Bulletproof Vest – Concealable vs. Tactical Gear

Having the right kinds of protective gear for your body and your extremities is highly essential when working in dangerous occupations. You should really consider getting the proper protection; therefore, body armor manufacturers have created many different types of bullet proof vests. Such armor vests are made in a way so that they can prevent bullets and other damaging projectiles from injuring you. When you are deciding on the type of bullet proof vest that is right for you, you should consider whether you might prefer a bulletproof vest that is concealable under your clothing or something more evident like a tactical vest with pouches or MOLLE or external vest with pockets for armor plates.

Concealed Bullet Proof Vests

For those individuals who are working for someone who wants you to look as normal and ordinary as possible, a concealable bullet proof vest is the obvious choice. Designers are making these types of vests increasingly more form fitting and comfortable to wear so much so that it may not be recognizable form the outside that you are wearing a vest under your clothes at all. Worn under shirts and jackets, these types of concealed body armors allow you to not let anyone realize that you are wearing protective gear as well as satisfying your boss.

One relevant point to make about concealable body armor is that this class of vests only provides a limited level of protection since they are less heavy-duty and must be able to be concealed. Typically with up to a type II (2) or IIIA (3A) rating, they provide a lower level of protection. Type 2 rated bulletproof vests may stop bullets from smaller calibers like .22, .380, 9mm, .40, and .357 Magnum and cannot adequately protect the wearer from bullets fired from a rifle. While concealed bullet proof vests can offer you protection from small arms weapons and are not obvious when concealed under clothing, only tactical grade vests can provide adequate personal protection from large caliber rifle bullets.

Tactical Vests and External Bullet Proof Vests

Tactical bullet proof vests offer the highest level of protection of IIIA. With a rating of Type III (3) or IV (4), they provide protection from small arms fire as well as rifle rounds. Tactical body armor is naturally much larger, thicker and must be worn outside of clothing. The makers of these tactical bullet proof vests have installed pockets, loops, and other features so that the wearer can store needed items like tools and ammunition. The external bulletproof vests provide with special pockets usually 25x30cm (10×12 inch) for body armor plates as sapi plates. Military personnel and units such as SWAT often wear tactical level bullet proof body armor because they are in harm’s way for extended periods of time. But, since tactical body armor is larger, it may impede the wearer’s mobility a bit.