Templar’s Gear CIBV3 4EL: A Plate Carrier with Expanded Ballistic Coverage

A conventional plate carrier prioritizes low weight, freedom of movement, and protection of vital areas. The Templar’s Gear CIBV3 4EL adds the option of extending soft armor coverage across a much larger portion of the torso. The result is a system with greater coverage and extensive configuration options, but also more weight, added bulk, and reduced heat dissipation.

CIBV3 4EL Combines Hard Armor Plates with Expanded Soft Armor Coverage

At first glance, the CIBV3 4EL resembles a more robust plate carrier. The key difference becomes clear when you compare the area available for ballistic inserts.

A conventional carrier is generally built around front and rear hard armor plates. The sides remain more open, making the entire system lighter and less restrictive during movement and in hot conditions. The CIBV3—short for Cataphract Integrated Ballistic Vest—follows a different priority. In addition to 25 × 30 cm hard armor plates, it accommodates soft armor inserts in the front and rear panels and the side cummerbund. The system also includes a collar and shoulder protectors with pockets for additional soft armor inserts.

The protected area therefore does not have to end at the edge of the hard armor plate. Soft armor can extend around the sides and farther down the torso, while the individual sections overlap to minimize unnecessary gaps between them. Templar’s Gear therefore describes the CIBV3 4EL as a modular vest built around a basic four-piece soft armor package.

One important point must be emphasized: the vest itself is only a carrier and does not provide a rated level of ballistic protection. That protection comes from correctly selected hard armor plates and soft armor inserts matching the required dimensions, cut, and protection rating. Neither the hard armor plates nor the soft armor inserts are included.

The Templar’s Gear CIBV3 4EL combines pockets for hard armor plates with space for expanded soft armor coverage. Compared with a conventional plate carrier, it provides greater coverage, but also adds weight and uses a more enclosed design. Photo: Rigad

Expanded Ballistic Coverage: More Protection, More Weight

The primary advantage of the CIBV3 4EL is clear. It covers more of the torso than a minimalist plate carrier and can accept additional ballistic modules as required. This may be important in roles where the extent of protection takes priority over minimum weight and maximum ventilation.

There is, however, no way to add material and ballistic inserts without affecting the rest of the system. A fully configured vest will be heavier, bulkier, and more enclosed around the body. The wearer will sweat more in hot conditions, while the wider side sections may restrict movement or interfere with other equipment if the pouches are poorly positioned.

The additional weight, bulk, and reduced ventilation are not design flaws, but direct consequences of the larger coverage area. The user must always balance protection, weight, mobility, and heat management. The CIBV3 4EL places greater emphasis on coverage while retaining a practical degree of modularity and comfort.

Sizing and Adjusting the CIBV3 4EL Plate Carrier

At Rigad, the CIBV3 4EL is available with cummerbunds in M, L, and XL. Size M is specified for a torso circumference of 90–110 cm, size L for 105–125 cm, and size XL for 115–135 cm. Measurements should be taken where the cummerbund will sit and over the clothing the user will actually wear beneath the vest.

Selecting the correct size is only the beginning. The vest’s circumference is adjusted at the rear, while its vertical position on the body can be changed using the shoulder straps and ROC buckles.

The hard armor plates must remain correctly positioned over the vital areas, while the soft side armor should meet the front and rear sections. A vest that is too loose will shift during running, positional changes, or weapon handling. An overtightened cummerbund, by contrast, can restrict breathing, reduce mobility, and increase heat discomfort.

A large hook-and-loop panel on the front provides access to the internal adjustment system for positioning the ballistic inserts. The same area can also serve as a flat pocket for identification documents, a map, or other small items that need to remain protected yet accessible.

The soft armor inserts must also match the size of the vest. For the hard armor plates, the manufacturer specifies dimensions of 25 × 30 cm. When assembling the complete system, checking the ballistic protection rating alone is not enough—the dimensions and cut must also be compatible.

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Four ROC Buckles Simplify Donning and Emergency Doffing

The vest uses four ROC—Rapid Open Connector—quick-release buckles. Two are located at the shoulders, while the other two connect the cummerbund to the front panel. The wearer can open either the left or right side as required and does not need to pull apart the entire front section every time the vest is donned.

The same principle applies when the vest must come off quickly. Releasing the shoulder and side buckles allows the carrier to be opened up, exposing the torso for medical treatment, for example. This is not a centralized quick-release system operated by a single cable; each ROC buckle is released separately. The advantage is a simple design and the ability to disconnect only the section the wearer or medic needs to access.

The side buckles are covered by protective flaps on the front panel, while the detachable front panel—or placard shown in the video—is additionally secured with snaps. The complete assembly remains firmly in place under load but can be removed without complicated webbing adjustments when required.

A Detachable Placard Makes Reconfiguring the Plate Carrier Easier

The front combines large hook-and-loop fields with laser-cut MOLLE/PALS slots. In addition to individual pouches, the carrier can accept a detachable placard secured with buckles and hook-and-loop. The system is compatible with Templar’s Gear front panels designed for Generation 4 CPC/TPC vests.

The practical advantage of a placard is that the wearer does not need to remount individual pouches whenever the mission changes. A preconfigured panel carrying magazines or another equipment loadout can be removed and replaced with a different one. This is useful when switching weapon platforms or operational roles while retaining the same base vest.

Laser-cut attachment slots also extend across the cummerbund. There is no shortage of space for additional equipment, but more pouches do not automatically produce a better setup. Overloaded sides increase the vest’s profile, may interfere with the sidearm draw, and can restrict access to magazines or medical equipment. The loadout should therefore reflect the wearer’s movements and mission requirements—not simply the number of available attachment slots.

The detachable front placard allows the carrier’s configuration to be changed without remounting individual pouches. The image also shows the laser-cut attachment slots, ROC quick-release buckles, and internal padding. Photo: Rigad

The CIBV3 4EL Rear Panel Supports MOLLE/PALS and Detachable Zip-On Panels

The rear section also offers several configuration options. Conventional pouches and accessories can be mounted through the MOLLE/PALS interface, while a pair of zippers accepts compatible rear panels. Depending on the mission, the vest can carry a storage panel, an array of pouches, or a compact assault pack.

The zipper system speeds up replacement of the complete rear module, but it also has a practical limitation: the wearer generally cannot reach equipment positioned directly between the shoulder blades. A rear panel therefore works best for team equipment, supplies that do not require immediate access, or situations where another team member can retrieve its contents.

A reinforced grab handle at the top of the rear panel can be used to handle the vest or drag the wearer in an emergency. When not in use, it lies flat against the panel and is secured with hook-and-loop so that it does not protrude unnecessarily.

The system includes a collar and shoulder protectors with pockets for soft armor; the inserts themselves are sold separately. The design can also accept additional protective modules. With abdominal, groin, or upper-arm protection, however, compatibility with the specific CIBV3 generation must be verified. Every added component increases coverage, but also adds weight and may restrict movement. Additional armor should therefore be selected for a specific threat rather than fitted simply because the vest can accommodate it.

3D Mesh Improves Comfort and Airflow Beneath the Vest

The interior features segmented 3D mesh pads. They cushion contact with the body, help distribute pressure, and leave channels between the individual sections for limited airflow. The mesh does not have large, open cells that readily trap sand and other debris.

An integrated ballistic vest, however, cannot provide the same ventilation as a minimalist plate carrier with an open cummerbund. The padding improves comfort and creates ventilation channels—it is not a miracle air-conditioning system. In hot weather, under physical exertion, and with a full loadout, the wearer will still sweat, though less than if a large surface of material were resting directly against the body.

Cutouts in the laminated sections also help reduce weight. They decrease the amount of material used while creating a modular attachment interface without the need to sew on additional layers of webbing.

A fully configured CIBV3 4EL demonstrates the modular options available across the front panel and side sections. The equipment layout must always be tailored to the specific mission, as every additional pouch increases the vest’s weight and overall bulk. Photo: Rigad

500D Cordura and IRR Treatment

The vest is built from a 500D Cordura-based laminate. Its laser-cut construction allows the MOLLE/PALS attachment interface to be formed directly in the material, reducing the number of additional webbing strips and seams.

The materials feature an IRR treatment designed to reduce unwanted reflectivity in the near-infrared spectrum. When viewed through night vision devices, the equipment should therefore be less likely to stand out unnaturally against its surroundings. IRR does not, however, make the vest invisible to thermal imaging or completely conceal it from night vision. It modifies the material’s reflective properties; it is not universal camouflage across every part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The vest shown in the video is the MultiCam version. Rigad also offers MultiCam Black, Ranger Green, and Blackvariants, although the availability of individual colors and sizes may change.

When to Choose the CIBV3 4EL—and When to Choose a Conventional Plate Carrier

The CIBV3 4EL is intended primarily for users who require greater soft armor coverage combined with front and rear hard armor plates. It may suit military and law-enforcement units, as well as other professionals whose mission profile and risk assessment justify the added weight and more enclosed construction.

Modularity is another advantage. The vest accepts interchangeable front and rear panels, allows ballistic coverage to be expanded, and enables the equipment layout to be tailored to a specific role. Four ROC buckles also simplify routine handling and provide rapid access to the torso in an emergency.

For extended foot patrols, intensive movement through difficult terrain, or work in hot conditions, however, a lighter and more open plate carrier may be the better choice. Likewise, there is little reason to buy an integrated vest simply for the additional MOLLE real estate if the wearer does not intend to install the corresponding soft armor. In that case, the extra material would add weight without delivering the design’s primary advantage.

CIBV3 4EL: Greater Coverage at the Cost of More Weight

The Templar’s Gear CIBV3 4EL combines the modularity of a plate carrier with the expanded coverage of an integrated ballistic vest. Compared with a simple plate carrier, it provides more space for soft armor inserts, additional protection around the sides, and the option to attach further protective modules. The tradeoff is more weight, greater bulk, and reduced heat dissipation.

The deciding factor is therefore not the number of buckles, zippers, or available attachment slots. What matters is how much coverage the wearer needs, how long the vest will be worn, how much equipment it must carry, and how much mobility must be retained. If those requirements point toward expanded ballistic protection, the CIBV3 4EL provides a modular and highly adjustable platform. If low weight and a more open design take priority, a conventional plate carrierwill make more sense.