Bullet resistant vests have come along way over the years. Vests have become more comfortable, concealable, and stronger. Since 1987 more than 3,000 law enforcement have been saved because they used a bullet resistant vest.
Here are a few things to consider when thinking of purchasing a bullet resistant vest:
First you need to pick the type of carrier to use. Carriers are usually made of either nylon or cloth. You ultimately must choose which material you want to use. Each type of carrier has different perspiration absorbsion ratings, comfort levels, and material costs associated with them.
The next item to consider is what to wear underneath your vest. Some officers wear Under Armor material, cotton t-shirts, and in rare cases no undershirt at all. It is always a good idea to test the item you plan to wear underneath your vest as some materials can cause skin irritation.
Most law enforcement personnel wear soft panel stop plates. These are extra plates that officers can add to their existing vests for added protection. The most common is adding one to the chest area. These are called trauma plates and these add extra protection for the heart. Make sure your plates are
heat-sealed. This will protect your ballistic materials and panels from humidity and moisture.
Determining the level of protection is also important. Wear-ability and conceal-ability are two of the trade-offs to consider when determining your
level of protection. Level II-A, Level II and Level III-A will stop the majority of Pistol projectiles that you might encounter.
Level II-A is the most comfortable and concealable especially if you are planning to wear a vest for long periods of time or your position requires a lot of movement.
Level II is the most common warn by law enforcement professionals. It offers a great balance between protection, costs, conceal-ability, and comfort. This is the most commonly recommended protection level.
Level III-A is stiffer and heavier and often more expensive. This level will however stop the most uncommon pistol threats, plus it gives you the greatest amount of blunt trauma impact protection.
Stab-Resistant vests are out there, but are not usually recommended as they are usually pretty expensive. Stab-Resistance makes the vest heavier, thicker, and significantly stiffer. They are far less comfortable and much less concealable. Standard vests do offer some knife protection from slashing attacks however they won’t stop stabbing attacks.
Comfort should be fairly high on your priority list. Most vests today are very comfortable, except when it gets hot out, they also don’t restrict movement very much when they are fitted properly. Heat buildup is a problem with all vests especially in the summer. The thick panels insulate you, and the waterproofing of the panels prevents effective cooling. You can wear your vest on the outside this can help keep you cool but you do sacrifice concealment. If you are going to wear your vest on the outside make sure that the color of the vest matches your uniform.
Bullet resistant vests can be expensive and those who purchase them want them to last. You always want to make sure you have a regular schedule for cleaning your vests. Be sure to read the care and cleaning instructions and avoid machine washing and drying your vests.
Remember to pick the vest that fits best with the job you’re intending to use it for.