#BodyArmor

The equipment design and procurement failures that produce poor fit for female officers, why body armor, duty belts, and holsters built around a male body type create real safety and performance gaps, and what agencies and officers can do about it.

Cadre Holdings subsidiary Safariland has been chosen as the ballistic panel provider for a major FBI Armor Contract with their relatively new, SX HP Level IIIA Ballistic Panel, being the product that was selected. This ballistic panel was only introduced last year in 2025, and is already receiving recognition and demand from government entities.

NIJ threat levels, the three ways armor gets worn on patrol, what each platform does well and where it falls short, and the fit and long-term wear considerations that differ depending on which system you're in.

Today Luke C.​⁠ is with Matt from Warbird Protection to talk about their line of safety equipment, specifically their soft body armor which Matt has tested himself. Soft body armor is typically capable of stopping most handgun rounds up to and including the .44 Magnum. As you’ll see in today’s video, just like his dad, Matt is dedicated to proving that his body armor is not only NIJ-certified but capable of stopping bullets in real life through a live demonstration.

For anyone in the market for plate carriers and NIJ Level IV rated ballistic plates, LA Police Gear has options available, and today we’ll be taking a look at the LA Police Gear Atlas Plate Carrier, as well as the LA Police Gear Level IV plates. Both products from LAPG are affordable options when looking for ballistic protection gear. Let’s take a look.

The days of the old “levels” of body armor are coming to an end. Finally, the National Institute of Justice released their long-awaited new armor classification guide. Let’s take a look at NIJ 0101.07 and NIJ 0123.00 to see what the new ratings look like. 

For centuries, people have been shielding themselves from enemy weapons using armor. For whatever reason, even with the numbers and power of modern weapons, civilian body armor has become a contentious subject. Call me crazy, but to avoid death, I’d wear a magic talisman if it would actually help. Most people who are reading this understand that ballistic plates are just another safety device. In order to wear plates, you need a way to carry them. Plate carriers may not have a very creative name, but they offer tons of utility. In recent years, many fitness fanatics have started using them to intensify their workouts. Whatever your reasons for wanting a plate carrier, quality is of utmost importance. The last thing you want is a carrier to fail, costing you your life or your toes. 5.11 Tactical has entered the chat with their TacTec Plate Carrier. 

Lightweight plate carriers are insanely popular options for added layers of protection within the civilian market. Premier Body Armor is proud to announce the release of their new Discreet Plate Carrier featuring a streamlined design that still allows for the use of rifle-rated plates, but does away with a lot of the standard MOLLE webbing that makes up the bulk of other types of plate carriers allowing the Discreet Plate Carrier to be more easily worn underneath regular clothing.

Ace Link Body Armor, a premier manufacturer of high-quality life-saving body armor, helmets, and plate carriers is excited to announce their 2022 Black Friday sale where customers can save up to 50% off select body armor products or 20% off virtually everything storewide. Ace Link Armor has everything from their Quadrelease Tactical Plate Carrier, Level 4 Ceramic hard armor plates, to their Flexcore Patrol Vests and  Livewire bulletproof vests. Since virtually everything on their site is going to be on sale, we’ll list a few of their best options with the best discounts. New customers can also take an additional $20 off when they sign up for the Ace Link Armor newsletter here.

Adept Armor has just announced the completion of what they call the world’s first modular body armor system. With the introduction of Adept’s Storm Foundation Side Plates, users can adapt their body armor to different threat levels by removing these stackable 6×6″ single-curve side plates. The modular strike faces are said to be capable of bringing the armor rating up to Level IV protection standards or beyond.

Adept Armor is excited to announce the introduction of their new lightweight Dragoon Plate Carrier which can be used both overtly and covertly and allows the user to fit it with a wide variety of armor plate systems and the greatest amount of aftermarket accessories possible so that it can be configured to their exact preferences.

Adept Armor, a manufacturer of hard body armor plates, has introduced an armor plate called Colossus which it says is the first “Future Proofed” body armor panel. And while unfortunately there’s no information about its rating against a phased plasma bolt in the 40W range, below you will find what it is rated against.

Safariland Group covers a wide range of products, including armor and armor carriers. The newest of these is an armor system that is built for modularity, as well as to integrate with comms. Brand new from Safariland Armor, this is the HyperX Tactical Vest.

World-renowned body armor maker Hesco introduced three new ceramic plates at SHOT this year. The draw? They’re unbelievably light and thin.

Spartan Armor Systems has just released their new, full-featured Leonidas Legend plate carrier, that can accommodate user sizes Large to 3XL. The Leonidas Legends plate carrier features laser-cut MOLLE webbing, is available in four colors, and is customizable by keeping or removing the cummerbund that holds side armor. Spartan Armor Systems also boasts that their carrier is made in the United States and is Berry Compliant, which means that it qualifies for U.S. Military contracts, but Spartan Armor Systems isn’t forsaking its civilian customers. The full press release can be read below.