What type of body armor are you wearing? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

HAPINAZZ · 02-20-2008, 07:20 PM

Hi everyone. I just wanted to get some suggestions on body armor. The type and brand. Opinions on soft trauma plates vs. hard plates. I'm in week 8 at the Las Vegas Metro Police Academy. I haven't done much research and will need to buy one soon before I graduate and hit the streets. Any info is much appreciated.

**Dotagious** · 02-20-2008, 07:55 PM

I wear a level II w/ soft trauma pack custom fitted by Be Safe International. Any threat level higher than that is difficult to wear in hot weather and unnecessary for all but the most uncommon calibers such as the .44 magnum. In my opinion, hard trauma plates should only be considered in higher threat environments where rifle calibers are probable. Good luck at the academy.

NOTE: I'm a PPS not LEO

kayl · 02-20-2008, 07:57 PM

I'm still in the academy, but my dept. just ordered me this vest. (Aba Xtreme Vest Level II) Most of the officers seem to like it. I plan on getting the Impac ST Hard plate. For me, a hard plate isn't necessarily just about rifle calibers; it also provides some edged weapon defense...

nhill0408 · 02-20-2008, 08:00 PM

They don't issue you body armor? Damn...I'd find a new department.

In any event...I wear US Armor (Level IIIA) that's a custom made model for my agency. I've never worn rigid trauma plates, (mine are soft) but Level IIIA is all you need for most handgun calibers. You're not going to get rifle protection without going to ceramic plates, but now you're talking about a lot of weight which isn't exactly conducive to LE patrol duties.

The most important thing though, is get a vest, and WEAR IT!

Good luck with the rest of your academy.

**Dotagious** · 02-20-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhill0408

They don't issue you body armor? Damn...I'd find a new department.

Not to get off the subject too much, but a lot of agencies provide an allowance for the purchase of equipment. I would rather purchase my own (that they are paying for) versus being forced to utilize whatever the department has decided is best for me to protect myself.

x_out86 · 02-20-2008, 08:22 PM

I wear a Safariland Matrix Bronze, Level IIIA. Worn with an ABA hard trauma plate in the chest.

Love the vest. Very comfortable, only two straps on the sides that are VERY wide compared to normal, and all the straps are pretty much so infinitely adjustable so you dont have to worry about them stretching out. The cut of the panels is also very comfortable. Carrier is top notch and have had really no problems with it while I have been wearing it the last two years.

Would highly recommend it to anybody in the market for a vest.

nhill0408 · 02-20-2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dotagious

Not to get off the subject too much, but a lot of agencies provide an allowance for the purchase of equipment. I would rather purchase my own (that they are paying for) versus being forced to utilize whatever the department has decided is best for me to protect myself.

Agreed...it's a very personal product and giving officers a personal choice is ideal. I took his statement to mean that he was going to have to pay out of pocket, which, in my opinion, is un-sat.

**Dotagious** · 02-20-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhill0408

Agreed...it's a very personal product and giving officers a personal choice is ideal. I took his statement to mean that he was going to have to pay out of pocket, which, in my opinion, is un-sat.

un-sat indeed.

headhunter · 02-20-2008, 09:49 PM

PT Armor LSG2, Level II, Style "Covert" CES3

It is a comfortable vest, but....

I have to vent on this topic. I personally think concealable body armor for patrol officers is rediculous. Everyone knows we're wearing it. I'm a big fan of tactical style uniforms, not the dress class A style uniforms so many of us are still wearing. I would rather wear a higher threat level vest on the outside of my clothing. Don't get me wrong, dress uniforms have their place...just not on patrol.

The Tengu · 02-20-2008, 10:05 PM

FYI: There has been a good amount of independent testing that shows the newer laminate ballistic materials (Goldflex, Spectra, etc.) to be inferior to the old style 100% woven DuPont Kevlar panels. It becomes an issue primarily on contact shots, where the newer laminates actually melt and let the bullet pass through. I have however, seen a 180 grain .40 S&W pass through a 100% SpectraShield ballistic panel in a Safarliand vest from about 15 yards.

NIJ testing protocols are severely lacking. One thing to be aware of is their "fair hit" protocol. That is, any shots closer than THREE INCHES to the edge of the sample panel shot is not considered a "fair hit". Manufacturers design their vests to pass NIJ tests. The panels submitted for testing do not even have to be panels from an actual vest.

In other words, the armor we wear is not tested for anything other than shots that are more than 3 inches from the edge of the panel. So your vest may or may not be designed to stop a round that impacts closer than 3 inches from the edge. If you stop and measure your ballistic panels, you will realize that that is a lot of area.

The SpectraShield panel I saw fail against the .40 took the round about 2 inches away from an edge.

But, all of this information is moot if your department requires you to wear the armor THEY issue. (Like the department I work for.)

As for the type of trauma plate, I use a Protech IMPAC S.T. trauma plate. It's hard like a metal plate, but it is actually standalone rated at IIIA unlike normal hard trauma plates. Plus its lightweight, and you still get the blunt trauma and knife resistance. http://www.streichers.com/images/downloads/ImpacST.mov

02-20-2008, 07:20 PM	#1
HAPINAZZ XDTalk Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: LAS VEGAS Posts: 50	What type of body armor are you wearing? Hi everyone. I just wanted to get some suggestions on body armor. The type and brand. Opinions on soft trauma plates vs. hard plates. I'm in week 8 at the Las Vegas Metro Police Academy. I haven't done much research and will need to buy one soon before I graduate and hit the streets. Any info is much appreciated. __________________ EVERY PLAN HAS A PLAN, EVERY OPERATION HAS AN OPERATION JUST WHEN THINGS ARE ALMOST READY TO GO ALWAYS PLAN FOR \"MURPHY\" CAUSE YOUR ALWAYS ON HIS LIST. FERENGI RULES OF AQUISISTION #44 \"NEVER CONFUSE WISOM WITH LUCK\"

02-20-2008, 07:55 PM	#2
Dotagious XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: SW Florida Posts: 735	I wear a level II w/ soft trauma pack custom fitted by Be Safe International. Any threat level higher than that is difficult to wear in hot weather and unnecessary for all but the most uncommon calibers such as the .44 magnum. In my opinion, hard trauma plates should only be considered in higher threat environments where rifle calibers are probable. Good luck at the academy. NOTE: I'm a PPS not LEO Last edited by Dotagious; 02-20-2008 at 08:03 PM. Reason: I stated level IIa but meant II

02-20-2008, 07:57 PM	#3
kayl XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: WI Posts: 1,252	I'm still in the academy, but my dept. just ordered me this vest. (Aba Xtreme Vest Level II) Most of the officers seem to like it. I plan on getting the Impac ST Hard plate. For me, a hard plate isn't necessarily just about rifle calibers; it also provides some edged weapon defense... __________________ Have you talked to your XD today?

02-20-2008, 08:22 PM	#6
x_out86 XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 542	I wear a Safariland Matrix Bronze, Level IIIA. Worn with an ABA hard trauma plate in the chest. Love the vest. Very comfortable, only two straps on the sides that are VERY wide compared to normal, and all the straps are pretty much so infinitely adjustable so you dont have to worry about them stretching out. The cut of the panels is also very comfortable. Carrier is top notch and have had really no problems with it while I have been wearing it the last two years. Would highly recommend it to anybody in the market for a vest. __________________ Hellen Keller: I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker. Bruce Lee: Showing off is the fool's idea of glory.

02-20-2008, 09:49 PM	#9
headhunter XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 175	PT Armor LSG2, Level II, Style "Covert" CES3 It is a comfortable vest, but.... I have to vent on this topic. I personally think concealable body armor for patrol officers is rediculous. Everyone knows we're wearing it. I'm a big fan of tactical style uniforms, not the dress class A style uniforms so many of us are still wearing. I would rather wear a higher threat level vest on the outside of my clothing. Don't get me wrong, dress uniforms have their place...just not on patrol. __________________ Too close for missiles...I'm switching to guns.

02-20-2008, 08:00 PM	#4
nhill0408 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Southern Texas Posts: 336	They don't issue you body armor? Damn...I'd find a new department. In any event...I wear US Armor (Level IIIA) that's a custom made model for my agency. I've never worn rigid trauma plates, (mine are soft) but Level IIIA is all you need for most handgun calibers. You're not going to get rifle protection without going to ceramic plates, but now you're talking about a lot of weight which isn't exactly conducive to LE patrol duties. The most important thing though, is get a vest, and WEAR IT! Good luck with the rest of your academy.

02-20-2008, 10:05 PM	#10
The Tengu XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,771	FYI: There has been a good amount of independent testing that shows the newer laminate ballistic materials (Goldflex, Spectra, etc.) to be inferior to the old style 100% woven DuPont Kevlar panels. It becomes an issue primarily on contact shots, where the newer laminates actually melt and let the bullet pass through. I have however, seen a 180 grain .40 S&W pass through a 100% SpectraShield ballistic panel in a Safarliand vest from about 15 yards. NIJ testing protocols are severely lacking. One thing to be aware of is their "fair hit" protocol. That is, any shots closer than THREE INCHES to the edge of the sample panel shot is not considered a "fair hit". Manufacturers design their vests to pass NIJ tests. The panels submitted for testing do not even have to be panels from an actual vest. In other words, the armor we wear is not tested for anything other than shots that are more than 3 inches from the edge of the panel. So your vest may or may not be designed to stop a round that impacts closer than 3 inches from the edge. If you stop and measure your ballistic panels, you will realize that that is a lot of area. The SpectraShield panel I saw fail against the .40 took the round about 2 inches away from an edge. But, all of this information is moot if your department requires you to wear the armor THEY issue. (Like the department I work for.) As for the type of trauma plate, I use a Protech IMPAC S.T. trauma plate. It's hard like a metal plate, but it is actually standalone rated at IIIA unlike normal hard trauma plates. Plus its lightweight, and you still get the blunt trauma and knife resistance. http://www.streichers.com/images/downloads/ImpacST.mov __________________ The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard. United States Code, Title 10, section 311, paragraph (a) Last edited by The Tengu; 02-20-2008 at 10:12 PM.

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