The body armor buyer's guide.

Be honest. A patrol officer faces handgun threats 99% of the time — IIIA / HG2 is the baseline. A SWAT operator faces rifle threats — III or IV. A civilian in a low-risk area may not need more than IIA. Buying for the worst-case threat you'll never see is a tax on every shift you do work.

Concealable armor goes under the uniform — invisible, but limits how much protection you can add. Overt armor goes in a plate carrier outside the uniform — more capability, more visible. Some carriers like our Velox™ Covert split the difference with low-profile cuts.

Most professionals run both. Soft IIIA / HG2 worn all day, with a rifle plate or flexible rifle system in a go-bag or carrier ready to don in seconds. The rifle protection is for the 1% — but when you need it, you need it immediately.

A Level IV ceramic plate is 6–8 lb. Two plates plus carrier is 15+ lb on your torso. Flexible rifle armor distributes weight across a wider coverage area, which often feels lighter even at similar absolute weight. Try before you commit.

Soft armor: typically 5 years. Hard plates: 5–10 years depending on construction. Ask for the warranty document in writing. Ask what voids it (heat, UV, drops, immersion). Replace expired armor — degraded fibers do not stop bullets at rated velocity.