Intro
In the military I was issued a multitude of water containers. From the standard G.I. Canteen from Vietnam to the plastic water bladders known as Camelbaks. The purpose of them is simple, to carry and contain the nectar of life known as water. It was immensely important that we had water on us and till this day I still carry around a water source.
There were many draw backs to the military issued water containers. For one the handheld versions were cumbersome and took up a lot of real estate that was need for “bullets” or “bandages”. The Camelbak came into play after giving us a hands-free water container that rode on your back, this was great until you put on “kit”, a plate carrier. Watch the video below:
The problems were how to attach it, but then you lose the entire back panel to your kit which was used by assaulters for squad gear. So, some would just put on their kit then put the Camelbak on like a backpack. This didn’t work for long because during any type of movement the straps would work their way off your shoulders and to your biceps. For the time being we made our own bladder containment pouches or slid them in with our plates and all sorts of other innovated ideas that you would expect from A-type problem solving Rangers.
Now here comes a product that I think finds a happy medium with a few extras, Qore Performance IcePlate. Qore has come out with an armor plate shaped canteen that can be fitted between you and the rear of your plate carrier. When I first saw the IcePlate I thought it was some type of gimmick or joke product. Even though I was skeptical, the curiosity did get the better of me. So, when I was presented with the opportunity to review the IcePlate I just had to. They are made in the USA and have a simple warranty policy, if it breaks they will replace it. Simple, I like that.
- Agency Arms Glock 19 Field Edition in an Armordillo Concealment X-Fer 2
- Blade: Flagrant Beard
- Pack: Vertx Ready EDC
Features
As stated previously, the IcePlate is an armor plate shaped 50 oz canteen. It weighs in at 12 oz without water. It has a slight curve to it which helps when fitting it to your plate carrier and body. The top has a spout with a little cap for filling or draining. On the sides of the top there are also some nice sections for attaching the IcePlate to your carrier. You can attach it with zipties or the provided straps.
It also comes in a clear, grey, tan, and OD green. At the bottom of the IcePlate there are two tie down points that also work with their strap system. The bottom is also sloped toward where the drinking tube is positioned for getting the final drops of water out. The drinking tube is attached with a simple ziptie in a clamping style. It really is a simple but functional design.
Testing
When the IcePlate arrived, it was exactly as I expected, thin and light weight. I cleaned it out and then attached it to my MOS Tactical SPAV plate carrier. It was slightly tight so I adjusted my cummerbund and I was good to go. I routed the drinking tube with the cable management straps provided by the SPAV.
For testing I froze the IcePlate overnight and attached it before going to the range. For the hot and humid South Florida range it was great. It kept me cooler than usual and once it started to melt it provided water. I will say it didn’t melt as fast as I needed water so I did have to supplement it with bottles of water. I also drink a lot of water compared to others so that may be personal. Drinking from the IcePlate was easy and smooth. It was still cold as I packed up to go home as well.
The next few times I went to the range I only filled it three quarters full and added another quarter in the morning just to give me more chilly water sooner. I also noticed that it fits in most backpacks that have a sleeve or pocket for hydration. I did not end up shooting the IcePlate they do say and have a video on the IcePlate providing extra protection to the wearer from impact to their armor.
In the video, it just supplemented the armor and wasn’t meant to be a standalone system. I did drop it a few times while it was frozen to see if it would crack or splinter in any way. Now anything can be destroyed with enough time and effort, but that wasn’t my intention. I wanted to see how it held up to regular use.
Conclusion
After all my time with the IcePlate, I really liked it and wish I would have owned one during my enlistment. Overall, the IcePlate is a hard use canteen that I am happy to own and use. Some improvements or additions I would make is to add a larger opening for the fill point it was slightly small. Other than that, I was quite happy with it and really impressed with the price point they are sold for. Spare parts are readily available if needed and the zipties that are used for attachment are great due to their strength and simple use. I would certainly recommend the Qore IcePlate to anyone looking for a water bladder.
MSRP: $44.00 each via qoreperformance.com
Functionality: 5/5
Weight: 5/5
Durability: 5/5
Cost: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5
Overall Total: 25/25
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Qore Performance IcePlate via Spotter Up. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.