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SIGForum Official Hand Model |
Looking to pick up soft body armor for a security job. I will be armed (hmm P320 or Walther PDP, oh the choices). Looking for info on what is good and seems to be a good reliable unit. Don’t really want to go with plate carriers since I’d be in and out of a car/truck a lot. And those seem pretty heavy. Thanks "da evil Count Glockula."-Para | ||
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For real? |
I think NIJ is doing some reclassifications eventually but best soft armor now is rated IIIA. Lots of options out there depending on what you want to spend. Usually higher cost means thinner and more flexible. I haven’t really been following what’s new. I switched us to the Point Blank Alpha Elite Black in IIIA awhile ago and haven’t bothered to change. It’s reasonably thin and lightweight and most of us have switched to external carriers. But the ones still wearing it under their shirts like it. I’m going to be at Galaxcon Sunday if you want me to bring one for you to try. I think I have an older spare one we’re going to give to a new kid for the Academy next month. Not minority enough! | |||
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P320 AXG Legion - Start there | |||
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Member |
Interesting choice of body armor there. Best defense is a good offense? or something? This is where my signature goes. | |||
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| I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not |
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| SIGForum Official Hand Model |
Excellent. "da evil Count Glockula."-Para | |||
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| Member |
you can get redacted version of this from vendors, but the reality is its all rated and tested to the NIJ standards. So just head over there and you can learn all you need to know. But the net is decide the threat level you need protection from, the weight and dimensions (unfortunately in body armor more money gets lighter and thinner) and your budget. https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/equ...echnology/body-armor “So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.” | |||
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| In the yahd, not too fah from the cah  |
I've bought plates from Body Armor Outlet before. They sell soft armor as well. As others said determine what rating level you need first. Also, see if you're allowed external carriers or if you're required to wear concealable armor. External carriers seem to be more popular now, at least from what I've seen, but I'm sure some in LE can chime in as well. I've worn both and I've found external to be more comfortable as you don't sweat as much. https://www.bodyarmoroutlet.co...llections/body-armor | |||
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Sigforum K9 handler |
Whatever you choose, make sure you pay attention to getting the measurements right before you order. Not paying attention will get you armor that isn’t comfortable, particularly when sitting down. The thing I’ll say about outer carriers and plate carriers is they are my choice. I wear a plate carrier in place of where I could get away with wearing soft armor. A good plate carrier and set of light (ish) weight plates are way more comfortable to me and gives me options. In the summer, it’s easier to ventilate or slip off during down time. Plate carriers/external carriers are also a lot more scalable for the job at hand. Even our patrol guys have the choice of an outer carrier. It looks just like a uniform shirt. In the summer it allows them to be able to cool off better. | |||
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Member |
Interesting thread. I Picked up a Protectvest from Bulletproof Zone this last summer. Took a while to deliver. Maybe they have gotten better. The carrier and plates package was about $300 ($279 at this time). It has 2 IIIa panels with the manufacturer name of Longfri Technologies. I suppose you can source panels separately and get a carrier of your choice. https://bulletproofzone.com/co...products/protectvest | |||
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Prepared for the Worst, Providing the Best |
Outer carrier all the way. Wearing body armor sucks, especially for a 12-18 hour shift in the heat. It's hard on your back, and can lead to heat exhaustion if conditions are bad enough and you're not careful. Outer carriers ventilate better, are much easier on your posture and back, and like jljones said they're easy to remove for short periods when you're in the office or on a break. I would never willingly go back to an under-shirt carrier. I tried briefly during COVID and almost ended up off work due to lower back issues as a result. The current carrier we are using has an extra pocket in the front that I put a hard composite plate in. It adds ballistic protection and also keeps the front soft panel from getting scrunched up when I sit, so it holds it's shape and looks better. | |||
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| Ugly Bag of Mostly Water  |
Is the company paying for it? What's the budget you're working with? Endowment Life Member, NRA • Member of FPC, GOA, 2AF & Arizona Citizens Defense League | |||
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All chaps, no jeans |
Following this thread and all the recommendations... Not to highjack, but whats's recommended for both concealable and hot environments in soft armor? | |||
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Fighting the good fight |
This. Best bet is to see if you have a police supply store in your area, and go there to get measured.
Agreed. Unless there's literally no other option, go with an outer carrier. I wore a concealable vest under my shirts for about a decade before we even had the option to go with outer vests, and I'd never go back.
Understand that all concealable body armor will be hot. Concealable body armor doesn't have the benefit of decent stand-off from the body like outer carriers. It's like wearing a super thick garbage bag under your shirt all day. There's no real way around it, other than getting used to it. There's no magical brand or style of concealable vest where if you pay a little bit more money you'll stay cool. And in "Sunny St. Pete" you're going to be that much more sweaty in it. I rarely sweated in my outer carrier unless I was very physically active or it was really hot outside. Just that minimal amount of standoff was enough for significantly greater comfort. But I constantly sweated in my concealable vest, regardless. Even if it was cool and I did little more than sit around all day, I'd still be peeling a damp vest off at the end of the shift. The only upside is that I rarely needed to wear a significant coat during winter. I could get by in most cooler weather with just long sleeves and my concealable vest, only putting on a jacket when it got really cold. The thick extra insulation on your torso from the concealable armor was enough to stay warm in most cool to cold weather. (But again, not applicable to you in Florida...) You also have to be religious about cleaning your concealable armor and swapping out/washing carriers on a regular basis. Sweating on it all day long makes it stink, just like football pads or similar. I sprayed my concealable vest with antimicrobial odor absorbing athletic gear spray daily, and fully wiped down the armor panels plus swapped to a clean carrier weekly. Even then, you get to deal with mild to moderate "vest farts" every time you sit down, as a puff of locker room smell gets pushed out the neck area. Wearing a synthetic UnderArmor-style undershirt helps a little bit with comfort. You're still going to be hot and sweaty regardless, but at least you'll have a dry layer directly against your skin, as opposed to spending all day soaking in a sodden cotton undershirt and developing all kinds of nasty rashes as a result. Also, it's important to note that "concealable" body armor still makes you look like you're wearing body armor. Concealable soft armor is still fairly thick and semi-rigid, with lumps and bumps in odd areas. You're going to constantly be "printing" an outline of your vest through your shirt, much more than the occasional "printing" of a concealed holster. It's certainly less overt than openly wearing an outer carrier, but it absolutely does not look like you're wearing nothing. So while it might not be noticed from afar, or by the average oblivious person shuffling past you at the grocery store, anyone that actually looks at you will be able to tell that you're wearing some sort of thick vest under your shirt. And anyone who knows what soft armor looks like will instantly know you're wearing armor under your shirt. | |||
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| SIGForum Official Hand Model |
I’m paying. I don’t mind on spending $$$$ but keeping it within reason is there also. "da evil Count Glockula."-Para | |||
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| Prepared for the Worst, Providing the Best |
Yeah, vest funk is real. Anti-microbial spray is a must, and even that isn't a cure-all. I'm not sure how you guys down south put up with it. Even with an outer-carrier up here in the frozen north I sweat most of the year. Add a little bit of physical activity during a shift and I'm soaked for the rest of the day, even with a moisture-wicking base layer (although I agree it's a big improvement over cotton!). There's no reprieve until winter...It's currently in the high 30's here and I'm still wearing short sleeves. I'd probably die if I tried doing this job in Florida or Georgia, lol. | |||
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| All chaps, no jeans |
I hope I can convey the thank-you for your in-depth reply, I appreciate it immensely. Should have noted that years ago, in another life, I used to wear Galls soft armor (in a much cooler climate) and understand both the stank & heat aspects of it. These days I'm looking for something that stands out the least, as my philosophy-think is "the easier something is to use, the more likely I'll use it." And knowing it will be hot in this fine Florida climate, I was hoping someone had experience with the lesser of the ever-so-hot soft armor evils. I've been eyeing the "CAS Covert Armored Singlet" from uarmprotection.com but, having never heard of this brand/seller, always happy to hear from the SigForum braintrust. | |||
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