Ferro Concepts Slickster Plate Carrier
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On this page: Verdict · The Good · The Not Good · Product Description · FAQ
Verdict Good: Sleek, secure and completely bounce-free; a plate carrier that actually fits a 5’1″ frame.
Plate carriers are almost always designed around a bigger, broader body, so when you’re working with a smaller frame, fit is everything. Andrea, who stands 5’1″, runs the Ferro Concepts Slickster in size Medium, and it fits her frame perfectly. The width is ideal, it doesn’t ride too high, and the cummerbund is sized well and adjusts easily, so she can dial in a custom fit, snug or loose, without fighting the carrier.
She has put a few months of tactical fitness and training into the Slickster and wore it in a tactical fitness competition, where it performed exceptionally well. It stays minimal and low-profile, it was completely bounce-free during movement, and it leaves ample clearance between the vest and her belt for pouches, with nothing snagging or getting in the way. In her words, it’s “sleek and secure,” and because it doesn’t bounce during dynamic movement, she trusts her gear stays exactly where she needs it.
Our take on plates in the Slickster: Ferro Concepts says plates up to 6 lbs each are OK in the Slickster, and Andrea runs 5.75 lb 5.11 PT-R plates in hers, which come in under that. They are steel, which Ferro doesn’t recommend, but in our opinion they work great and haven’t caused an issue yet. We’ll update this review if an issue ever comes up.
The Good ✅
- Small-Frame Fit: At 5’1″, Andrea found the Medium fits her frame perfectly, with an ideal width and a carrier that doesn’t ride too high.
- Adjustable Cummerbund: The cummerbund is sized well and easily adjusts for a custom fit, whether you want it snug or loose.
- Bounce-Free: It stays put during dynamic movement, so she trusts her gear stays exactly where she needs it.
- Low-Profile with Belt Clearance: The minimal design leaves ample room between the vest and belt for pouches, with nothing snagging or getting in the way.
- Competition-Proven: After a few months of tactical fitness and training, it performed exceptionally well when she wore it in a tactical fitness competition.
The Not Good ❌
- Plate Weight Limits: Andrea didn’t have a complaint of her own, but it’s worth knowing that Ferro says each front and back plate shouldn’t exceed 6 lbs or the carrier won’t perform as intended, and it doesn’t recommend steel plates, so the Slickster is built for lighter plates, not heavy plate setups.
Product Description
Ferro Concepts makes plate carriers and load-bearing gear built around its ADAPT Carrier System, a family of carriers, front flaps, cummerbunds and pouches designed to work together. The Slickster™ is what Ferro describes as a minimalistic multi-mission plate carrier for law enforcement and military professionals that can run low-profile or be scaled up with ADAPT accessories. It weighs just 402 g empty and is made in the USA.
The Slickster comes in Medium and Large, and Ferro is very clear that the size has nothing to do with your shirt size; it’s all about your plates. Medium fits medium SAPI/ESAPI, swimmer-cut and 10″x12″ plates (up to 10″x12.25″x1″), while Large fits large SAPI/ESAPI and swimmer plates up to 10.5″x13.5″x1″. It ships with the Carry Elastic Cummerbund, which has four cells per side for things like magazines, a radio or a tourniquet, along with mesh-lined plate bags and loop Velcro on the chest and back for patches.
For smaller frames, the plate-based sizing and the adjustability are what matter most: Ferro says the shoulder straps adjust into the rear plate bag to fit all sizes, and the cummerbund adjusts front and rear with hook-and-loop. Worth knowing if you train with weight plates: Ferro says each front and back plate should not exceed 6 lbs in the Slickster, and it does not recommend steel plates because of sizing and the extra wear they cause on the carrier. Building out a small-frame setup? Andrea also reviewed the Grey Ghost Gear UGF Battle Belt, which fits her 5’1″ frame in size Small.
Compare: Want a full-featured carrier instead of a minimalist one? Will’s 5.11 TacTec Plate Carrier review (verdict: Good) covers a hybrid carrier with a drag handle, quick-release rip cord and full MOLLE webbing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Ferro Concepts Slickster fit a small frame?
For Andrea, yes. She stands 5’1″, runs the Slickster in size Medium and found it fits her frame perfectly: the width is ideal, it doesn’t ride too high, and the cummerbund adjusts easily for a snug or loose fit.
How does Slickster sizing work?
Ferro says the size has nothing to do with your shirt size; it’s all about your plates. Medium fits medium SAPI/ESAPI, swimmer-cut and 10″x12″ plates (up to 10″x12.25″x1″), while Large fits large SAPI/ESAPI and swimmer plates up to 10.5″x13.5″x1″.
Can you use weight plates in the Slickster?
Ferro says each front and back plate should not exceed 6 lbs, and it does not recommend steel plates. Andrea runs 5.75 lb steel 5.11 PT-R plates, which come in under that limit; in our opinion they work great and haven’t caused an issue yet.
Does the Slickster bounce during workouts?
Not for Andrea. Over a few months of tactical fitness and training, plus a tactical fitness competition, it was completely bounce-free during movement and kept her gear exactly where she needed it.
What comes with the Slickster?
It ships with the Carry Elastic Cummerbund, which has four cells per side for things like magazines, a radio or a tourniquet, along with mesh-lined plate bags and loop Velcro on the chest and back for patches. It weighs 402 g empty and is made in the USA.
A huge thank you to Andrea for taking the time to share her honest opinion and for supporting our project. Real reviews from real people are what GoodNotGood is all about, and support like yours is what takes us from good to great. We truly appreciate you!
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