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.

There is a lot of factors to consider when researching tactical gear, below are five of the most common considerations:

1. Durability: The ability for your gear to last is important these days as prices climb and budgets for new gear shrink. As a professional you need your gear to survive the duties that you carry out on an everyday basis. You need your gear to hold up against weather and how often you use it. Most manufacturers don’t cover anything other than a product defect warrantee for normal wear and tear, you should be looking for your tactical gear to last between 3 to 5 years. Kevlar and ballistic nylon materials provide the best durability but if you are looking for greater comfort and professional appearance look to leather.
2. Functionality: Tactical gear is designed with a specific function in mind. Make sure what you looking at can perform those duties. If you have learned certain skills on specific equipment then consider buying that same equipment.
3. Maintenance and Serviceability: Cleaning your gear should be easy; it shouldn’t require a lot of scrubbing or the need to purchase special cleaning products. You should be able to clean your gear with non-oil base soap, water and a soft bristle brush. Hang your equipment up when you aren’t using it. All gear wears out and you will be forced to replace it at some point, look into purchasing gear that can be repaired easily.
4. Appearance: Know your work dress code and keep it in mind when buying your tactical gear. You don’t to buy something only to find out that you can’t use it because it doesn’t keep to the dress code. Returns and exchanges can be frustrating and time consuming.
5. Comfort: This should be at the top of your list. I don’t know about you but being comfortable is important to me. Most manufacturers design their gear with comfort and durability in mind.

These are just a few things to consider when buying tactical gear. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference as there are so many different manufacturers and styles out there to choose from.

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God Bless our Soldiers and what they fight for may they all come home safely!