Choosing the Right Body Armor

Choosing the right body armor for you nowadays is not that difficult. If you will search on the National Institute of Justice standards on body armor, you will find that level I thru level IIIA body armor are part of the soft body armor group and level III bodyarmor thru level IV makes up the hard body armor part. With that, the chart also shows the ammunition from which a certain type of body armor can protect the wearer from. You have to first know the right level of protection you will be needing.

The purpose of the armor has not changed at all in the thousands of years since it has been in use — to protect the wearer from death or serious bodily injury when engaged in mortal combat — but the increased comfort carries with it an increased probability that officers will wear it.

Soft body armor is the type typically worn by police officers. It usually is concealable and is some what flexible to allow easy mobility by the officer. Hard body armor is typically made out of ceramic or metal plates. It is very similar to the medieval times body suits. Hard body armor usually provides a higher greater level of protection yet allows for limited mobility. Therefore, it is usually only used in limited situations. Body armor that provides stab protection is typically used by correctional officers. This type of body armor usually doesn't provide a ballistic protection, yet a protection against stabs.

When choosing your vest, first determine the mission during which you will most likely be wearing it and the level of protection you will most likely need. At a minimum, make sure the vest will stop the rounds from the handgun you will be carrying in the event of a disarming.

For example, you just need the level of protection given by a level I body armor but instead you chose to buy level III body armor, don’t make the mistake of buying the highest level of protection at the expense of comfort. If it gets too hot, too stiff or too uncomfortable, you will likely leave it home when you should be wearing it.