Tomorrow's Body Armor: Trending To Lightweight & More Protection

It’s the year [2020]. You, the modern officer, are on patrol, sweating and partially immobilized by the shroud of heavy material strapped to your torso, thankful still, for it might save your bacon should the situation arise. Deep down, however, you long for the fantastical protection used by your favorite superheroes. Perhaps Superman’s bulletproof skin, or an impenetrable ultra-high-tech suit of armor used by the likes of Iron Man. In the real world, however, we await the incredible lightweight, near indestructible protection of body armor comprised of spider silk. That is, spider silk spun by genetically modified silk worms. It will be all the rage once it becomes affordable and widely distributed. Unfortunately, the future is not quite now, so in the meantime, let’s optimize our experience with the equipment at hand. In the days of yore, the average foot soldier implemented shields, eventually chain mail, and of course trench warfare for protection. The problems: shields take up an otherwise free hand, chain mail is bulky and heavy, and trenches make you a small target, but a small, semi-stationary target. The solution: a hands-free shield you can wear all day, every day. You must be able to move without sacrificing speed or necessary appendages. Luckily, we have the latest innovations in body armor to help us stay comfortable and, more importantly, alive. 

As time goes on more agencies are allowing their officers the option of wearing their choice of an inner or an outer vest. Both options have their pros and cons. The inner vest goes on, and stays on, tight. This means less tugging and shifting required to stay comfortable as your day goes on. This also means more heat trapped inside your uniform, for good or ill. An outer vest may feel a bit bulkier, but it keeps you cooler, and adds the benefit of quick removal if an officer has some down time away from the streets (report writing, meal time, etc.), as long as you remember to put the vest back on before running to the car to respond to a hot call. The ideal vest is going to be cool, fit like a glove, allow for flexibility and mobility, and not smell like a middle school locker room by the end of shift. Each individual officer must weigh the options and determine the right armor for them, with emphasis on protection and comfort. Innovations in the outer vest department have carried over to the use MOLLE systems, allowing equipment normally worn on your duty belt to be attached to vests. MOLLE (MOdular Lightweight Load-bearing Equipment) is a system of ladder-like nylon strips used to attach items such as radios, magazines, tourniquets, electronic control devices, body-worn cameras, and more. Carrying equipment on the vest rather than the belt can prevent excessive strain on the back and hips, and potentially allow officers to carry additional equipment.

Armor Express painstakingly manufactures and tests their armor and carriers in their Ballistics Research Laboratory located in Michigan, which is why you can place your faith in the quality of their American Revolution concealable carrier system. The carrier features highly durable microfiber nylon material, low-profile should padding for extra comfort, and moisture-wicking, anti-microbial inner lining to keep you cool and dry. Combine these features with Armor Express’ patented Easy Grip Side Straps for easy adjustments, and you have an ideal inner vest. Officers looking for an outer vest carrier need not look far, as Armor Express also offers the Traverse overt patrol vest. Available in both MOLLE and Dress configurations, the Traverse features a front zip–side opening design, and will accommodate front and rear hard plates in addition to soft armor. The Dress configuration allows for a more classic uniform look while maintaining the freedoms of an outer vest, and the MOLLE configuration grants the wearer bonus real estate for equipment, taking weight off their belt. For those who are fans of inner vests, but desire additional side protection, the Tribute Quad Soft Armor System from BlueRidge Armor features front and back panels, as well as additional side panels, offering Level IIIA protection on all sides. This vest is also designed to accommodate changes in an officer’s shape, such as weight loss or gain, allowing officers and agencies to get the most possible life out of vests.

Once equipped with the appropriate carrier, Officers must also consider what level of protection they will utilize. It appears the standard for police body armor is Level IIIA soft armor, with more and more agencies providing hard plates for additional protection. In exchange for additional weight, hard plates are designed to stop more powerful rounds than traditional soft armor. Hardwire LLC has taken steps toward reducing the weight of hard armor, without sacrificing protection. Hardwire’s Standard Multi Curve Plates weigh a mere 3.05 lbs. per plate, and are NIJ certified at Level III, meaning it will protect against rounds as powerful as 7.62 NATO FMJ. The Standard Multi Curve plates are manufactured using Dyneema, a synthetic fiber, and coated with durable polyurea. These plates are designed to fit in most vests and carriers. Body Armor Direct offers a both level III+ lightweight, and steel plate. The lightweight plates weigh 4.3 pounds each and are comprised of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene materials which provide a light weight and high protection. The steel plates are a more budget friendly option, and weigh 6.3 pounds each. Both the steel and lightweight plates are designed to fit 10” x 12” plate pockets, and with Level III+ protection, they are designed to preform above the Level III standard.

To prevent moisture from building up inside the vest, 221B Tactical has introduced the Maxx-Dri Vest. The Maxx-Dri Vest is an anti-microbial vest designed to be worn inside your ballistic vest, creating separation between your body and body armor. This allows moisture to escape as well as evenly distributing the weight of your armor for additional comfort. The Maxx-Dri Vest, currently in its third generation, secures with Velcro side closures and features VELCRO shoulder straps to easily secure it to your body armor, preventing shifting.

For the officer who desires additional cooling inside their vest, look no further than the Cool Cop body armor air conditioner system. Rather than making alterations to your armor or uniforms, you simply attach the Cool Cop hose to your vehicle’s air conditioner vents, and place the nozzle inside your vest. The cool air from your vehicle flows through the six-foot flexible hose and into your vest keeping you cool and dry. The Cool Cop offers several models designed to attach to vents in common Police vehicles, such as Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Charger, and Ford Explorer and Crown Victoria, with a universal model available as well. The Cool Cop can of course be used in conjunction with your vehicle’s heater for comfort in colder months as well.

At the end of a long, hot shift it feels euphoric to take off your vest, but on duty, you should relish your Kevlar security blanket. With the latest innovations in body armor technology, no officer should have any excuse for not wearing their vest. As the saying goes, it is better to have it and not need it, rather than need it and not have it.

Officer Brendan Rodela has been a patrolman for four years at the Ruidoso (NM) Police Department. He currently holds certification in Instructor Development.