What Makes a Bulletproof Vest Concealable?
There’s something extremely conspicuous about a man walking around in public wearing a full tactical vest over his business casual dress code. Usually, a person wearing something like this out in the open is either private security or a mass shooter. It’s highly likely that the average citizen concerned about his own personal safety doesn’t want to draw the attention of everyone in the room when he just wants to go about his business.
Knowing this, people who want to buy a bulletproof vest and use it prefer if they could wear it in public, and the only way to do so without getting funny looks would be to conceal it. Now, it’s important to know that not all kinds of armor can be concealed. One cannot simply throw on a poncho over an IOTV like Clint Eastwood and go to a mall.
Armor carrying heavy Level IV ballistic plates cannot typically be concealed. Tactical vests and plate carriers are typically meant to be worn over the body, which is why they have MOLLE webbing for external attachments like first aid kits, magazine pouches, and other gear.
For everyday wear that doesn’t make people call 911 on you, consider a IIIA vest. Worn under baggy clothing like dress shirts, sports coats, or Hawaiian shirts, IIIA vests are light, foldable, and resistant to most pistol caliber rounds up to and including the powerful .44 magnum.
In the military world, Level IIIA vests in the form of the PASGT system were used by ordinary infantrymen from the Invasion of Grenada in 1983 all the way up to the first years of the Global War on Terror. Meant to stop shrapnel from grenades, Level IIIA armor is also worn by vehicle crews, who can be hurt by fragments of metal that fly off the interior walls of a vehicle when it takes enemy fire.
Level IIIA vests are also worn by Secret Service agents under their suits, as well as police and SWAT teams, who value the vest for its light weight and flexibility. These qualities make it great for everyday wear, as opposed to the modern Level III and IV plates which are stronger but rigid.
Even if Level IIIA armor is lighter and softer, it still adds some bulk to your body, so you won’t be able to show off your figure anymore. T-shirts are to be worn under the body to prevent direct contact with your skin, as exposure to moisture like your sweat can degrade the ballistic fibers over time.
The vest itself should never be “low cut” like a tank top. It should always protect everything between your collar bone and your navel. If you’re a person with a little bit of extra love around your waistline, this doesn’t change. Even if you have extra fat dangling under your vest, it truly does not matter. Your vest is meant to protect your vitals like your heart and your lungs, not your love handles.
As a general rule, buy your bulletproof vest in the same size as you would your regular clothing. Any clothing meant to be worn over it should be one size larger, or otherwise clothing that’s loose like a hoodie. Here, fat people have an advantage because they already look large, and any added bulk won’t be as noticeable as it would be on a person with a skinny frame.
BulletSafe offers its VP3 – an NIJ certified Level IIIA soft armor vest – in all sizes from extra small to 4XL, ensuring that it’ll fit on people of all shapes and sizes. With its adjustable straps, breathable material, and $299.99 price tag the VP3 vest is quite possibly the most practical and affordable vest on the market today. There is no reason to pay more for the same level of protection, which is why you should consider BulletSafe for your personal protection needs.