Concealable Vests

There are many ‘first rules of war’, but one that comes to mind often is ‘knowledge is power’. Knowing something about your enemy, or making the enemy no know something about you is often crucial. And that is exactly where covert armor comes into the picture. Types of covert armor:

Thin soft armor under regular clothes
Minimalistic plate carriers under jackets and coats
Soft covert armor disguised as casual wardrobe

Regardless if it is a bulletproof vest hidden behind plain clothes or specialized attire that looks like something you would wear every day, the goal is for no one to know that you are protected. Thankfully, there are multiple good options for sale on the market with increasing levels of protection. This ranges from seamless shirts with soft armor inside them to very light plate carriers that can make you mission-ready without anyone knowing.

How Well Can You Hide Body Armor?

How well you can hide any protective or offensive gear will depend on your circumstances. Situations like location, temperature, culture, as well as your own body type and posture will create some opportunities while closing others. Technically, you may hide any type of ballistic armor. But, being dressed like an Arctic explorer in Florida summer would be a worse tactical decision than if you were simply wearing your body armor on the outside. You would need to play around with loose clothing that you might not be used to. There are soft armor options, like singlets and t-shirts that will fit seamlessly in that situation. These types of NIJ Level II armor are often used by the police to stay protected while not seeming overly militarized.

Toughness for Covert Armor

Covert armor can go all the way up to NIJ Level IV with some very light and concealable carriers. If it is winter time you can hide this carrier under your jacket and stay protected from even rifle rounds. In the summertime, you will need to go fill Clint Eastwood in ''A Fistful of Dollars'' and wear a poncho or something. If you need to go thinner, your best option for cover armor is NIJ Level II armor that can be as thin as 6mm or less than a ¼ of an inch. This type of armor can be worn under a simple t-shit and even with shorts on. These shirts will protect you from any 9mm handgun, or a .40cal Smith & Wesson. They are also fairly lightweight, as well as a competitive price.

Wardrobe Adjustments

If you are planning to make your armor covert by hiding it under your plain clothes, you will need to do some adjustments. These will depend on your body type. If you are of medium build, thin body armor will do nothing but give you a slight ‘buff dad-bod’ look. And if you already have this body type there is nothing to do but buy a shirt one number over what you usually buy. If you are slimmer or more robust than the average, you should consider something looser. Hoodies and rain jackets are always a good option, as well as anything considered ‘comfort ware’.

Armored Casual Clothes

This is a step beyond when it comes to covert armor. In many ways, these types of armored clothing can often be superior to their under-shirt counterparts. For instance, if you have a kevlar or some similar soft armor composite T-shirt, you can just wear that. Unless they come very close and you give them a spin, nobody will notice that it has a bulletproof vest woven inside. It just looks like a stylish casual-smart T-shirt. This is why it became so popular during the summer for security at events. In the middle, there are armored hoodies. The benefit is that they are so comfortable that you will want to wear them. Finally, there are armored jackets. An NIJ Level IIIa armored jacket will weigh slightly more than a parka, and be equally as warm. Bulletproof vests are great isolators, for obvious reasons. The fact that this jacket can just as easily be worn as an everyday jacket makes it so ideal as a covert armor. But, unlike a regular parka, this one can stop a bullet from a .44cal Magnum.

Conclusion

For many jobs and situations, wearing a bulletproof vest is a necessity. But often there is also a drive to be inconspicuous, or not to look like the military. That is where you’ll want to hide your armor from plain view. The good thing is that regardless of the circumstances, you will have a good option to select. Covert soft armor can be very thin and very flexible. Besides being seamless under clothes, it can even be clothes. And, even if you need to go thicker, there are options to hide, albeit with a bit more work.

F.A.Q

What is covert armor?

Any type of ballistic body armor meant to be concealed or hidden in plain sight. Covert armor can be worn underneath plain clothes, or installed inside plain-looking attire.

What is covert body armor made of?

Although there are examples of hard plates worn covertly, in most cases cover armor is soft, made with ballistic fabrics. Outer fabrics can range widely depending on the intended use.

Is it illegal to wear concealed bulletproof vest in public?

No. Unless you are a convicted felon with no express permission to wear body armor, it is perfectly legal to wear any type of armor in public. Covert armor is the preffered choice for most cases.

How to find your perfect fit?

Measure your height, waistline and chest circumferences. Enter your values to calculate your optimal size.

Height (foot)

Chest (inches)

Waist (inches)

Invalid value: height size should be in the range: 5-7 foots

Invalid value: chest size should be in the range: 33-53 inches

Invalid value: waist size should be in the range: 28-48 inches

Determine size

Choose size

No suitable size found

BODY ARMOR SIZE

CUMMERBAND SIZE

Height (Foot)

5.0' - 5.5'

5.6' - 5.9'

6.0' - 6.5'

6.6' - 7.0'

CHEST (INCHES)

33 - 37

38 - 43

44 - 46

47 - 53

WAIST (INCHES)

28"

33 - 39

39 - 42

43 - 48

How to find your perfect fit?

Measure your height, waistline and chest circumferences. Enter your values to calculate your optimal size.

Height (foot)

Chest (inches)

Waist (inches)

Invalid value: height size should be in the range: 5-7 foots

Invalid value: chest size should be in the range: 33-49 inches

Invalid value: waist size should be in the range: 28-44 inches

Determine size

Choose size

No suitable size found

BODY ARMOR SIZE

Height (Foot)

5.0' - 5.5'

5.6' - 5.9'

6.0' - 6.5'

6.6' - 7.0'

CHEST (INCHES)

33 - 37

38 - 43

44 - 46

47 - 53

WAIST (INCHES)

28"

33 - 39

39 - 42

43 - 48

How to find your perfect fit?

Measure your height, waistline and chest circumferences. Enter your values to calculate your optimal size.

Chest (inches)

Waist (inches)

Invalid value: height size should be in the range: 5-7 foots

Invalid value: chest size should be in the range: 33-53 inches

Invalid value: waist size should be in the range: 28-48 inches

Determine size

Choose size

No suitable size found

Plate Size

Plate Size (Inches)

8.7" х 11.7"

9.5" х 12.5"

10.3" х 13.2"

11" х 14"

CHEST (INCHES)

33 - 37

38 - 43

44 - 46

47 - 53

WAIST (INCHES)

28"

33 - 39

39 - 42

43 - 48

How to find your perfect fit?

Measure your height, waistline and chest circumferences. Enter your values to calculate your optimal size.

Height (foot)

Chest (inches)

Waist (inches)

Invalid value: height size should be in the range: 5-7 foots

Invalid value: chest size should be in the range: 33-53 inches

Invalid value: waist size should be in the range: 28-48 inches

Determine size

Choose size

No suitable size found

BODY ARMOR SIZE

2XL

3XL

CUMMERBAND SIZE

2XL

3XL

Height (Foot)

5.0' - 5.3'

5.4' - 5.6'

5.7' - 5.8'

5.9' - 6.2'

6.3' - 6.6'

6.7' - 7.0'

CHEST (INCHES)

33 - 37

38 - 40

41 - 43

44 - 46

47 - 50

51 - 53

WAIST (INCHES)

28"

33 - 35

36 - 39

40 - 42

43 - 45

46 - 48

How to find your perfect fit?

Measure your height, waistline and chest circumferences. Enter your values to calculate your optimal size.

Height (foot)

Chest (inches)

Waist (inches)

Invalid value: height size should be in the range: 5-7 foots

Invalid value: chest size should be in the range: 33-53 inches

Invalid value: waist size should be in the range: 28-48 inches

Determine size

Choose size

No suitable size found

BODY ARMOR SIZE

2XL

3XL

Height (Foot)

5.0' - 5.3'

5.4' - 5.6'

5.7' - 5.8'

5.9' - 6.2'

6.3' - 6.6'

6.7' - 7.0'

CHEST (INCHES)

33 - 37

38 - 40

41 - 43

44 - 46

47 - 50

51 - 53

WAIST (INCHES)

28"

33 - 35

36 - 39

40 - 42

43 - 45

46 - 48

How to find your perfect fit?

Measure your height, waistline and chest circumferences. Enter your values to calculate your optimal size.

Height (foot)

Chest (inches)

Waist (inches)

Invalid value: height size should be in the range: 4.8-5.8 foots

Invalid value: chest size should be in the range: 30-45 inches

Invalid value: waist size should be in the range: 23-37 inches

Determine size

Choose size

No suitable size found

BODY ARMOR SIZE

2XL

Height (Foot)

4.8' - 5.0'

5.1' - 5.2'

5.3' - 5.4'

5.5' - 5.6'

5.7' - 5.8'

CHEST (INCHES)

30 - 32

33 - 35

36 - 39

39 - 42

42 - 45

WAIST (INCHES)

23 25

26 - 28

29 - 31

32 - 33

34 - 37

How to find your perfect fit?

Measure your height, waistline and chest circumferences. Enter your values to calculate your optimal size.

Height (foot)

Chest (inches)

Waist (inches)

Invalid value: height size should be in the range: 4.8-5.8 foots

Invalid value: chest size should be in the range: 30-45 inches

Invalid value: waist size should be in the range: 23-37 inches

Determine size

Choose size

No suitable size found

BODY ARMOR SIZE

2XL

CUMMERBAND SIZE

2XL

Height (Foot)

4.8' - 5.0'

5.1' - 5.2'

5.3' - 5.4'

5.5' - 5.6'

5.7' - 5.8'

CHEST (INCHES)

30 - 32

33 - 35

36 - 39

39 - 42

42 - 45

WAIST (INCHES)

23 25

26 - 28

29 - 31

32 - 33

34 - 37

How to find your perfect fit?

Measure your height, waistline and chest circumferences. Enter your values to calculate your optimal size.

Height (foot)

Chest (inches)

Waist (inches)

Invalid value: height size should be in the range: 5.2-6.3 foots

Invalid value: chest size should be in the range: 31.5-52.8 inches

Invalid value: waist size should be in the range: 26.8-47.2 inches

Determine size

Choose size

No suitable size found

Apparel SIZE

2XS/S

XS/S

S/S

S/L

M/S

M/L

L/S

L/L

XL/S

XL/L

2XL/S

2XL/L

3XL/L

Height (Foot)

5.2' - 5.7'

5.8' - 6.3'

5.2' - 5.7'

5.8' - 6.3'

5.2' - 5.7'

5.8' - 6.3'

5.2' - 5.7'

5.8' - 6.3'

5.2' - 5.7'

5.8' - 6.3'

5.2' - 5.7'

5.8' - 6.3'

CHEST (INCHES)

31.5 - 33.4

33.5 - 34.9

35 - 37

37.1 - 40.5

40.6 - 43.6

43.7 - 46.8

46.9 - 49.5

49.6 - 52.8

WAIST (INCHES)

26.8 - 28.5

28.6 - 30.0

30.1 - 31.5

31.6 - 34.9

35 - 38

38.1 - 41.1

41.2 - 44.4

44.5 - 47.2

How to find your perfect fit?

Measure your height, waistline and chest circumferences. Enter your values to calculate your optimal size.

Height (foot)

Chest (inches)

Waist (inches)

Invalid value: height size should be in the range: 5.2-6 foots

Invalid value: chest size should be in the range: 31.1-40.2 inches

Invalid value: waist size should be in the range: 22.8-31.9 inches

Determine size

Choose size

No suitable size found

Apparel SIZE

2XS/S

XS/S

S/S

S/L

M/S

M/L

L/S

L/L

XL/S

XL/L

Height (Foot)

5.2' - 5.6'

5.7' - 6.0'

5.2' - 5.6'

5.7' - 6.0'

5.2' - 5.6'

5.7' - 6.0'

5.2' - 5.6'

5.7' - 6.0'

CHEST (INCHES)

31.1 - 32.4

32.5 - 33.9

34 - 35.6

35.7 - 37.2

37.3 - 38.8

38.9 - 40.2

WAIST (INCHES)

22.8 - 24.2

24.3 - 25.8

25.9 - 27.4

27.5 - 28.9

29 - 30.5

30.6 - 31.9

How to find your perfect fit?

Measure your laptop to make sure it fits to the case.

Length (inches)

Width (inches)

Thickness (inches)

Invalid value: length size should be in the range: 13-15 foots

Invalid value: width size should be in the range: 9-11 inches

Invalid value: thickness size should be in the range: 0.6-1 inches

Determine size

Choose size

No suitable size found

Laptop Case

13"

15"

17"

Length (Inches)

Width (INCHES)

Thickness (INCHES)

0.6

0.9

1.0