AllOutdoor Review – First Spear Stranhogg V3 Plate Carrier, Part 2

First Spear is a company that had first come onto the tactical market back in 2010 and ever since has been producing high quality, American-made, Berry-compliant gear for the Special Operations community, Tier 1 Military, and Law Enforcement teams. Based outside of St. Louis, their team is made up of experienced industry professionals and former U.S. service members. “FirstSpear” is the translated namesake of the Primus Pilus, the Senior Centurion of a Roman Legion. First Spear dedicates our efforts to present-day Centurions, those willing to sacrifice to preserve our heritage and secure our future. It is an honor and a privilege to support those who serve at the tip of the spear! So, today we will finish our thoughts on the First Spear Stranhogg V3 Plate Carrier as this is Part 2 of 2 of our AllOutdoor Review of this product.

The First Spear Stranhogg V3 Plate Carrier was sent to me by First Spear for this review and while I do get to keep this product indefinitely, that does not affect how I feel about any of their products now or in the future.

I tested the Stranhogg over the course of 9 months in the fall in New England and the spring in Alabama. I have worn it on many range trips and have actually used it as a weighted running vest for my training in preparation for the Tactical games last fall.

First Spear Coverage on AllOutdoor

Sizing and Fit – First Spear Stranhogg V3 Plate Carrier

The was given a size Small for both the front and back plate bags for the Stranhogg V3. This was a slight oversight on my part as I usually wear small to medium plates depending on the cut and manufacturer. I would later find that I should have requested a medium as the small was a bit to, well small for me. To get the carrier to sit in the appropriate position for my body I had to adjust the straps to their maximum length and that was still not where I really wanted them to be. The lesson learned here is to get the medium and not the small if your 5 foot 9 and weigh 175 pounds. The Straps on the carrier were easy to adjust and came with optional padding that could cover the shoulder straps for additional comfort. I like the option here to remove the straps if needed. In the past, I have found that having low-profile straps can help when wearing a backpack in conjunction with your carrier.

One small personal gripe I have with the shoulder straps is the tube interface. When shouldering a rifle I found that the tubes would often get in the way of my buttstock. This would then create an awkward place to interface my shoulder with my rifle meaning I would have to adjust my shooting position, I have never had this issue with the Crye JPC 2.0. I would much prefer the Tubes to not be located on this part of the carrier. While this is a small gripe in the grand scheme of things, its also my least favorite part of the Stranhogg V3.

The cummerbund that came with the Stranhogg was also a size small but I found that it had plenty of adjustment for myself. It was easy to adjust and interfaced with the back of the carrier very well, using Velcro. Where this is the V3 of the Stranhogg I’m sure some of you will want to know what the difference is between this iteration and its predecessors. There is a newly designed instant access back panel that allows for easier access to adjust your cummerbund. Both the front and back of the carrier feature interior-facing channels for the foam to add comfort and ventilation. These foam inserts can be removed for a more streamlined carrier. The front and back have the ability to hold both soft armor and plates that are the same size and cut of the carrier. I really like the fact that you can call this carrier up or down depending on your preferences.

The redesigned front panel has an internal zippered admin pocket along with a 4″x9″ loop field for identifiers. Along the bottom of the front panel is a second loop field which has been added to facilitate use with the all new First Spear Admin Placard and Magazine Pocket Placard. I Installed a ESTAC triple M4 mag carrier to the front of the carrier in lieu of the First Spear Admin Placard.

Performance – First Spear Stranhogg V3 Plate Carrier

As mentioned before, the Stranhogg V3 is a very comfortable carrier to run around with. At first, I honestly thought that a large amount of padding would make the carrier bulkier and more difficult to mover around tight spaces with. I happy to report I had no issues like that wth this PC. The Stranhogg V3 vents heat very well and is a dream to take on and off in due to the tube system incorporated through its design. One small caveat I do have is that this PC does require some assembly when you first receive it, so you may need to set aside a few hours to get this system set up the way you like it.

Likes

Built with high-quality materials right here in the USA
Adaptable and scalable system for professional users
Tubes system makes the Stranhogg V3 easy to dawn and doff
Breathable and incredibly comfortable

Dislikes

Prohibitively expensive for most people
Tube system on the shoulder straps can be awkward to use a rifle with

Wrap-Up – First Spear Stranhogg V3 Plate Carrier

If you are a Professional end user of tactical equipment or appreciate high-quality gear, the Stranhogg V3 is definitely for you. It is probably the nicest Plate Carrier I will ever own. With that being said I would have a hard time recommending this carrier to anyone looking to get their first carrier on a budget. I am excited to see how this PC will hold up over the coming years and hopefully, I can get back to you all with a more long-term update on this product.

Enjoy the extra pics below I could not fit into the whole review!

Patrik Orcutt

Patrik Orcutt is currently a writer for AllOutdoor who has chosen not to write a short bio at this time.