Navigating through the vast array of ballistic vests solutions available in the market can be a daunting task. Selecting the ideal body armor that meets your specific requirements is often a challenging process.

However, fear not, as BodyArmorNews.com has got you covered! Let us make your quest easier and assist you in finding the perfect body armor solution. Aiming to offer the most protection and comfort.

For 2023, we have assessed six top-notch ballistic packages that are concealable and lightweight. If you are looking for the ultimate protection, these products are the cream of the crop. It’s essential to consider the worth of a life-saving product when selecting a ballistic vest. As it is a crucial investment that could save your life.

To aid in your decision-making process, we have compiled details on six incredible soft armor panel solutions. Some of which are from the most reputable body armor manufacturers in the industry.

These manufacturers include; Slate Solutions, Armor Express, Point Blank Enterprises Inc, EnGarde, Safariland Armor and Armor Matrix Systems.

Five Ballistic Armor Criteria

We judge these six soft armor packages on five important criteria: Thickness, weight, flexibility, warranty, and price.

1. Thickness

When it comes to the concealment of a ballistic vest, the thickness of the panel is a very important factor to consider. A thicker and bulkier panel makes the vest more conspicuous. Additionally, it could give away the fact that someone is wearing body armor.

2. Weight

The weight of a panel is a crucial factor to consider while selecting body armor. A lighter panel provides you with more opportunities to carry extra load-bearing equipment. Additionally, a lighter ballistic vest is usually more comfortable to wear. Making it ideal for prolonged usage. To compare the weight of various panels, it’srecommended to use a lbs/ft² (or kg/m²) calculation. That is because not all panels provide the same ballistic coverage. This method ensures a fair comparison between panels of different sizes and shapes.

It would be unfair to use the total vest weights, as vests with a great 360 coverage could come out as “heavy” compared with vest that have no side protection.

3. Flexibility

The flexibility of a panel is a key feature. It increases the wearer’s comfort and is especially important for concealable body armor solutions. This is because flexible panels tend to follow body contours better.

4. Warranty /  Sustainability

The warranty offered by a body armor manufacturer states the period during which they guarantee the ballistic properties of their armor panel. A longer warranty impacts the cost per year calculation (=price vest : warranty period) for a ballistic vest.

For instance, suppose a vest costs US$ 1000 and has a warranty of 5 years. In that case, it would be twice as expensive as a US$ 1000 vest that has a warranty of 10 years. Which is based on the price per year calculation.

As the body armor industry strives to become more sustainable, the lifespan (and thus warranty) of a ballistic panel is incredibly important. Therefore a longer lifespan contributes to a higher sustainability score.

5. Price

The retail prices listed are inclusive of the ballistic panel set. A concealable textile carrier is reflective of the online prices. We have also calculated the price per year by dividing the price by the warranty period. 

Slate Solutions – SLXIIIAbest bulletproof vest 2023 review slate solutions

Manufacturer:
Soft armor solution:
Threat level:
Ballistic material:
Thickness:
Weight:
Warranty:
Flexibility:
Retail price (incl. conc. car):
Estimated Leadtime:  

Slate Solutions
SLXIIIA
IIIA
Aramid and UHMWPE
.21 inches / 5.3 mm
0.86 lbs/ft² and 4.2 kg/m²
5 years
very high
US$ 950 (US$ 190 per year)
5-6 weeks

SLXIIIA 
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:

Total score:

 

score card
8/10
8/10
8/10
8/10
5/10

7.4 out of 10

 

Armor Express – RZR-XT-IIIA

Razor Gen2 review 2023 body armor

Manufacturer:
Soft armor solution:
Threat level:
Ballistic material:
Thickness:
Weight:
Warranty:
Flexibility:
Retail price (incl. conc. car):
Estimated Leadtime:  

Armor Express
RZR-XT-IIIA
IIIA
Aramid and UHMWPE
.20 inches / 5.1 mm
0.84 lbs/ft² and 4.1 kg/m²
5 years
very high
US$ 1785 (US$ 357 per year)
4-6 weeks

RZRG2-A-IIIA
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:

Total score:

 

score card
8/10
8/10
8/10
4/10
5/10

6.6 out of 10

 

Armor Matrix Systems – PP-GEN7-IIIA

best body armor 2023 AMS

Manufacturer:
Soft armor solution:
Threat level:
Ballistic material:
Thickness:
Weight:
Warranty:
Flexibility:
Retail price (incl. conc. car):
Estimated Leadtime:  

Armor Matrix Systems
PP-GEN7-IIIA
IIIA
UHMWPE
.23 inches / 6 mm
0.96 lbs/ft² and 4.7 kg/m²
7 years
high
US$ 550 (US$ 79 per year)
2 weeks

PP-GEN7-IIIA
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:

Total score:

 

score card
6/10
7/10
8/10
10/10
7/10

7.6 out of 10

 

Point Blank Armor – AXBIIIA

best body armor 2023 review point blank body armor

Manufacturer:
Soft armor solution:
Threat level:
Ballistic material:
Thickness:
Weight:
Warranty:
Flexibility:
Retail price (incl. conc. car):
Estimated Leadtime:  

Point Blank Enterprises
AXBIIIA
IIIA
Aramid and UHMWPE
0.19 inches / 4.8 mm
0.79 lbs/ft² and 3.9 kg/m²
5 years
high
US$ 1984 (US$ 397 per year)
7-8 weeks

AXBIIIA
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:

Total score:

 

score card
9/10
8/10
9/10
3/10
5/10

6.8 out of 10

 

EnGarde Body Armor – FLEX-PRO™

best armor 2022 winner review engarde

Manufacturer:
Soft armor solution:
Threat level:
Ballistic material:
Thickness:
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Flexibility:
Retail price (incl. conc. car):
Estimated Leadtime:  

EnGarde body armor
FLEX-PRO™
IIIA
Aramid and UHMWPE
0.23 inches / 6 mm
0.92 p/sf and 4.5 kg/m2
7 years
very high
US$ 845 (US$ 135 per year)
1 week

FLEX-PRO™
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:

Total score:

 

score card
7/10
8/10
7/10
8/10
7/10

7.4 out of 10

Safariland – HW-2019-01-SB

body armor 2023 review safariland hardwire

Manufacturer:
Soft armor solution:
Threat level:
Ballistic material:
Thickness:
Weight:
Warranty:
Flexibility:
Retail price (incl. conc. car):
Estimated Leadtime:
Safariland
HW-2019-01-SB
IIIA
UHMWPE
0.23 inches / 5.84 mm
0.68 p/sf and 3.32 kg/m2
5 years
high
US$ 1496 (US$ 299 per year)
6-7 weeks

HW-2019-01-SB
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:

Total score:

 

score card
10/10
8/10
7/10
4/10
5/10

6.8 out of 10

 

Best Body Armor 2023 Conclusion

All the ballistic panels reviewed are exceptional products. They represent the finest and most discreet level IIIA armor options currently available on the market. Whichever panel you choose from this list is sure to surpass your expectations.

Scoring across the board, the RZR-XT-IIIA from Armor Express is well-balanced armor panel. With a score of 6.6 out of 10, it has many plus points and is undoubtedly a great option!

When it comes to pricing and warranty, the panels offered by EnGarde Body Armor, Slate Solutions and Armor Matrix Systems distinguish themselves from the others. Compared with 2022 a lot of manufacturers increased prices for 2023 due to higher costs.
Without any more delay, let’s move on to our top pick! The PP-GEN7-IIIA panel produced by Armor Matrix Systems takes the lead with a score of 7.6 out of 10.
Edging out the runner-ups from Slate Solutions (7.4 out of 10) and last year’s winner, EnGarde (also 7.4 out of 10).

WINNER 2023: Armor Matrix Systems – PP-GEN7-IIIA

This panel has an advantage over its competitors since it has a lower price and a longer lifespan/warranty. An extra benefit is that the PP-GEN7-IIIA panel can be shipped within two weeks.

Although this brings us to the end of the best body armor 2023 rankings, we have included some more general information that will help you make your choice! And so, before wrapping up, let’s talk about what body armor is and why you need it.

Body armor provides a crucial level of protection in a world where firearms are becoming increasingly common. Regardless of whether you are a member of law enforcement, the military, or a civilian, it is essential to protect yourself against active-shooter situations.

Bulletproof vests are made up of a textile carrier that holds two armor panels. Although they are not bulletproof, they provide significant ballistic protection against various threats. These panels belong to two categories: either hard armor or soft armor.

Hard armor panels provide protection against heavy threats posed by assault rifles. While soft armor is designed to shield against lower threats, such as handgun ammunition.

The National Institute of Justice in the US certifies and tests these panels. Most manufacturers follow the NIJ Standard-0101.06, which ranges from II (the lowest handgun protection) to IV (the highest protection).

A variety of materials are used in the manufacture of body armor, including aramid, UHMWPE, steel, and ceramics. Many panels use hybrids of these materials. Which offer maximum protection with high flexibility and comfort. Manufacturers are researching new compositions that will improve flexibility. Moreover, reduce the weight of the panels.
When choosing the best soft armor panel, there are several factors to consider. Weight, flexibility, and thickness are crucial elements to ensure that the armor provides maximum protection. While also allowing you to move and perform your tasks effectively. Additionally, warranty and price are important considerations from a buyer’s perspective. So to ensure you get the best value for your money.
BodyArmorNews.com has considered all of these factors and is proud to offer you reliable information in an easy-to-understand format. Although there are many effective ballistic solutions available globally, the reviewed products are among the top-tier choices in the field of body armor in 2023. Please note that these rankings reflect the opinion of BodyArmorNews.com.

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