No! ICEVENTS is a revolutionary technology that actually helps with load dispersion, decreasing felt weight. Here are the specific weights of our different ICEVENTS products (for plate carriers): CATAMARAN: 2.2 oz Classic Plate Carrier Ventilation Pontoons: 1.1 oz Classic Heavy Loadout Plate Carrier Shoulder Pads: 0.9 oz Aero Minimalist Plate Carrier Shoulder Pads: 0.6 oz As you can see our ICEVENTS products weigh practically nothing at all! This is particularly pronounced when compared to traditional foam inserts which can weigh over 5-6 ounces per pad! This may not seem like much, but every ounce matters when you are wearing your plate carrier all day or trekking for miles.