Testudo and Testudo Lite

YouTube Overview:

Testudo Overview:

Named after the Roman army’s impenetrable formation, the Testudo is our flagship plate carrier. We designed it with maximum coverage in mind, right out of the box.

It is considered the everyman's carrier: everything you need with nothing you don't. It has an under-buckle system that will allow you to use it without a cummerbund, similar to the Veritas, or with the buckle system removed for a low profile and comfortable cummerbund interface. The testudo is the only carrier we provide that also has the ability for side plate usage with no additional side plate pouch. Lastly, keep in mind the Testudo will house either 10”x12” -or- 11”x14” main plates

Features:

• A fully-adjustable cummerbund provides a tight fit and optimal mobility.
• A generous amount of PALS webbing gives you plenty of space for attaching magazines, medical kits, and other accessories. All PALS webbing has the addition of Loop material for the additional compatibility with hook pouches and morale patches. 
• Internal Admin and Kangaroo pockets allow for the storage of small gear and kangaroo insert dividers for a triple magazine pouch conversion.
• 3D mesh foam spacer padding creates an excellent layer of breathability between you and the carrier
• The shoulder buckle system when combined with the side buckle set-up allows for super quick donning and doffing
• With the side buckle system removed, the carrier is set up for all-day comfort such as needed on an 8-hour foot patrol. 
• Side plate pockets give you extra coverage with plate sizes 6”x8” and smaller.
• For sizes ranging from M to 3XL. Note that the cummerbund uses a lace and shock cord system that can be modified with a longer or shorter piece of cord to increase or decrease size outside of the standard range. 
• Made out of 500D Cordura material which is a load-bearing and IR-reducing material.

Testudo v. Testudo Lite

The main difference is that the Testudo Lite’s whole purpose is to save weight and to simplify the whole profile of the carrier. With that we removed the inner 3D mesh padding on the inside of the front and back armor pouches as well as the shoulder pads. The result saves a few ounces and reduces the profile of the carrier a bit to bring it all in closer to the body.

The Testudo Lite also comes sans the side strap securing system, making the cummerbund the one and only way to secure the carrier around your body. This saves weight and simplifies and quickens the dons and doffs of the carrier by reducing the steps it takes to put it on and secure it.

The admin pouch on the top front has been removed, which saves fabric and reduces the number of layers of Cordura material your upper chest is covered by. The Lite carrier still does maintain the kangaroo pouch though for utilizing with our mag pouch insert to run three AR-15 mags up front.

The molle was also changed from Velcro loop to regular molle webbing. Finally, we did remove the vertical molle for chest rig adaptors.

Testudo v. Valkyrie

1. Plate size accommodation: The Testudo can house 10"x12" and 11"x14" plates.  The Valkyrie can only house 10"x12" plates.

2. Side plate accommodation: The Testudo also has built in side plate pouches in the cummerbund that accepts 6"x6" and 6"x8" side plates. The Valkyrie needs our Padded Side Plate Pouches to be able to accept side armor.

3. Berry Compliance: The Valkyrie is Berry Compliant, which means that all of the components are 100% US made and manufactured, which is the reason for the higher cost. Both carriers are made from the components that are rated at the same performance level, but the Testudo has components that are not 100% US made, which makes it possible to keep the price point lower while still having the same quality. Both will perform the same and are made with the same attention to detail, so if you do not need 100% US made, the Testudo will serve you just as well as the Valkyrie.

Those are the major differences between the two. Please let us know if you have any further questions!