Looking at the current body armor market, you will see dozens or hundreds of different models. Thankfully, once you know where you will use your vest and for what, it becomes much easier to choose a body armor model that will fit your requirements.
There is a clear list of options in descending importance. Your goal is primarily to stay protected and survive anything the situation you find yourself in may throw at you. Next, you will want to be able to complete your mission or task without the armor bothering you and reducing your mobility.
Your choices are:
- Between soft fabric armor or rigid plates
- If you want to wear your west beneath your clothes
- Whether you will need to carry additional gear
- How much versatility you will need from your armor
Finally, you want to have your other gear ready for that gear to be compatible with the body armor of your choice. Staying nimble and prepared is a prerequisite for most jobs; your equipment should reflect those needs.
Last but not least are the aesthetics. Sometimes, you want to look good while going around, which might be something the situation or your clients requested. FFantastic models are in all categories, so this should be fine.
What are the Differences when Choosing a Body Armor Model?
There are several ways you can categorize body armor. The most basic way is by their protection levels placed by the National Institute of Justice, or the NIJ.
These levels show the toughness of the armor and what kinds of rounds it can withstand. Lower levels will protect you from most handgun ammunition, while higher protect you from Magnum rounds and rifle fire.
Also, there is a question about whether you need to conceal your armor. Multiple police departments require officers to wear concealed body armor for political reasons. But, even in private situations, some people will fare better by wearing their vest under the shirt.
Finally, you need to know if you want your body armor to do something else besides protecting your life. Here, you must find something with adjustability and attachments that may house additional gear.
Soft or Hard Armor
There is much emphasis online on choosing between and soft armor. The only question here is if you might be endangered by rifle rounds. If there is a chance for someone shooting at you with a 7.62cal, such as from an AR, then a rigid plate is necessary to carry around.
But, in all other situations, it is much better to carry around soft armor. Soft armor can protect from even Magnum rounds and is much lighter and easier to carry. Additionally, it will give you increased mobility that might be necessary for your job.
If you are still determining what type of danger determines you, versatile IIIa armor is always available. These external carriers often have a pocket to slide a rigid plate if things get dicey.
CAT™ Covert Armored T-Shirt
It is easy to conceal your armor in wintertime, as you can just place an oversized jacket over any type of armor. But, when it is the peak of summer, wearing that jacket removes the point of staying inconspicuous.
Such a T-shirt is a significant advantage for highly protective NIJ Level II body armor that doesn't even look like armor. You can wear this shirt everywhere without most people noticing the slight bump in the front.
And, as the whole armor weighs about 2.5 lbs, you might even forget you are wearing it.
Any type of location security or personal protection for VIPs and essential personnel will like that they can wear something as thick as a padded shirt or hoodie while still staying protected at their job.
External or Internal Carriers
Both choices have advantages and downsides; you must decide which is better for your situation.
Internal carriers, often called concealed body armor, are much lighter and more flexible than external carriers. But they can only be taken on and off slowly and have utility features for gear.
If you must stay incognito without anyone knowing you are armed and protected, having these covert II and IIa armors will be a great option.
But, if you need to have an NIJ Level III or higher, staying inconspicuous will be out of the question. You will require an excellent external carrier to comfortably house a plate of appropriate toughness.
The benefit of the external carrier is that it can also carry gear, and it is much easier to take on and off at a moment's notice.
When Needing Additional Gear
Finding concealed body armor or going with something under IIIa. You will need an excellent external carrier to attach various pouches, holsters, or magazine pockets.
The best option when carrying a lot of gear is to have body armor with MOLLE capabilities. This way, you can attach everything you need to the vest and not hold it on your hip. Also, it will allow for faster response time when you need your gear, and those parts of a second can be lifesaving.
Staying Versatile
It is always good to know what you will be up against. Sadly, it is not always possible.
To stay versatile, you will always want a IIIa body armor with pockets for plates and both Level III and IV plates stashed somewhere at hand. This armor can also have MOLLE capabilities; all your gear should permanently be attached to the vest.
With a versatile carrier, you won't need to overspend on multiple vests and pack your car and home with the gear you won't use. Stashing a few plates at hand will be enough, and the light, soft armor won't tire you from wearing it.
Conclusion
Picking out body armor seems complicated for a novice. But it becomes much easier if you know what type of job you want your vest and gear to help with.
If you go down the list of requirements and know what you need. As a result, you will find it easy to choose a body armor model at UARM that will fit you perfectly. And with that choice, you will stay active and protected regardless of what life throws at you.
