Q. How effective is a bullet proof vest?

After many years of trials and errors, developers discovered materials that could be used to make bullet proof vests. One of these market leading materials is Dyneema a material which could cushion, trap, and stop a bullet from penetrating through to the body.

When someone purchases a bullet proof vest, they often think that the vest is truly bullet proof. A bullet proof vest is actually bullet resistant. This means that it will stop certain types and size bullets travelling up to a certain speed from penetrating the vest, and entering the individual. Even if a vest is strong enough to stop the bullet penetrating, the wearer may still suffer injury.

If the vest stops a bullet, it may still force the vest fabric into the body of the individual. This can cause bruising, or more severe internal injury. Fortunately, our Dyneema vests disperse this impact across the panel, minimizing this effect to safe levels. Equally, a strong enough impact may even knock a wearer down. This may also lead to injury.

The material used to make bullet proof vests is specially made to resist ballistic attacks at different levels. The Dyneema in our bullet proof vests is crafted into very fine fibers, and these fibers are placed and bonded coaxial together to form a web. Many layers of these Dyneema webs are placed together to form a dense and relatively lightweight panel. This panel is then capable of stopping bullets from even large handguns.

The fibers are very strong in this form, and are able to absorb and disperse impacts and force. This means that if someone is shot while they are wearing a bullet proof vest, the panel will absorb the impact of the bullet and disperse the impact across the panel. If the energy was not dispersed in this way, the bullet could force the vest into the body, and this could cause damage to internal organs.

Frequently asked questions

Q. How effective is a bullet proof vest?

After many years of trials and errors, developers discovered materials that could be used to make bullet proof vests. One of these market leading materials is Dyneema a material which could cushion, trap, and stop a bullet from penetrating through to the body.

When someone purchases a bullet proof vest, they often think that the vest is truly bullet proof. A bullet proof vest is actually bullet resistant. This means that it will stop certain types and size bullets travelling up to a certain speed from penetrating the vest, and entering the individual. Even if a vest is strong enough to stop the bullet penetrating, the wearer may still suffer injury.

If the vest stops a bullet, it may still force the vest fabric into the body of the individual. This can cause bruising, or more severe internal injury. Fortunately, our Dyneema vests disperse this impact across the panel, minimizing this effect to safe levels. Equally, a strong enough impact may even knock a wearer down. This may also lead to injury.

The material used to make bullet proof vests is specially made to resist ballistic attacks at different levels. The Dyneema in our bullet proof vests is crafted into very fine fibers, and these fibers are placed and bonded coaxial together to form a web. Many layers of these Dyneema webs are placed together to form a dense and relatively lightweight panel. This panel is then capable of stopping bullets from even large handguns.

The fibers are very strong in this form, and are able to absorb and disperse impacts and force. This means that if someone is shot while they are wearing a bullet proof vest, the panel will absorb the impact of the bullet and disperse the impact across the panel. If the energy was not dispersed in this way, the bullet could force the vest into the body, and this could cause damage to internal organs.

Q. How does a bullet proof vest fit and what should it cover from the body?

When you are wearing a bullet proof vest, you need to ensure that it fits you properly. Vests are not made one-size-fits all. They are made to fit exact body types and heights. A bullet proof vest should not rest below the bellybutton. Many people make the mistake of assuming that the vest should go down to their waist. However, having a vest hang this low can restrict the mobility that the wearer has, and may make simple actions, such as being sat down, uncomfortable.

Our bullet proof vests give many of the internal organs protection, including the body's vital organs. Although the vest should not extend down to protect the kidneys or the intestines, an injury here should not prove fatal. Therefore, protection is sacrificed here to allow greater wearability.

Q. What about people that need more coverage of their bodies, like soldiers?

When choosing military body armor, it is important to consider where the body armor will be worn. There are different levels of protection that are offered from different body armors. During a firefight, a lightweight covert vest may not be sufficient. It is important to know what you are up against; so that you can be sure you are wearing adequate protection.

If you are going to be in a dangerous situation that requires close contact, there are additions that can be added to your vest to give you optimum protection from a range of threats. With all our armors, we can offer protective panels that can also protect against stab and/or spike threats. This type of armor will protect you if someone tries to slice you with a knife, or stab you with a broken bottle.

With our Military specific armor, ballistic protection can be added to protect your neck, throat, upper arm and groin areas as well. Ballistic SAPI side plates can also be inserted into specially designed SAPI pockets. Molle webbing can also be added to our Military specific armor, and this will allow you to add your own equipment to your vest. As well as providing protection to more peripheral areas, these panels will further display to others that you are ready for even the most volatile situations. This may prevent a conflict from occurring in the first place.

If larger rounds are being fired, our Military armor can also carry hard armor panels- these will protect against level III and/or IV threats, so your vest may protect vital organs against even armor piercing ammunition.

It is important to know what levels of protection are offered by the body armor that you are choosing to wear in a combat situation. Body armor that offers protection from larger rounds is often heavy and can be somewhat cumbersome. Therefore, we recommend that our customers take the time to be sure that they are able to handle their weapon while wearing the body armor.

You will also need to know how quickly and well you are able to move while you are wearing the armor. There are many people who choose to practice drills while wearing all of their gear. This is a great way to determine how well you can or cannot move while you are wearing all of your protection. Running practice drills while wearing your military body armor and carrying your weapon may be crucial to properly managing a combat situation.

Q. What is a "blunt trauma"?

Blunt trauma is the damage to the internal organs caused by the transfer of kinetic energy to the body from the vest, or the degree of deformation of the armor that occurs when body armor is struck by a projectile, such as a bullet. The highest acceptable level of deformation by the body armor industry and National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is currently 44mm and this deformation is measured in the backing material, used to simulate flesh or tissue during a ballistic testing procedure.

Q. What is BFS?

BFS (Back face Signature) is a measure of how far into the body the projectile penetrates before it is stopped. There is a degree of trauma but the vest does not entirely fail.

Q. What is the difference between a stab proof vest & a bullet proof vest?

If you feel that you need body armor in order to keep yourself safe, you need to be sure that you are choosing body armor that fits your unique needs! Some body armors are made to be stab (edged blade and/or spike) resistant and other body armor that is made to be bullet proof.

If a vest features stab protection, it is not necessarily bullet proof. Equally, a bullet proof vest may offer no protection to bladed weapons. Also, a vest which is bullet and edged blade resistant may offer no protection to spike threats (i.e. screwdrivers, knitting needles, syringes etc.)

Given these facts, you must carefully consider the threats in your environment, and decide which protection levels are most suitable for your needs. Only then can you know which level of ballistic and/or stab and/or spike protection you should select.

If you live in a dangerous neighborhood, and are afraid of being robbed or assaulted, you may want to consider which weapons you might encounter.

If your area is prone to gun crime, you may wish to purchase ballistic protection. However, if guns are an unlikely threat, knife or spike protection may be more suitable. For example, if you work within a prison, it is unlikely that an inmate will shoot you- however, a prisoner may be able to create and use against you an improvised shank or knife.

If you feel that you may be facing a knife attack, you should consider a stab proof vest. Our stab proof vests offer a different type of protection compared to our bullet proof vests. Stab resistant material is used to protect the body’s vital organs from injury from bladed attacks- some vests also protect against spike threats. When someone stabs an individual, they tend to stab in the abdominal area of the body. Therefore, a stab resistant vest stops a knife from passing through it, thus saving the wearer from injury.

If you feel that you may face a dangerous situation involving a gun, you may want to purchase a covert bullet proof vest. The vest will protect you from small ammunition fire, and can remain undetected. If you fear that both knives and guns are threats, many of our vests offer protection to both ballistic and stab threats.

Regardless of the type of vest you choose to buy, you need to be sure that you get the right size, and consider the color of the vest very carefully. If you work in a job that requires you to wear a uniform to work each day, you should buy a vest that matches the colors of the uniform. This can allow for the vest to remain undetected, whilst still offering the protection that you need to stay safe.

If you are a woman, you need to order one of the female ballistic vests that are specifically made with a woman’s unique body shape in mind.

Bullet proof, stab proof and spike proof vests are lightweight and easy to wear. The vests will allow you to carry on with your normal activities without having to worry about feeling bogged down or uncomfortable. They also feature adjustable straps, and are made with breathable materials that allow the body to stay cool inside the vest.

It is important to wear the vest every time you face a dangerous situation, so that you can be sure you are as safe as possible at all times.