Three-piece tactical cummerbund

A tactical cummerbund for connection to, and use with, a tactical vest, the tactical vest having a front panel and a rear panel, the front panel having a right, front vest connector and a left, front vest connector, the rear panel having a rear channel extending horizontally through the rear panel and having a horizontal length, the cummerbund comprising:

• a connecting band comprising an elastic band having a right end and a left end, a right hook and loop fastener disposed on the right end of the elastic band, and a left hook and loop fastener disposed on the left end of the elastic band such that the elastic band is between the right hook and loop fastener and left hook and loop fastener, the connecting band configured to be located within the rear channel, and a length of the connecting band between the right hook and loop fastener and the left hook and loop fastener is less than the length of the rear channel such that the connecting band is entirely concealed within the rear channel when the cummerbund is installed on the tactical vest;
• a right side portion comprising an elongated panel, the panel having a pocket covering substantially the entire area of the panel for inserting ballistic armor, the right side portion having a first end and a second end, a front right connector disposed on the first end of the right side portion overlying the pocket and a right, rear hook and loop fastener disposed on the second end of the right side portion overlying the pocket, the front right connector configured to releasably connect to the right, front vest connector and the right, rear hook and loop fastener configured to releasably connect to the right hook and loop fastener of the connecting band;
• and
• a left side portion comprising an elongated panel, the panel having a pocket covering substantially the entire area of the panel for inserting ballistic armor, the left side portion having a first end and a second end, a front left connector disposed on the first end of the left side portion and a left, rear hook and loop fastener disposed on the second end of the left side portion, the front left connector configured to releasably connect to the left, front vest connector and the left, rear hook and loop fastener configured to releasably connect to the left hook and loop fastener of the connecting band.