C2R

What C2R does

C2R-FAST Limited is a UK-based (Hereford) tactical equipment manufacturer founded in 2009 that designs and produces load carriage systems, body armor carriers, modular pouches, and tactical apparel for law enforcement, military, and security end-users. Its product line is organized into four operational domains — Air, Urban, Maritime, and Rural — and centers on a proprietary modular platform built around the patent-pending Chameleon Plate Carrier System, which uses interchangeable camouflage skins, the Fulcrum Plate Carrier with a patent-pending placard interface, the Vortex modular pouch system, and an MRIS-certified 150N flotation system for maritime use. The company also operates a separate subsidiary, Cyclops Works, which handles classified government contracts.

The business runs a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model via Shopify, selling premium-tier tactical gear globally with products priced in a £38–£360 range across plate carriers, pouches, belts, and apparel. Revenue is generated through unit sales of hardware (vests, carriers, belts) and modular accessories (skins, placards, pouches) to individual operators and institutional buyers, with a smaller classified revenue stream routed through Cyclops Works. The Hereford base — historically associated with UK Special Forces — and stated trust relationships with elite military and law enforcement units globally are central to its positioning, although no named customer relationships, contract values, or volumes are disclosed.

Name

C2R

Legal name

C2R

Website

https://c2rfast.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

C2R-FAST Limited is a UK tactical equipment manufacturer designing modular plate carriers, load carriage systems, body armor carriers, and tactical apparel for elite military, law enforcement, and government security end-users, sold direct-to-consumer globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tactical Load Carriage and Body Armor Equipment

NAICS

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Protective Armor & Impact Protection Retail (Body/Back/Chest) (CRAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail (CRAMAAAI), Riding Jackets, Pants & Suits Retail (Leather/Textile) (CRAMANAF)

Keywords

• Tactical load carriage
• Body armor carriers
• Plate carrier systems
• Military equipment
• Law enforcement gear

Headquarters

HQ city

Hereford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: C2R generates revenue through direct e-commerce sales of tactical load carriage equipment, body armor systems, pouches, belts, and tactical clothing. Products are sold as one-time purchases through their online Shopify store with immediate availability for customers worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

C2R designs and manufactures tactical load carriage systems, body armor carriers, and apparel for elite military and law enforcement users. Its portfolio is structured around four operational domains (Air, Urban, Maritime, Rural) and includes proprietary plate carrier platforms (Chameleon, Vortex, Fulcrum, Paladin, MBAV, CBAV) plus modular add-ons such as pouches, belts, placards, and a marine flotation system. Products are sold directly to consumers and specialist units through a Shopify e-commerce store, with bespoke development handled through the Cyclops Works subsidiary.

Product overview

C2R is a tactical equipment manufacturer specialising in load carriage solutions for military, law enforcement, and specialist operators. The company offers a platform-plus-modules architecture organised across four operational domains: Air (Vortex system), Urban (SF C2RMOR LITE), Maritime (MBAV), and Rural (CBAV). Core products include body armour carriers (Vortex, Chameleon Plate Carrier System, Fulcrum Plate Carrier) which serve as the foundational platform, supplemented by interchangeable modules and add-ons such as CMAS MultiMag pouches, MRIS flotation system, Shooter Belts, and specialised placards. The portfolio spans from high-end plate carriers with patent-pending interchangeable camouflage skins (Chameleon) to modular pouch systems and tactical clothing (Fortuna Jacket, Heritage T-shirt). Products are designed and manufactured in Hereford, UK, with emphasis on configurability, durability, and user comfort for elite frontline professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vortex Air System Body armour carrier developed for pilots and crewmen, designed for fixed wing and rotary aircraft and parachute operations. Provides lightweight slim form, high body coverage, integrated quick-detach harnesses, and conversion capability for magazine placards.
• Paladin Scaleable Armour Scalable soft and hard armour set that allows base CBAV armour to be up-armoured for increased coverage over arms, shoulders, neck, abdominal areas, flanks, and legs without major mobility trade-offs.
• Chameleon Plate Carrier System Interchangeable plate carrier system that allows users to switch camouflage patterns in under 5 minutes using a proprietary attachment system, compatible with zip-on back panels and C2R cummerbunds.
• Fulcrum Plate Carrier Slick plate carrier profile that can be upscaled in load carriage through front magazine carrying placards and zip-on back panels, with C2R signature comfort features.
• MBAV Maritime System Maritime-centric body armour system optimised for over-water and sub-surface use, incorporating passive and active buoyancy to keep fully-equipped users safe and stable in water.
• CBAV Rural System Specialist body armour system for rural and combat environments, designed for configurability across operational eventualities, prioritising strength, durability, weight reduction, and environmental protection.
• SF C2RMOR LITE Urban System Urban tactical system designed for versatility from covert through maritime and aviation operations, with configurable equipment optimised for any operational eventuality.
• MRIS Marine Raider Inflation System Tactical flotation module uniquely activated by a single central pull; inflates kidney-shaped bladders left and right of the wearer to deliver 150N buoyancy. Stows behind the front plate bag and integrates with C2R MBAV, CBAV, and other plate carriers.
• Vortex Integral Harness Five-point body harness integrating into the base Vortex carrier, with a split shoulder format and high-load buckles for improved donning and doffing.
• Chameleon Plate Carrier Skins Interchangeable camouflage skins designed specifically for the C2R Chameleon plate carrier system, sold as pairs and available in multiple pattern variants.
• The Shooter Belt Rigid assaulter belt engineered for high-end CQB use, tested to BSEN 358, with laser-cut C2R 'Kratos' U laminate and an AustriAlpine 18KN Cobra Military Buckle.
• Urban Assaulters Package Bundled package of Multicam Black C2R Shooter Belt, 9mm Nugget, two 5.56 Nuggets, Dump Pouch, and Compact Trauma Kit for urban CQB operations.
• Compact Dump Pouch Lightweight dump pouch made of 70d nylon and laser-cut laminate fabric, with a wired neck for easy location when dumping magazines.
• Compact Trauma Kit Low-profile, lightweight, horizontally orientated trauma kit with handles on either side for belt-mounted carry and quick access.
• 5.56 Rifle Nugget Low-profile, lightweight 5.56 rifle magazine pouch engineered to attach firmly to the user's system for clean and consistent magazine draws.
• 9mm Pistol Nugget Low-profile, lightweight 9mm pistol magazine pouch developed with professional user input for clean and consistent magazine draws.
• Golden Nugget Magazine pouch designed to house two 9mm magazines and one 5.56 magazine, developed through direct collaboration with professional users for a sleek, lightweight profile.
• Fulcrum Placard Multi-pocketed placard for magazine and admin carry, with magazine pocket convertible across 5.56, AK47, and 7.62 configurations and lidded front pockets.
• C2R Fortuna Jacket Lightweight, warm, and compressible tactical jacket with 180gsm insulation, fleece-lined collar, DWR coating, and multiple pockets including mesh pockets for drying damp items.
• C2R Heritage T-shirt Unisex crew-neck T-shirt made from combed and ring-spun cotton with C2R branding and Union Flag elements, produced without sweatshops and using eco-friendly manufacturing.
• Classic C2R Leather Patch High-grade leather C2R logo patches backed with Cordura base patterns, handmade with hook-and-loop backing and available in various colour combinations.
• C2R Union Flag Leather Patch High-grade blue Italian leather Union Flag patch backed with red Cordura and white PVC base, handmade with velcro hook backing.
• Bean & Country Coffee Signature roast coffee from Hereford, offered in 340g and 1kg bags in ground and whole bean options.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150N buoyancy provided by MRIS flotation system for maritime safety
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cyclops WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCyclops Works is C2R's specialized product development division for government collaborations. Through this entity, C2R collaborates with governments on special, discreet product development assignments for military and law enforcement applications.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationShopify powers C2R's e-commerce online store platform, enabling direct-to-consumer sales of tactical equipment worldwide. Handles payment processing, order management, and website functionality.
• Bean & Country CoffeeminorOthersBean & Country Coffee is a lifestyle product partner offering specialty coffee products through C2R's shop. C2R sells Bean & Country Signature Roast Coffee as part of their lifestyle product range.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Haley Strategic Partners: Haley Strategic Partners designs and markets tactical chest rigs, placards, and accessories (AXL, D3CRX) developed in close collaboration with elite end users. Comparable to C2R in collaborative-with-operators design philosophy and emphasis on modular, low-profile load carriage solutions.
• Spiritus Systems: Spiritus Systems is a smaller US tactical gear maker specializing in low-profile plate carriers (SACK, LV-119) and accessories popular with the two-piece armor community. Comparable to C2R in niche focus on minimalist, modular load carriage but at a smaller scale and consumer-leaning distribution model.

Direct peers

• Blue Force Gear: Blue Force Gear designs and manufactures US-made tactical load carriage, plate carriers, and weapon slings for military and law enforcement. Highly comparable to C2R — both specialize in lightweight, modular load carriage with proprietary attachment systems (e.g., Helium Whisper for BFG) serving elite operators.
• Crye Precision: Crye Precision is a leading US designer and manufacturer of tactical plate carriers, combat apparel, and load carriage systems widely adopted by elite US military and special operations units. Directly comparable to C2R in product category (plate carriers, modular pouches), target customer (elite military/LE), and collaborative front-line co-development model.
• Warrior Assault Systems: UK-based tactical equipment manufacturer producing plate carriers, chest rigs, and load carriage for military and law enforcement. Closest geographic peer to C2R (both Hereford/UK-adjacent) with overlapping product lines in plate carriers and modular pouches serving UK and European elite forces.
• London Bridge Trading (LBT): London Bridge Trading is a US-based manufacturer of tactical nylon products including plate carriers, chest rigs, and load carriage for military and law enforcement. Direct competitor in modular tactical load carriage with comparable customer base of special operations and SWAT teams.
• Velocity Systems: Velocity Systems manufactures plate carriers (Mayflower/Velocity), chest rigs, and tactical gear for military and law enforcement. Direct peer in scalable body armor and load carriage systems serving elite military units, particularly US special operations.
• FirstSpear: FirstSpear manufactures high-end plate carriers, pouches, and tactical load carriage equipment for US and allied special operations forces. Direct competitor to C2R with comparable product architecture (modular carrier platforms, specialist cummerbunds) and customer base of elite military units.

Broad incumbents

• Safariland Group: Safariland is a diversified global manufacturer of body armor, holsters, and tactical equipment for military, law enforcement, and security markets. Comparable product overlap in body armor and tactical load carriage, but operates as a broad incumbent across many categories rather than specializing in niche load carriage like C2R.
• Point Blank Enterprises: Point Blank Enterprises is a large US-based broad-line manufacturer of body armor, ballistic protection, and tactical gear for military and law enforcement. Comparable as a body armor systems supplier but operates at significantly larger scale and broader product portfolio than the niche C2R.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/c2rfast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c2r-fast-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about C2R