Its ability to provide high levels of ballistic resistance while maintaining wearer comfort makes it a preferred choice for modern body armor.
Does Water Affect These Body Armor Plates?
While these plates do float, one question I had is whether or not getting the plates wet would impact the resin and harm the plates. So, I reached out to Premier Body Armor with my question.
Long story short: getting the plates occasionally wet won’t impact them. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take good care of your plates. I’d recommend keeping them in a well-ventilated space to dry (you don’t want mold, after all) and storing them like you would any other body armor.
Sullivan Owens from Premier Body Armor explained it like this:
“The further a plate deviates from its neutral state, the more challenging it becomes to guarantee optimal performance. That’s just a typical good measure to anything you purchase really. Can you redline a Porsche? Absolutely, but its not something you would want to do unnecessarily or for extended periods.“
The resin Premier Body Armor uses to keep the layers of their plate together is thermosetting, which makes it much more resistant to environmental effects. Other types of resin can weaken with heat, cold, moisture, or even time, compromising the plates even though they look fine on the outside.
China has heavy restrictions on using thermosetting resin, so plates from China must use a weaker resin. Luckily, Premier Body Armor uses a higher-quality, thermosetting resin that can withstand environmental factors much better.
Premier Body Armor also includes a water submersion test in their batch testing. According to their website:
“This test involves immersing the armor samples in water for a specified duration. Afterward, the armor is thoroughly inspected for any signs of degradation or reduced ballistic capabilities.“
Should You Purchase from Premier Body Armor?
I highly recommend the Fortis III+ GT/RF2 plate from Premier Body Armor. If you want a plate carrier that you know will fit these plates, you should consider the Fortis Alpha Carrier.
You can use our discount code “Survivalstoic” to save 5% off the Fortis III+ GT/RF2 or the cheaper Fortis Level IV Plates. It works across the whole store.
Premier Body Armor also has the Fortis Level III+ GT loadout, which includes two plates and the company’s plate carrier at a discounted price. If you just want to get everything at once, this is a solid option. (And our discount code works for it, too!)
Be sure to check out our full section on Self-Defense Guides and Reviews that includes our full Home Defense Guide.
FAQ
Is Premier Body Armor NIJ certified?
Yes, with some context. The Fortis III+ GT/RF2 plate is NIJ-certified III/RF2. However, the “+” is not an official designation by the NIJ. The “+” is included in RF2, a new NIJ certification. Therefore, the “+” itself isn’t official, but the plate did undergo NIJ official testing for all ammunition types it claims to stop.
Is Premier Body Armor made in the USA?
Yes, Premier Body Armor makes its products in the USA and they are Berry-compliant. However, as an affordable option, the Fortis line is produced in Thailand. This reduces the cost of these products to allow prepared citizens access to body armor at a lower price point while still maintaining similar quality to Berry-compliant armor. Premier Body Armor doesn’t use any Chinese products in their gear.
Is Premier Body Armor legal?
Yes, body armor is currently legal to own in all 50 states. However, Premier Body Armor cannot currently ship to Connecticut or New York.
