Body Armor Guide: 10 Things To Know Before You Buy It
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- Опубліковано 9 лис 2020
- When shopping for body armor, there are many considerations you should factor in to avoid getting the wrong equipment. In this video, we'll cover 10 things I wish I had known before buying body armor. You can view the armor we discussed here: bit.ly/35bnNWx
*Additional Links*
* Body Armor shown in the video: bit.ly/35bnNWx
* FBI statistics: bit.ly/3lhSIpL
* NIJ Class Rating overview: bit.ly/3n9qYUK
* NIJ Class Rating PDF: bit.ly/3n9sDtu
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![AR500 Armor [Review]: All Threat Levels + Armor Piercing Rounds!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Fd7LeSaldIE/mqdefault.jpg)
You can view the armor we discussed here: bit.ly/35bnNWx
You should make a video on obtaining antibiotics, legally ofc
This is the best video on body armor I’ve ever seen. Good job brother.
can felons buy body armour online.? Asking for a Friend..
@shared harwood I will do an independent review of them shortly.
@shared harwood lol
Good info, I just gotta add one little nugget of wisdom I've gained from wearing this stuff for a long time:
If you plan on using body armor with any degree of confidence and mobility, you need to get off the couch and get to work. GOOD BODY ARMOR IS HEAVY. A few pounds doesn't seem like such a big deal, until you have to run with it on top of the loadout you're carrying. Relentless PT is required to operate in armor efficiently. If you can't run a mile carrying nothing at all, you probably can't walk further than a block or two wearing a full armor set. Also, wearing armor is going to change your shooting ergonomics considerably. I'd recommend purchasing a quality carrier that you can use for training as well. Get used to the bulk and the weight of the armor, and learn how to shoot with your armor. It's completely different from what most people are used to. Body armor changes how you hold your rifle, and depending on how you carry your pistol, it may change the way you draw. Train with it. Run with it. Learn to live with it. Also remember, your body armor isn't a magical guardian angel. Your main goal should remain NOT GETTING SHOT.
Yeah I constantly do squats and calve raises, I’m on a 24/7 cycle of endlessly being sore and recovering then back to squats etc. it’s an easy exercise I can just put my tablet on the bed and then I can do squats fast and after like 500-700 I’m done and super sore. It’s solely for this purpose, in case we have to hike for 12 miles with 80 pound load outs, it will separate people from their soul.
@@MobileAura it's good to train your body if you plan on carrying this stuff. I highly recommend getting out there and doing a ruck march. It's a completely different world. If you want to see where you're at physically for wearing a full load, put your gear on (or equivalent weight worn in the same position) and see how far you can run/march with it. You'll never know if you're ready to do it until you actually go out and do it. It changes the way you move, so just running and just lifting/squatting/etc is nothing at all like carrying a 60-90lb loadout with armor. Keep up the work though, it will come in handy. I just did my 10mi ruck march + run'n'gun saturday and my whole body still hurts. It was worth it though, it exposed my weak points. My left shoulder (shot through with 7.62x39 5 years ago) still needs more muscle to keep up.
@@borisvolynov992 Бляд! Спасиба!
Gotta add to take your time too, because I’ve heard horror stories from numerous SARCs and PJ’s alike is that too much stress on the knees is a good way to blow them out. Get used to your gear, but know running FULL kit (like 13 mags for whatever reason) can and will put stress on your joints. Just be weary, ladies and gents.
Thank you, makes perfect sense. Great added information.
Look man, I hear people talk down on steel armor a lot, and I get it... but like, the fact it doesn't expire after 5 years is a pretty huge deal that everyone seems to be underappreciating. If I want an emergency armor that I can pull out of a bag and know it'll work, with steel, I don't have to wonder whether or not I bought it 4 years ago or 6.
My only thing with steel is I need some sort of soft Kevlar as well, because the steel doesn’t take as much of the shock wave as the ceramic stuff does
Steel is notorious for shattering the bullet and fragments bouncing into the face, neck or groin area
#1 thing I wish I knew about armor before I bought body armor: Level 3 is NOT rated for 5.56, probably the most common rifle threat in North America. Just because it can stop a BIGGER bullet, doesn't mean it will stop a small, fast bullet. Check for 5.56 resistance specifically, even if the armor is rated for bigger rifle rounds.
It will just not out of a 20inch i believe
Level III will stop 5.56 fmj 762x39 fmj and 7.62x51 fmj
@@casey99678 no, it will stop 5.56 steel-core 62 grain bullets (3100+ fps) from a 22" barrel bolt action, at only 7 meters away. From the same rifle (3250 fps), the standard 55 grain FMJ will sail right through AR500 NIJ3 at 20 - meters.
Depends on the distance and barrel length typically, but for some like cheap level 3 plates, 5.56 (green tip) is a real bad day
@@strongestgamer2501 is that the FMJ 55 grain?
City Prepping, I’m writing to you, just because I should, because what I’m going to say is the brutal truth. I’m no stranger to tactical gear, prepping g, Law Enforcement, etc. but when I’m not certain of something, I rely on your channel to give me information that I’m not aware of. You “teach” in understandable language and in a tone not boring. You cut out all the bull shit and give straight talk. You have one of the top 5 channels in the cyber world. I. Just wanna let you know your are very much appreciated and hope you continue down the same path your on.
Thank you,
KC FALKOR TACTICAL
Body Armor Guide: 10 Things To Know Before You Buy It
Timestamps
1:10 Purpose of the Body Armor
2:00 Understanding NIJ Ratings
Type IIA (9mm; .40 S&W)
Type II (9mm; .357 Magnum)
Types IIIA (.357 SIG; .44 Magnum)
Type III (Rifles: up to 7.62mm; M80)
Type IV (Armor-Piercing Rifle, or AP rounds; .30; M2 AP)
Bonus Type III Plus
3:10 Stand Alone vs ICW body armor
4:40 If the bullet travels faster, the armor may not stop the bullet despite the armor stating it can handle the bullet based on its weight rating.
4:55 III+ (Three Plus).
5:07 Spalling (Bullet splash). Fragments of the bullet upon impact of the body armor. Different armor and manufacturers may include Spalling protective feature of the body armor to decrease spalling. Make sure to read up on the effects of spalling for your purchase decision.
6:05 Types of Armor Material
Make sure you check the NIJ rating to know which level you need to defend against which specific calibers of ammo/cartridges.
6:25 Material: Kevlar (lightweight/flexible/concealable)
Good against guns and knife attacks.
7:05 material: Steel-hard metal (Cost effective armor/Heavier/up to 30 pounds/will you use/wear this frequently?) Make sure to get the right spalling level when getting armor.
8:18 Material: Ceramic (Thicker/more expensive/lighter than steel/cannot withstand multiple hits to safe area/shorter shelf life/less durable than steel plates/price has dropped over the years)
9:05 Material: Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene
Available in Level III and IV. Newer type of body armor. More expensive than ceramic, lighter and less thick. Can float in water. Can take multiple shots, but less durable like Ceramic in taking shots to the same spot.
(Thinnest but most expensive option) If you need to wear armor for a long time, this is an option.
9:55 Cuts and Shapes of Armor
- SAPI style cut
- Swimmer or Shooters cut
- "Square" cut (Not recommended)
10:05 SAPI Cut. Most common cut and gives good mobility
10:19 Swimmers/Shooters Cut. more motion at top of armor but less coverage.
10:30 Square cut. Limits range of motion, not recommended for wearing, but good for backpack or luggage/laptop/messenger bag, etc.
10:43 Side Plates (make sure your chest rig/carrier can hold side plates
10:58 Flat vs Curved Armor
Flat is not as comfortable as Curved.
Curved can fit the contours of your body better.
11:10 Sizing of Body Armor
When measuring size, measure from your nipple to nipple.
The wider the plate, the taller the plate.
To find your notch, trace your sternum up until you find a soft spot and applying pressure near your chest makes you choke. It's important to find armor that can protect your vitals.
11:50 Weight & Maneuverability of Body Armor
Don't focus only on pricing, but consider the impact of weight for your survival and mobility. All body armor 'will' reduce your mobility slightly, a little, or moderately.
12:50 How Long Will Body Armor Last? (Shelf life and Actual Use)
Short answer: How often has it been used? Maintained? How long has it been stored?
Average life is 5 years or more but depends on your answers to the questions from Short Answer above.
Soft Body Armor: 5 years (Average)
Steel Plates: 20+ years (Average)
13:28 Pricing of Body Armor
Don't go cheap on body armor (my personal opinion not City Prep)
Buy based on your needs.
14:35 What/Which Body Armor is Right for you?
Want Concealable/Not stand out? (Kevlar)
Durable? (Steel)
Rifle/Speed rounds? (Ceramic/polyethylene)
Expect armor piercing rounds or AP rounds? (Level 4 armor)
15:22 Conclusion
too much coffee?
GOAT
He needs to do chapters on his videos. Thank you for this service 🙏🏽
Wow!
I prefer things to be scalable and modular.
It's like firearms in that what would he most effective is impractical for daily use.
Sure, a rifle is more effective than a handgun, but the pistol is more practical to conceal.
Same with armor. That's why I now keep concealeable LVL 2 vests, with plate carriers I can wear over them if needed. That protects me from the most common rounds used with concealeability, but can don something to protect against rifles, too.
Alot of cops go this way, as well.
Looking for recommendations on this. What vests/plate carriers would be your recommendation?
thanks CP, only thing missing from this being a 10/10 Intro to Body Armor video is some exposition on the carriers. Overall really great, a video I can send to anyone asking me about the basics.
How did you know this was what I needed! Thanks for this valuable info. You’re my favorite prepper, brother.
I'm preparing to buy my tactical gear and this video is extremely helpful. Thank you for the info and sharing your knowledge.
Awsome job and great information on body armor. Definatly a must see for anyone planning to purchase armor. Thanks City Prepping, awsomejob as always my friend
Definitely*
Awesome*
Agreed!! I’m glad I found this video. I definitely learned a lot!
Fantastic video! Presentation of data and information was well done with no wasteful fluff. Thanks for doing this!
Excellent video! Thanks for the clear, straightforward, pragmatic perspective on armor selection.
Awesome video, learned alot. Concise and informative. Looking to grab my first rig and this video helped a noob like me immensely.Thank you.
I have worn body armor for decades, and currently use either IIIA for concealment wear or III+ for tactical use.
I tell everyone, buy the BEST product you can afford - what is your life worth?!?
Also consider weight of the vest/plates and or cummerbund.
My tactical rig is a First Spear Strandhogg carrier with 10x12 ShotStop Duritium GT2 plates, rifle and pistol mags, med kit and Camelbak, with a total weight of 15 pounds.
VS...
Just 2 AR500 plates weigh about 17 pounds, without the carrier and needed accessories!!
Level IV plates are rated for 30.06 AP rounds, but are not really necessary. I recommend III+ because it will defeat all commonly found 5.56, 7.62x39 and 7.62x51 rounds.
Is it normal for soft armor to get creases?
Glad I have a few Garands 😉
Great job as always CP
Thanks. You answered lots of questions I have as I decide how to improve my level of protection
Excellent primer on Body Armor. Good job.
Very informative without the hype. Thanks!
Excellent, informative, concise and well done video. Thank you sir!
This was great thank you so much! I bought some a little while back first time, and did some research first. However i was still a little unsure i bought the right one for me. After seeing this and "using" it im happy i made the right purchase.
Thanks for the video. Answers all the questions I've had regarding armor selection.
Glad I could help!
Good info, thanks for putting that together.
Thanks. Very good overview!
Very good breakout. Thanks!
This cleared alot of my questions about armor, great video.
Great info. I am currently building up my set up so this will help me with it.
best video I have seen on body armor. Thank you
You totally nailed this video. Way to go brother!👍 I’m glad I watched this and no others. I also subscribed 🇺🇸
Good job! Very informative. Thanks
I chose ceramic, due to how it can take hits and keep trucking if needed. I am huge into lighter weight materials, and after feeling a bunch of my buds carriers with steel I decided that was too heavy. I would have gotten the new fancy stuff but ceramic will suit my needs
Have steel now. Looking for a lightweight ceramic that won’t break the bank? Any suggestions?
@@ap7655tacticon . I have a set for the whole family level IV for price of 1 setup from some places .
Steel can take plenty of hits. It’s just heavier . I run in my steel setup few times a week . I think it’s about 16lbs my ceramic setup is 11.5 or so . World of difference
Thanks this was helpful and helped in making a decision
A very fine video, thank you for taking the time.
Excellent video! Thank you!
Hi! Thanks for the video! Great info!
Just the video I need. Thank you.
Well done, as always. Thank you.
Thanks for getting this out
Thank you so much for sharing.
Great information.
Very informative! Thanks.
Love it. Thanks!
Thanks for the info
Well done sir. Great info
Thanks Brother great info
thank you very much, this helped me tremendously
Thanks, good information
Great content
Great video thank you
Thank you for this video. It did help me out
You're welcome!
Great video, after thinking about getting a plate carrier I decided on steel. Mostly buying it if there's ever a societal breakdown, so I'm mostly looking for longevity and dependability
You probably won’t have to wait to long considering our current state.
You rock dude many thx.
Awesome video
This s very dogarned terrific video thanks for the hard work creating it
Great Video, doing the Lord's work for new guys!
Very well narrated. I used steel in the mil, but I couldn't stand the weight after about 4 hrs. Poly would be my choice.
Good video thanks
Great list of attributes for consideration at the beginning of the video. Given that armor cannot be worn without a plate carrier, however, I would have gone a bit further and discussed some general attributes about plate carriers as well. No point getting the best plates with the worst carrier. Even something as basic as discussing the fasteners (i.e. tubes vs. velcro) and how they contribute to the relative ease/difficulty of donning/doffing the armor would have been good info for newbies.
I’m a huge fan of my Gladiator Solutions body armor. I even use their Pakprotect in my laptop case.
Thank you
Thanks for the information.
I wear armor every day and can say it's a hassle when you first start out.
I live in an area where there's lots of hunting and not just deer. Most deer rifles are in the 30-06 or 270 class. The level 4 plates should stop those, however there are several elk hunters and most use the 300 Winchester Magnum and 338 Winchester Magnum. That cartridge would blow through any of the plates you have.
For me and my prepping planning, I'm going with the concealable type armor because most will not know I have it on and I can work in it. I do have steal armor but would only go with that if needed.
I’ve seen a few videos of level IV ceramic stopping .300 Win Mag and .338 Lapua Magnum…
Always wear blaze orange when in the woods
Good job 👍
Good job on the bodyarmor
“Don’t let cost affect your decision”
Me after panic buying a 100 Dollar freeman carrier
it'll make for a good training kit
Fantastic video I got exactly what I was hoping for out of it. You have definitely earned a sub from me! Thank you!
Great information… do one on sizing.. whether your 5’7 or 6’6 with the same chest size… which plate would you get?
Which carrier is best for you??
These are questions I can barely find true information on UA-cam with visuals
👍🏼👍🏼
I watched some DIY videos for making your own, plate like. I saw a younger man show different bullets on the ones he made it was really Good.
Wow, you nailed it with this one. Comprehensive report on body armor. Sort of a b.a. for dummies. Nice job.
great video
Good video 👍
you should always train with steel armor and save the ceramic armor for the missions so you'll be super fast
Beautiful
The rock lee methodology
Understood Guy Sensei
@@CT-uz3bf if you train for a bike race with a crappy mountain bike, youll be super fast when you do the race with a 7000 dollar road bike
@@deltashot5608 Mannn, my $800 mountain bike got stolen a few years ago. I miss that bike.
Best video so far. Sucks I see this months after I bought my first vest and armor.
I bought a lot of wrong gear as well at the beginning :(
Those 'wrong' carriers become a better option when grandma comes over and needs take a spot in the guard duty rotation.
And meanwhile set them up as training rigs.
Hesco 4401 and rma 1155 for the best budget. Only downsides are weight and single curve. Hesco is lighter and thinner but only slightly and is harder to find.
Good job
Well done and worth reviewing before a purchase as much info was covered. Sweet, no annoying music, stupid ego crap or wasted time getting to the information . I despise bed wasting a viewers time with that crap.
Great video. I would have like to see a scale whipped out to see the weight too... still a great job.
I picked up some Duritium armor from Shotstop. It’s rated GT2 (green tip) multi curve, just below level 4, and able to defeat the newest M855a1 and SS109 rounds. It’s 3.8 lbs per plate, costs $650 and comes with 15 year warranty. Buy the best for peace of mind.
Not 308 correct?
If it can stop ss109 I'm sure it can handle 308 fmj
good💯; bulletproof vest, bulletproof plate and level iiia iii iv
Ceramic defends better against high velocity projectiles, especially high projectiles.
very very nice video
I bought some ar500 steel armor plates and didn’t realize how heavy the plates were!
I did the same, and then switched to polyurethane at 4 lbs per plate instead of steel. Made such a big difference.
@@wavemakersdj I thought about that but I wouldnt trust poly unless I could personally test it.
I just got my condor mopc with steel plates last weekend. If anybody is reading this before you buy your armor, DO NOT buy steel plates . My vest is 33 pounds , and I'm pretending I'm gonna fight in this?!. No . Buy better plates guys. On the other hand I can work out in it
@@lanceskopik2928 When I bought a 5.11 tactec, I went with steel Level 3 plates because they were almost exactly 10lbs a piece. That weighted them near identical to non ballistic workout plates. A few times with those, and the next purchase was poly's instead for real use, steels for workouts.
@Soul Chicken Great points and in light of Veterans Day...THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
Ceramic plates are very resilient to temperature changes and dropping. Look up the NIJ testing standards for certification, a lot of the "weaknesses" of ceramic plates are myths.
My first armor was Second Chance level III. I wore it for eight hours or more at a time I had no problems with it. But that was many years and pounds ago.
This is good
Level IV Ceramic or Hesco special threat plates.
Steel armor is super heavy lol good idea to go hiking or jogging with it to train yourself
"It can take multiple hits and is still useable" No, it's not. While the steel itself may no longer be compromised, whatever antispall coating or sleeve is used in conjunction with that plate will have been compromised, and typically in fewer rounds than ceramics. The moment this layer is compromised, your steel armor ceases to be effective at protecting the wearer, because the resulting spall drastically increases risk of injury. Mind you, you also refrained from speaking to what happens to steel plates when they're impacted at anything but a direct angle, like, say, 45 degrees. The jacket will typically separate from the core, but the core itself will often continue to travel parallel to the plate's surface, regardless of the anti-spall measures taken.
Also, the generalized statement regarding to armor lifespans is incorrect. The NIJ standard varies depending on the individual armor. This is why ceramics with 5 and 10 year warrantied lifespans exist. With this in mind, the point is "Warrantied lifespan". The reality is, armor, especially hard armor, will likely never lose its efficacy in the hands of the average citizen, especially if they store it properly. Level IV ceramics that have been stored properly will often last well in excess of its noted lifespan. Why? Because the lifespans as set forth by the NIJ are with typical austere operating conditions in mind, so plates subjected to regular use, and constant changes in environmental conditions (hot, cold, dry, humid, direct exposure to water, etc). This may seem like a silly thing to point out, but I've seen many of the ill-informed use lifespan as an argument to keep steel, despite its abysmal protective capabilities, over more viable options, like ceramic and PE plates.
Personally I think you’ve got the best video I’ve been seeing you broke everything down to understandable level for a novice idiot like myself thank you
Technically, “spalling” is what happens to the back of the plate upon bullet impact. The process of bullet deformation and disintegration due to impact to the front of the plate is called “fragmentation.” But these days, spalling is used interchangeably, to the chagrin of engineers and linguists everywhere.
I mean, if there's no penetration there's no spalling either
Just stay away from AR500 Armor (the company not the steel) and you’ll be ok
AR500 Armor was the first place I bought armor and a plate carrier. It was just cause at the time I was uneducated on the topic and it was the first company I saw (probably cause of all the money they spend on ads instead of customer service). Since then I’ve upgraded and am pretty happy. To anyone considering AR500 Armor just read the reviews and/or the comment section on any one of their ads.
Their carriers aren't bad, just overpriced. I got gifted a Veritas with cummerbund and its held up fairly well
I’ll have to re-evaluate my armor build: I have 3 layers in my body armor: Front & back. 2 layers on the sides. All are layered in bubble wrap between layers. While the bubble wrap might not seem like much, it’s cushioning is key & stability.
Very professional video. Thank You. Have you heard of diritium?
Honestly, I don't want to get into specifics, but, if I were purchasing armor, as a combat veteran who has used armor, actually used it, if you get the jizzt, I would purchase Level IV triple curve steel plates with full coat, sleeves, and trauma pads. Double up on the pads if you can, not all carriers will allow it. Make sure you ACTUALLY WEAR YOUR ARMOR! Level IV steel plates, sleeves, and pads are HEAVY! It takes time to get used to.
Or just buy lvl 4 multi curve ceramic composite and not have to wear trauma pads or spall sleeves. Better performance, less weight. The "as a veteran" doesnt mean anything.
Thinking about getting some kevlar backpack armor
I went with the Spartan Body Armor at level 3+, it took two and a half months to get to me but apparently this wait time is normal.I'm not sure if it's pandemic times or just the company I went with. The Armor is heavy. Work your way up to wearing it all day. Get used to it slowly. Like boots. I paid about $250.
ditto
I did the same, expecting it to take some time and i got it in less than 2 weeks. I was surprised. Its definitely heavier than my military plates were ... but then I was probably in better shape too. Time to start working out more ...
👍good information 🇨🇱🇨🇱
Can you make a video about plate carriers and chest rigs. Thanksb
I can almost respect the fact you managed to avoid the immense rabbit hole that is the “ceramic/poly vs Steel” conversation.
I’ve seen threads upon threads of companies and grunts or former SoF alike argue about the two.
Just pick something. Educate yourself on all pros and cons. Because EVERYTHING has them. Just be knowledgeable on how those will affect you.
Great video, very informative as always. I've been thinking about upgrading my protection from IIIA Soft armor, so this helped me tremendously. I've seen recently AR500 has amazing deals on a variety of products in regard to body armor. Any insight on their products? I just finished the police academy so I'm looking at purchasing my own set up leaning towards what I'll carry on duty. Thanks!
if you are carrying on duty, you want something light weight because you are going to be wearing it all the time. You'll save money in the long going lighter now, vs getting heavier. Realizing its to heavy and going light after. At that point you just spent 2x
Eyes , ears , nose protection are very important in over sea deployment. In southeast asia state department personel are being dried of supply most needed are water making like dehumidier with good filter because flood infested water most of earth already