What to Consider When You Buy Body Armour

The correct term is 'NIJ Listed Compliant'.  Our most popular armor models are NIJ Listed compliant and can be verified at https://cjtec.org/compliance-testing-program/compliant-product-lists/
We also have several armor models that are made in Canada or the USA and although they have not yet been NIJ certified and listed compliant they have passed stringent armor testing and will pass NIJ certification in the future. Testing data proving performance abilities is available to prospective customers. 

If you have any questions regarding compliance or would like to see addition testing data please reach out to us.

The more equipment you wear the more it affects your mobility. Egress, especially from vehicles can be an issue the bulkier your gear becomes. Just like when you pack your ruck you want the heavier gear closer to your back because it reduce the felt weight. The same principle applies to setting up your plate carrier loadout. The thinner of plates you can get (that still perform well) the lighter your  equipment will feel.

Old technology will result in plates that are 1.2 inches thick or more, if your level III or IV plates are 1 inch thick or thinner and manufactured by a reputable company with transparent testing data, you are making a good choice with modern plate technology.  

Many rifle plates are still very heavy. Older cheaper materials result in heavier thicker plates.

Our body armor plates are some of the lightest on the market in their respective class for nearly every model. For models that are not quite the lightest they make up for it by being thinner than comparable plates. Consider all the equipment you carry. Medical gear, ammunition, restraints, radios, firearms, and body armor. The pounds add up, cause fatigue and injury which reduces safety and effectiveness in the field. 

The NIJ mandates a 5 year warranty on body armor however some plates are still functional beyond that time frame if properly cared for. Replacing body armor every 5 years is a huge expense for departments. Some companies are now offering warranties longer than 5 years at 10 and 15 years.

Considering the cost of quality hard body armour, getting more than 5 years out of your investment is an important consideration. Law Enforcement Agencies can significantly reduce body armour costs over time by purchasing Armor with a longer warranty than the standard 5 years. 

Match your body armor purchase to the threats you want to be able to defeat. When planning to buy Hard Body Armour (HBA) or Rifle Plates here is some key terminology you will want to know.

Level III ICW - ICW stands for 'In Conjunction With'. This means the plates only reach a level III rating when paired with NIJ Compliant level IIIA Soft body armour.
Level III - This means the plate is tested to withstand 6 shots of 7.62x51 M80 Ball Ammunition

Level IV - This means the plate is tested to withstand 3 shots of 7.62x63 M2 APM2 Ammunition

III+, III++, Special Threat - There is no NIJ qualification for plates designated as '+' or Special Threat. These are designations unique to each manufacturer and should be carefully researched so you understand exactly what you are getting. Ask the seller if they can show test result documentation to back up the claims made about what threats the plate can defeat.

SRT (Special Rifle Threat) -  Some plate do not fall under the III+ designation either. For example plates that do not stop 6 shots of M80 Ball but are designed to stop m855 green tip or any other medium calibers like 7.62x39.