FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

We want you to have confidence in the body armor you wear. Our Florida factory is closely monitored by the Government to ensure we continue to produce armor that meets the standard to its certification.

We sell American made US Government Certified armor that meets the National Institute of Justice standard 0101.06 for law enforcement and can be verified in the Justice Technology Information Center certification system. Most online body armor companies sell non-certified or compliant products that are not subject to Government oversight. 

A concealable vest is designed to be worn underneath a shirt or a jacket. A tactical vest is designed to be worn over the shirt or uniform and is equipped with Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) webbing so that pouches and ID panels can be attached.

YES! All our body armor is unisex.

No, we do not have a retail showroom. All our products are sold online and shipped from our warehouse.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice and is the group that created and manages the minimum performance standards against which our and many other brands of armor are tested. The current standard that armor must meet is set forth in their 0101.06 body armor standards.

The truth is that there is body armor being sold that is not NIJ certified or tested. Testing takes time and money, and some companies don’t want to go through the effort and cost. Some customers may be super budget conscious and want to save as much as possible.

National Body Armor’s products are tested in NIJ-approved labs and meet the NIJ’s standards for ballistic performance. In fact 100% of the armor we sell is Made in USA and Certified. This means that the quality of the materials and the way we have them assembled stop what they’re advertised to stop. 

Cheap armor that hasn’t been tested? Maybe it would pass…but do you want to bet your life on it?

Pros of having National Body Armor NIJ certified armor:

  • Be confident in your personal safety. NIJ certification provides assurance of protection against specific ballistic threats
  • Higher quality. NIJ certification is a rigorous testing process that ensures armor meets specific standards and undergoes regular quality control inspections
  • Widely recognized: NIJ certification is a widely recognized standard in the law enforcement and military communities. Using certified armor can improve the perception of the armor vendor’s professionalism and commitment to safety.

For additional information please read https://www.bodyarmordirect.com/pages/certified-vs-compliant

If you are a National Body Armor Save, please contact us. Our company was created with one purpose; to save lives. Saving lives is our business and we would like to hear from you. Our CEO will reach out to you directly to hear and talk about your story. After all, you ARE our hero! The last Certified Save was a US National Guardsman in Pennsylvania.

Our ballistics are designed using a para-aramid, heat resistant and extremely strong synthetic fibers. These fibers are six time the strength of steel, weight for weight. Kevlar is a brand name of the DuPont Corporation.

View Our Ballistics Chart

Currently, the highest rating/level for personal body armor is Level IIIA for soft armor and Level IV for hard armor plates.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) establishes and updates voluntary minimum performance standards for body armor, conducts testing against these standards to ensure that body armor complies with the standards, and sponsors research to improve body armor. NIJ Certified body armor is strictly regulated and randomly selected for testing by the NIJ to ensure the armor design meets the requirements listed on the build sheet. Armor that does not comply to the standards and fails any of the NIJ’s inspections is subject to a recall.

ABSOLUTELY. Not only will it be extremely painful, getting shot while wearing a vest can also cause bone fracture and internal bleeding. A bullet resistant vest is made to stop the bullet while allowing minimal backface deformation so that the user can walk away alive. Having said that, a vest is by no means designed for the user to be comfortable after getting shot. A projectile can travel anywhere from 800 feet per second to 2,400 feet per second so the impact will cause some trauma but the purpose of the vest is to keep the victim alive.

Yes. While body armor is not 100% bullet proof, news reports and internet searches will show many stories of police, military, and civilians whose lives were saved by their ballistic vests.

Also, back in the 1970s and 80s, the founder of one of the first large body armor companies used to be shot…on purpose…with a .357 Magnum to demonstrate that his products worked. Now that’s “standing behind your product”, but isn’t something we recommend or need to do anymore given the testing and history of saves that body armor have.

We don’t make child-sized armor vests, but they will fit anyone who meets the sizing guidelines for our products. For school-aged kids, we recommend backpack armor. Our 10”x12” or 11”x14” ballistic panels fit nicely into many different backpacks.

YES! You're welcome to call us at 561-571-5424 we enjoy discussing body armor and helping our customers ensure they make the correct purchase.

YES! We are registered with the US Department of State and can export world wide with the proper export licenses. Our Defense Trade Controls Compliance Registration Code is M44107. We comply with all International Trade and Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Body Armor Laws

You must be 18 to buy and not a convicted felon. Residents of the State of NY and CT please see below.

We sell body armor to any adult who may need the protection against handgun or rifle fire. From the general public that wants to protect themselves, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS personnel, airport teams, security guards, Church security teams, business executives, Doctors, lawyers, professional sports teams, celebrities, Uber drivers, shop owners, bank employees, repo workers, process servers, hunters, gun range patrons and anyone else who wants one. There is no background check, waiting period, or federal registration required. Our company is dedicated to providing protection to ANY ADULT who feels they may need it.

Body armor is legal for the general public to purchase and own on the Federal level. Traditionally, body armor is not for sale to the general public in retail stores. NY and CT are the only State with additional requirements, see below.

Only two States have special requirements regarding who can buy and shipping: Connecticut and New York.  If you live in the State of New York you must have current identification in accordance with the eligible professions located at https://dos.ny.gov/body-armor. If you live in the State of Connecticut you must have an identification in accordance with the eligible professions located at https://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/rpt/2009-R-0401.htm. Please send your order # and ID to sales@nationalbodyarmor.com or your order will NOT be released for production. We do not facilitate in person buying for civilians in Connecticut.

Payment & Financing Options

YES! Select Shop Pay at checkout and pay over time at 0%. We ship your order and you continue to make payments after receiving.

YES! We accept POs from Federal, State, Local, Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS and all agencies plus private corporations. Send your PO to sales@bodyarmordirect.com or contact us directly at 561-571-5424.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover Card, PayPal. and now Crypto.

Shipping

We ship world wide in accordance with US laws.

We offer same day shipping on in stock items. Some products we manufacture in the order we receive orders and they take longer. The important part is you receive body armor with a recent date of manufacture to ensure you receive the full 5 year warranty on the ballistics. Our team will always focus on quality before speed as we sell life saving products.

Body armor is a life safety product and we want you to have a brand new product with a full warranty. We are the only online body armor factory that sells direct to consumer. 

In most cases they are offering Chinese made non-certified body armor that was manufactured up to a year a go or more that may have been sitting in a container for an extended period of time.

Warranty

National Body Armor warrants nylon covers against any defects in workmanship or materials for twelve (12) months after the date of purchase.

We offer a limited 5-year manufacturer’s warranty on all of our soft armor products, 10 years on hard armor and 2 years on the carrier.

National Body Armor warrants that for a period of (5) years from the date of purchase, the soft armor panels and for a period of (10) years for hard armor we will conform to the minimum requirements of the NIJ protocol for ballistic intervention during an actual confrontation at the stated threat level (if your ballistic panels are not labeled in compliance with NIJ requirements, then this warranty does not apply to your panels). This warranty is subject to, and expressly conditioned upon, strict compliance with the following conditions: 

 - The panel must not be torn, damaged, or altered in any way. 

 - The panel must not be subjected to abuse or misuse during service. 

 - The panel may only be used or placed in a cover or carrier it is designed or intended for. 

 - The panel must not be permitted to be excessively wet. 

 - The panel must not be subjected to excessive heat. 

 - The panel must be properly stored (i.e., not in excessively hot or damp conditions).

Cleaning & Maintenance

Our ballistics have a 5-year limited warranty. This is the industry standard recommended life cycle of a bullet resistant vest.

The recommended way to store your body armor is by laying them flat. Storing your vest in an upright position will cause the ballistic material to eventually start to “bunch up” on the bottom of the carrier.

While the outer carriers are designed to be machine washed and dried, the ballistic panels should NEVER be placed in a washing machine or dryer. To clean your ballistic panels, simply remove them from the outer carrier and wipe them down with soapy water. Make sure to thoroughly dry your ballistic panels before inserting them back into the carrier. Again, it is important to remember to NEVER submerge your ballistic panels in water.

When not in use, store your vest flat, and in a cool dry place

Rinsing your vest with water and washing with mild soaps will not damage your vest. Never submerge your vest underwater - rinse your vest off after any extended use. In addition to preventing the buildup of odor and other body residues, frequent rinsing will make wearing your vest more pleasant. You can rinse your vest in a conventional sink or shower; use a small amount of mild soap and hand scrub the body side of the vest and elastic straps about every fifth rinse. Always rinse soap off thoroughly and towel dry vest immediately after rinsing. Refer to care instructions on vest.

Submerging your vest in water is something that seems harmless yet can be very detrimental to your body armor. Exposing a ballistic package to water can significantly decrease the performance of your ballistics while the material is wet. Although our panels are sealed with ripstop material and are designed to keep water out, it is not recommended to submerge your panels.

Only the manufacturer is exclusively authorized to make repairs and alterations to their vests and other equipment. Manufacturer will consider this warranty null and void if any alterations and/or repairs of any kind are made to the vest, or to any portion of the vest, by any person or entity other than the Manufacturer.

Returns

We offer a 10 day fit guarantee. If you're not satisfied submit a request to our team using our Returns Center Portal.  All returns must be received in new unworn condition. All returns are for store credit only due to the high costs of reconditioning body armor when it is returned.

National Body Armor will replace your vest free of charge if your vest should become damaged during an actual CONFRONTATION with a firearm projectile or a sharp and/ or blunt instrument. The damaged vest and a copy of a Police department certification of the incident involving the damaging of the vest is required, and should be submitted via our Returns Center Portal. Body Armor Direct will issue a new vest as soon as all records of the occurrence are confirmed.This entire warranty is valid for the original purchaser only.

Currently, the highest rating/level for personal body armor is Level IIIA for soft armor and Level IV for hard armor plates.

No not at this time.

Privacy Policy

We take your privacy very seriously. All orders are shipped from us direct to the consumer. We do not share, trade, or sell your information to outside parties. Your purchase is handled privately.

We take your privacy very seriously. All orders are shipped from us direct to the consumer. We do not share, trade, or sell your information to outside parties. Your purchase is handled privately. We do cooperate with law enforcement on inquiries in regards to the original purchaser of our armor.

Zero tolerance. We meet you at the level you meet us - this means if you are rude or disrespectful in any manner to our personnel we will not work to resolve the issue in your favor.