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.
To answer your question “What is the best bullet proof vest?” 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.
Five Ballistic Armor Criteria
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’s recommended 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 degrees 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.
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.
Slate Solutions – SLXIIIA
| Manufacturer: | Slate Solutions |
|---|---|
| Soft armor solution: | SLXIIIA |
| Threat level: | IIIA |
| Ballistic material: | Aramid and UHMWPE |
| Thickness: | .21 inches / 5.3 mm |
| Weight: | 0.86 lbs/ft² and 4.2 kg/m² |
| Warranty: | 5 years |
| Flexibility: | very high |
| Retail price (incl. conc. car): | US$ 950 (US$ 190 per year) |
| Estimated Leadtime: | 5-6 weeks |
SLXIIIA
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:
score card
8/10
8/10
8/10
8/10
5/10
7.4 out of 10
Armor Express – RZR-XT-IIIA
| Manufacturer: | Armor Express |
|---|---|
| Soft armor solution: | RZR-XT-IIIA |
| Threat level: | IIIA |
| Ballistic material: | Aramid and UHMWPE |
| Thickness: | .20 inches / 5.1 mm |
| Weight: | 0.84 lbs/ft² and 4.1 kg/m² |
| Warranty: | 5 years |
| Flexibility: | very high |
| Retail price (incl. conc. car): | US$ 1785 (US$ 357 per year) |
| Estimated Leadtime: | 4-6 weeks |
RZRG2-A-IIIA
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:
score card
8/10
8/10
8/10
4/10
5/10
6.6 out of 10
Armor Matrix Systems – PP-GEN7-IIIA
| Manufacturer: | Armor Matrix Systems |
|---|---|
| Soft armor solution: | PP-GEN7-IIIA |
| Threat level: | IIIA |
| Ballistic material: | UHMWPE |
| Thickness: | .23 inches / 6 mm |
| Weight: | 0.96 lbs/ft² and 4.7 kg/m² |
| Warranty: | 7 years |
| Flexibility: | high |
| Retail price (incl. conc. car): | US$ 550 (US$ 79 per year) |
| Estimated Leadtime: | 2 weeks |
PP-GEN7-IIIA
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:
score card
6/10
7/10
8/10
10/10
7/10
7.6 out of 10
Point Blank Armor – AXBIIIA
| Manufacturer: | Point Blank Enterprises |
|---|---|
| Soft armor solution: | AXBIIIA |
| Threat level: | IIIA |
| Ballistic material: | Aramid and UHMWPE |
| Thickness: | 0.19 inches / 4.8 mm |
| Weight: | 0.79 lbs/ft² and 3.9 kg/m² |
| Warranty: | 5 years |
| Flexibility: | high |
| Retail price (incl. conc. car): | US$ 1984 (US$ 397 per year) |
| Estimated Leadtime: | 7-8 weeks |
AXBIIIA
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:
score card
9/10
8/10
9/10
3/10
5/10
6.8 out of 10
EnGarde Body Armor – FLEX-PRO™
| Manufacturer: | EnGarde body armor |
|---|---|
| Soft armor solution: | FLEX-PRO™ |
| Threat level: | IIIA |
| Ballistic material: | Aramid and UHMWPE |
| Thickness: | 0.23 inches / 6 mm |
| Weight: | 0.92 p/sf and 4.5 kg/m2 |
| Warranty: | 7 years |
| Flexibility: | very high |
| Retail price (incl. conc. car): | US$ 845 (US$ 135 per year) |
| Estimated Leadtime: | 1 week |
FLEX-PRO™
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:
score card
7/10
8/10
7/10
8/10
7/10
7.4 out of 10
Safariland – HW-2019-01-SB
| Manufacturer: | Safariland |
|---|---|
| Soft armor solution: | HW-2019-01-SB |
| Threat level: | IIIA |
| Ballistic material: | UHMWPE |
| Thickness: | 0.23 inches / 5.84 mm |
| Weight: | 0.68 p/sf and 3.32 kg/m2 |
| Warranty: | 5 years |
| Flexibility: | high |
| Retail price (incl. conc. car): | US$ 1496 (US$ 299 per year) |
| Estimated Leadtime: | 6-7 weeks |
HW-2019-01-SB
Weight:
Flexibility:
Thickness:
Price:
Warranty:
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.
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.
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.
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).
