For those experienced with body armor picking out the best bulletproof vest is an obvious choice. Choosing the proper ballistic depends on how you intend to use your gear and the specific circumstances you intend to face. Generally, there are three categories when it comes to selecting body armor:
- Covert soft armor – For civilian jobs and everyday use in dangerous areas
- Overt soft armor – For policing, civilian security, and home defense
- Hard plate armor – For military uses and high-risk protection
The separation between categories is very clear and if we consider the needs of our wide range of customers it becomes apparent that fills a specific purpose in a particular situation. And there is generally very little overlap as each type or armor is designed for a specific purpose.
Plates, Panels, and Vests: How to Choose the Best One for You?
In most cases, when people think of bulletproof vests, they imagine just a flak jacket that is used in any situation. But, decades have passed since that was the case, and now there is specialized ballistic protection for each situation. Picking out the correct bulletproof vest materials will make the difference between optimal protection, aimlessly lugging around something heavy, or a rifle round penetrating your vest and causing serious bodily harm. This is why the best bulletproof vest needs to be adapted to what you are doing, and not just something with the highest price in the store.
Ballistic Vests
While these models are somewhat going out of style, there are still plenty of situations where you might need a vest where the insert is integrated into the carrier. The main benefit of these is that they are easy to take on and off and usually have MOLLE loops and Velcro for additional gear. These two features make such a bulletproof tactical vest ideas for home defense and law enforcement. They are usually seen as ‘’police vests,’’ such as the
MVM Metropolis Vest MOLLE, which is a frequent pick for law enforcement. The bulletproof vest, in this case, is relatively inexpensive and lightweight, considering the operational capabilities of the armor. However, because you cannot insert new plates into an aging ballistic vest, you will need to replace your vest when it expires.
Soft Inserts
Both with overt and covert vests, some models use soft armor inserts inside the carrier. In this instance, it acts similar to a regular ballistic vest, but you can place new soft inserts if the vest is old or damaged. Also, because modern body armor materials can be so thin, soft inserts can also be worn covertly. Such is the case with the CAT Covert Armored T-shirt where the ballistic material is integrated into the shirt itself. If you don’t want anyone to know that you are wearing protection, your best bulletproof vest won’t even be a vest, but rather a common shirt. The bulletproof vest cost, in this case, can vary, but it can be optimized to your needs. Also, the highest level of soft body armor available is Level IIIa which is sufficient against all handgun bullets but won’t stop most rifles.
Hard Plates
Hard plates are the highest level of body armor that you can wear, but they are also the heaviest. With modern bulletproof vest material options such as UHMWPE, they won’t be as cumbersome as before, but they are still much thicker and heavier than soft armor. In most cases, you will see a military-grade bulletproof vest utilizing composite materials like the
SA4S Silicon Carbide plate, as it can stop virtually any anti-personnel round. . If you are at risk from military-grade rifles, there is no other option but Level III+ or Level IV plates. However, you should consider that they are, in the best-case scenario, 3x as heavy as soft armor and cover less of your body. Plates focus only on your vital organs, and a stray shot can still be very dangerous Many people see this as primarily an army bulletproof vest, but there are a lot of civilian uses where you need to be ready for all potential scenarios. This will always be the best body armor for those that willingly go into the most dangerous situations.
Get Familiar with Your Gear
When talking about the best body armor, we frequently imagine a Kevlar bulletproof vest, which is not completely accurate. Besides, a Kevlar bulletproof vest is hard to find today because it is made of proprietary material and is not as frequently in use anymore. Also, the majority of carbon fibers on the market are stronger than Kevlar. In most cases, when people say Kevlar bulletproof vest, they actually mean a soft body armor carrier. There are other issues when picking out your vest, as the best body armor should have a good cummerbund, which goes around your chest. A bulletproof tactical vest will also have features such as MOLLE attachments and Velcro, where you can add pouches and other gear you might need. Finally, your best bulletproof vest will be the one you are deeply familiar with. Even an old bulletproof vest is better than something modern that you won’t know how to wear. Make sure to be realistic about your situation, pick out something with good reviews that ideally mentions how it benefits you in your specific situation, and train with it. Lastly, see how the armor feels during movement and assess if it’s a good fit for you.
FAQs
Q: Is A Bulletproof Vest Necessary For Everyone?
A: Hopefully not necessary. But, it is a useful item to have regardless of your lifestyle. Even if you simply live in a region where gun crime happens regularly, then having something light and comfortable like covert armored clothing might make a difference between life and death, and there are comfortable, lightweight models.
Q: How to Ensure Correct Sizing of the Vest?
A: First and foremost, the best bulletproof vest should securely and comfortably cover your vitals organs. This means that it is slightly higher on the body than most people envision and usually doesn’t cover the stomach. Soft armor may wrap around you and offer more coverage, but the highest level of bulletproof armor are hard plates, and they only need to cover from your collarbone to your belly button and from the outer side of one pectoral muscle to the other.
Q: How Important is Comfort and Mobility?
A: The importance of comfort and mobility lies just under the protection level. Although you may sacrifice comfort for protection in a life-and-death situation, the best bulletproof vest you can buy will be the one that you can carry comfortably for the entirety of your mission without causing excessive fatigue or discomfort. You will also want to be able to move quickly and reach your weapon without any interference from the armor.
Q: How long do bulletproof vests last?
A: Your armor should last up to 5 years and withstand up to 6 shots. Even the best body armor, particularly carbon fiber-based armor, will last approximately 5 years. Some materials like aluminum and steel will last significantly longer, but excessive use in a warzone or law enforcement role will degrade them considerably faster.
Q: What Materials Are Vests Made Of?
A: Most soft armor systems are made of synthetic fibers, while hard plates are made of aluminum and ceramics. Modern soft armor is no longer strictly a Kevlar bulletproof vest and is most frequently made from Aramid fibers, which are very light and have a high tensile strength that will catch a round and stop it from penetrating. For hard plates, the most frequent bulletproof tactical vest will have inserts made from Aluminum or Silicon Carbide. These two materials will have the ability to stop most rounds. The best body armor from this class is Boron Carbide, which is lighter than Silicon Carbide but is also considerably more expensive.
Q: Does Body Armor offer guaranteed protection?
A: According to the NIJ Standard, even the best body armor can’t stop everything. The best bulletproof vest when it comes to protection level alone is NIJ Level IV which is rated to stop at least 1 shot from a 0.30 CAL M2AP round. A bulletproof tactical vest with NIJ Level IIIa soft armor will stop at least 4 consecutive rounds from a .44 Magnum at a zero-degree angle. Lower NIJ levels will offer protection from less impactful rounds.
How Can We Help You Choose a Bulletproof Vest?
Choosing the best bulletproof vest for a novice can be difficult, especially with the potential risk of making a wrong decision. Thankfully, both the community and the industry are very open and welcoming, and most of those in the know will be willing to help everyone. If you have any questions, contact the
UARM Info email , and we will immediately answer your inquiry. Alternatively, you can
contact us via chat, and our specialists will help you on your journey toward complete protection.