Level 3 Body Armor

NIJ Level III designation is the lighter type of hard plate available today, and with the inventions of modern lightweight materials like UHMWPE they are quickly becoming widespread for a variety of missions. Unlike metallic alloy plates like Alumina, these plates are relatively light and can be worn longer. And, as they can stop rounds from military-grade antipersonnel rifles, they can be seen as an ideal choice for any type of police force, military group, or other company working in the security sector that may encounter threats of this level. But, not all NIJ Level III plates are created equal, and this designation alone doesn’t guarantee the low weight and versatility. That is why you should always look for several features when looking to buy Level III body armor:

Low weight – Below 3.5lbs even for the biggest models
Easy handling – The outer layer should not be slippery or glossy
The new standard – Always under NIJ 0101.06
Standardized design – Should fir regular plate carriers

Additionally, the plates should not deflect bullets, but rather catch them in as to prevent ricochet. By making the fibers pressed into alternative grains, the plate should also do the best it can to prevent any force from breaching the back of the plate. Thankfully, there are a few excellent models for sale now, especially under the so-called Level III+ standard that is effective against larger calibers often used in Soviet and Russian rifles.

What Does Level 3 Body Armor Protect Against?

Under the standard designated by the National Institute of Justice, all types of body armor under the NIJ Level III standard should stop at least six rounds from an anti-personnel rifle with 7.62mm or 5.56 NATO rounds. This standard includes a wide range of rifles that are usually standard issue weapons for militaries around the world. Also, this includes all types of weaker rounds, such as from a sidearm. While there are some novelty handgun models that may affect this armor, these models are so exceptionally rare that the chance of such a thing happening is negligible.

What Is the Difference between Level 3 and Level 3a Body Armor?

While NIJ Level IIIa can come in the form of plates, it is a transitional level between soft armor and hard armor. But, the distinction between the two is very important. Level IIIa can not stop most types of rifle fire as it doesn’t have the required compression as the harder plates. Even with the same materials used, the density of softer plates is lower and will get ripped by high-velocity rounds from a military-grade rifle. But, Level IIIa will stop all kinds of handgun ammo and is much more flexible than Level III. This trade-off makes it ideal for domestic situations and patrols. When it comes to offensive or overt combat missions, having a hard plate to protect your vital organs will be necessary and in these cases, NIJ Level IIIa armor is only used for protection against explosives and debris.

What Will a Level 3 Plate Stop?

First of all, a plate will stop any round that would be stopped by soft body armor, meaning that it is impervious to multiple consecutive shots from virtually any handgun. Even large-caliber handgun rounds will not even make a bump on the backside of the plate. But, the more important protection is from rifle rounds, focusing mostly on anti-personnel rifles such as the M16 using the 7.62mm NATO Full Metal Jacket. Some of the calibers an NIJ Level III plate will defend from are:

7.62x39mm Soviet
7.62x51mm NATO
7.62x54mmR Russian
5.56×45mm NATO
.308 Winchester
.223 Remington

Is Level 3 Armor Enough?

Unless you are under risk from anti-material rifles and snipers, such as the .30cal M2AP, NIJ Level III armor will be enough to save your life and protect your vital organs. The occasions where the highest NIJ protection designation, NIJ Level IV, is needed are few and far between. Also, considering the weight difference, you might not want to carry that kind of plate unless you are going on a specific mission where you know you will need it. Level III is an army standard and the usual level in most military setups. Because of this, it is more than adequate for police SWAT missions, or any type of private security business short of open rural warfare.

F.A.Q

What is a Level 3 bullet proof vest?

Level III refers to the NIJ specification for armor that can protect from rifle rounds up to 7.62mm NATO Full Metal Jackets. This is exclusively hard plate armor.

Is Level 3 armor enough?

For the overwhelming number of situations NIJ Level III is enough. Short of high-caliber high-velocity or anti-material carbines it will protect from most anti-personnel weapons.

What will a Level 3 plate stop?

NIJ Level III is certified to stop at least 6 rounds of 7.62mm FMJ from a military issue rifle. It will also stop all fire from a .308 Winchester, .223 Remington, as well as 7.62×39 and 5.45×39 Steel Core rounds.

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