Body Armor: Overview,
Types, and Use
Body armor is protective equipment designed to reduce injury or death from ballistic threats, primarily bullets. Modern body armor is constructed from advanced materials, most notably Kevlar®, a woven aramid fiber layered into ballistic panels commonly used in vests worn by military personnel, law enforcement, and civilians worldwide.
Materials designed to stop bullets are best described as bullet-resistant against the ammunition it was designed to defeat. But no body armor can guarantee to stop bullets of all velocities, weights, and designs.
With that in mind, certain bullet types can defeat certain types of armor more easily, and some exotic rounds may make a piece of armor much less effective. Armor manufacturing companies have to choose which bullets to prioritize stopping, and while they could potentially develop armor to stop truly exotic rounds, the priority is to protect the user from threats he/she is most likely to face.
Ultimately manufacturers are trying to create the armor that defeats the widest number of rounds, at a reasonable weight, while still being in the realm of affordability…a balance of the “protection, pounds, and price” triangle.
Soft armor is designed to ‘catch’ the bullet to stop it, which takes time and distance. As the vest stops the bullet, the vest is deformed in the direction of the projectile’s travel toward the wearer’s body. The distance the armor deforms is commonly called “backface deformation.” The amount of backface deformation depends on the protective level of the vest and how much energy the bullet has.
All types of people purchase body armor. Law enforcement and security personnel, armored car company employees, bodyguards, and citizens working or living in higher-risk areas. Really, anyone wanting extra protection in the event they are shot at.
Body armor is designed to stop bullets from penetrating the armor, but how it does that depends on the material, which absorbs the bullet’s impact. The bullet is either caught (as with soft armor), disintegrated (as with steel and, to a lesser extent, ceramic armor plates), or captured within the armor (as with polyethylene armor plates).
Though body armor protects the wearer from the most devastating part of a bullet’s impact, the possibility of injury via the blunt impact of the bullet due to what is known as backface deformation still remains. Current specifications allow for up to 44mm of backface deformation (1.73”).
Hard armor is affected by the bullet's energy transfer as well, but in different ways: steel armor shatters projectiles and redirects the pieces, while polyethylene and ceramic plates absorb the bullet and its energy.
All types of armor can experience backface deformation, with soft armor and UHMWPE (sometimes referred to as poly, polyethylene, PE, or HDPE plates) experiencing the most deformation.
Backface deformation often results in bruises, broken bones, contusions, and other injuries, sometimes referred to as blunt force trauma. Depending on the armor type, the round used, and the location of the shot, the wearer can still suffer a serious or fatal injury.
When a bullet hits armor of any kind, it carries energy. Heavier and faster bullets transfer more energy and that energy has to go somewhere. Different types of armor deal with that energy in different ways.
What Is Body Armor Made Of?
Body armor is engineered using advanced materials designed to stop ballistic threats. There are two main types of body armor: Soft Armor and Hrd Armor, each serving different protection needs.
Designed to stop lower-velocity threats such as most handgun rounds.
Soft armor is commonly used in “bulletproof” vests (though no armor is truly bulletproof). It is lightweight, flexible, and ideal for everyday wear.
Materials Used
These materials are woven into fabric layers, then cut and sewn into armor panels for ballistic vests.
Protection Characteristics
Pros
Cons
Real reviews from real customers
Folks if you are looking for a high quality everyday vest then stop and buy from here! Not only does the product look great the fit and finish is awesome, and their customer service team is second to none!
The bulletproof hoodie looks just like a normal one — but the protection it offers is next-level.
Outstanding quality and customer service. The armor fits perfectly and feels very secure.
Fits great will probably be purchasing another one in the near future.
I bought the tactical vest and couldn't be more impressed. Solid build, snug fit, and plenty of room for attachments.
Best investment I've made for my safety. Lightweight yet incredibly protective.
Folks if you are looking for a high quality everyday vest then stop and buy from here! Not only does the product look great the fit and finish is awesome, and their customer service team is second to none!
Fits great will probably be purchasing another one in the near future.
The bulletproof hoodie looks just like a normal one — but the protection it offers is next-level.
I bought the tactical vest and couldn't be more impressed. Solid build, snug fit, and plenty of room for attachments.
Outstanding quality and customer service. The armor fits perfectly and feels very secure.
Best investment I've made for my safety. Lightweight yet incredibly protective.
Find answers to commonly asked questions about our products and services.
An in-conjunction-with (ICW) plate is designed to be used with some sort of backing material, usually a Level IIIA soft armor ballistic vest or “plate backer” (a plate-sized piece of soft armor) which helps to absorb the kinetic energy and catch potential spall on the backside. Some ICW plates may be rated for Level III threats (six rounds of 7.62x51 ball ammo) when used in a stand-alone fashion, and Level IV (one round of .30-06 M2AP ammo) when used with a backer or Level IIIA vest. It is important to note ICW plates are Certified with a particular soft armor vest so while they can be used with all soft armor vests they may not meet the proper testing standard to stop the rifle bullets. Always buy an ICW plate certified with the soft armor.
In comparison, stand-alone plates are capable of stopping their NIJ rating without the use of any backing materials. This offers more flexibility in that you can use them in a smaller plate carrier (vs. a carrier for a larger vest) as well as save some weight from not needing the backing vest or panels.
We recommend measuring your chest circumference and comparing it to our size chart. Our customer service team is also available to help you find the perfect fit.
All our armor products come with a 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects. The ballistic panels have a rated lifespan of 5 years from the date of manufacture.
Yes, we ship to many countries worldwide. Please note that some countries have restrictions on body armor imports. Contact us for specific shipping information to your location.
