Body Armor and Home Defense – Its Types and Level

It is very important to choose the right type of body armor for yourself. Only the right type of body armor can protect yours completely. There are many types of body armor available in today’s time, and you should choose one according to the level of threat you are up against.

Here are the types of threats a law enforcement officer might face and the protection they need.

1) Ballistic attack

The majority of the body vests are bullet-proof vests that provide ballistic protection. Such body armors are resistant to bullets, but the type of bullet they can protect against depends on the level of the body armor listed in NIJ reports. The level of ballistic protection a body armor can provide depends upon the type and amount of ammunition the vest can withstand and stop.

The higher the level, the greater the level of protection the vest provides. A level III-A bullet-proof vest can stop many types of ammunition, such as those used in handguns. Type I to Type III soft vests are made upon strong materials such as Kevlar.

Kevlar is a highly effective material that can absorb and slow down bullets. It is the strongest body armor available and provides the maximum level of protection. You can increase the level of protection by adding plates made out of polyethylene and ceramics.

2) Knives and other sharp weapons

Not all bullet-proof body armors are stab-proof as well. Stab-proof body vests are those that protect you against sharp weapons such as knives. They are quite different from bullet-proof body vests as they are made out of a different material. The majority of the stab-resistant vests use Kevlar in their material and are classified as bullet-proof vests that offer ballistic protection.

Stab-proof vests save you from attacks done using sharp weapons such as axes, broken bottles, and knives. They are made out of materials such as Chainmail which stops the sharp weapon from cutting all the way through. Check Out Safe Life Defense for the Best Body Armor and more…

3) Spike-proof body vests

It is very important to understand that stab protection is different from spike protection. A spike-proof vest can only stop weapons such as screwdrivers and needles. Spike-proof protection usually comes along with ballistic protection and stab protection. Spike-proof vests offer protection against spiked weapons which would otherwise penetrate through Kevlar and chainmail, the materials used to make bullet-proof vests.

Spike-proof vests consist of plastic laminate, which offers resistance and a surface that such weapons cannot penetrate. Spike-proof vests consist of a layer of kevlar or Chainmail underneath the layer of plastic laminate.

In a nutshell

The type of protection you need depends on the threat you will face in the threat environment. Many kinds of body armors are present in the market, each offering its unique features and effectiveness. They provide different levels of protection.

If you are up against firearms, then you will need a bullet-proof vest; if there is a chance of getting stabbed by sharp weapons such as knives, you should go for stab-proof body armor. And against spiked weapons, you will need to invest in a spike-proof vest. Your body armor should complement the type of threat, level of threat and should fit you perfectly.