Types of Body Armor, Everything You Need To Know

There is a wide variety of body armor options available in the market. Body armor usually comes in different levels that cater to different kinds of threats. It is of utmost importance that you take some time to educate yourself about different types of body armor before you buy one.

Not all body armor will offer you the same level of protection depending of the kind of danger you are dealing with. If you make a hasty decision, chances are you will end up with less protection than you need. If you want to keep yourself safe at all times, make sure that you wear the kind of body armor that suits the level of protection you need. Here are the top options for body armor to choose from.

Types Of Body Armor

There are two common types of body armor, which are soft armor and hard armor. Soft armor is usually concealable and can be worn underneath a shirt. Most soft armor vests are made from woven threads like Kevlar or other materials such as laminates, or even a combination of different fabrics.

The thing with soft armor is that it does not deflect or repel the bullets, but catches them instead, and prevents them from penetrating the body. Hard armor, on the other hand, is hard and thick, usually made from ceramic or steel then backed with laminate. Each material comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Hard body armor is meant to shatter the bullet, disperse energy, and prevent penetration.

Most of these armor plates come with an extra layer that reduces fragmentation. Soft armor is lightweight and suitable for wearing on a daily basis, while hard armor is heavy and only suitable for short periods.

Kevlar Soft Armor Vests

Kevlar vests are usually very soft because they are made from tightly woven strong fibers. Typically, these vests are only made for small arms fire, and they’re the most popular armor vests today. There are several reasons why Kevlar is so popular.

To begin with, these vests are lightweight and very comfortable to wear on a regular basis. However, on the downside, Kevlar vest are not exactly bulletproof, but bullet resistant. Despite the fact that a Kevlar vest will stop the bullet from penetrating in the body, at a close range a bullet can still cause damages.

You see, a gunshot might cause blunt force trauma to your internal organs. Kevlar vests come in two options, which are overt and covert, both of which offer great protection. Most undercover agents use covert vests because they give them the protection they need, and the best part is that no one has to know they’re wearing body armor. On the other hand, bodyguards and security guards wear overt body armor because it offers the level of protection they need.

Hard Ballistic Plates

If you are in the line of work that has great threats, you need to have rifle resistant armor. This type of armor protects you from rifle fire because it comes with hard plates. The vests are usually heavy compared to Kevlar vests, so it is advisable that you only wear them when necessary.

You see, when you wear hard body armor, you will have limited mobility, and it can be uncomfortable and heavy if you wear it for a long time. Had ballistic armor is well suited for soldiers that need protection from severe bullet threats. Usually, you will find that soldiers need to get used to the armor during training so that they can learn how to maneuver with it properly, given the fact that it is heavy.

Stab And Spike Vest

Stab and spike vests are best suited for people who come very close to danger, such as prison guards. These vests protect them from objects such as knives and other similar sharp objects that could be used to stab. These vests are usually made from a woven material that stops the blades from penetrating into the body.

Some stab-resistant armor comes with ballistic protection as well, and they can offer protection from small arms fire. These are usually suited for people who don’t know the kind of danger they are going to be facing and it could be either knives or bullets.

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