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Bulletproof vests are typically worn by the military, law enforcement professionals, and security personnel, and nowadays companies like BulletSafe offer the same protection to ordinary civilians. However, in some places, people who needed ballistic protection either couldn’t access it or took one look at professionally-made bulletproof vests and thought “eh, I can do better.”

Homemade bulletproof armor is typically unwieldly, ugly, and of questionable effectiveness. Usually created by people with a mix of ingenuity, desperation, insanity, and a great amount of faith, homemade bulletproof vests should never be relied on if there are professional-grade products readily available.

The definition of “bulletproof”

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “bulletproof” as “impenetrable to bullets,” but fails to mention that there is some nuance to this term. A vest capable of withstanding a direct hit with a .22LR will not be able to survive being hit by a .50 BMG. When it comes to bulletproof materials, composition matters.

Bulletproof armor comes in four general levels defined by the National Institute of Justice or NIJ. With Level IIA (handgun protection up to .40 S&W) at the low end and Level IV (large caliber rifle protection up to .30-06 AP) at the highest level, NIJ certified armor undergoes rigorous testing to determine its safety. Homemade armor, obviously, is not held to the same standards. Some of it could even fall apart after vigorous jumping before it even gets hit by the first bullet, just like…

Egyptian Mosireen Soda Can Armor

Mosireen (Arabic for “Insistent”) is a volunteer activist group formed during the Egyptian Revolt of 2011. Dedicated to the dissemination of truth and exposing the horrors and violence perpetrated by their oppressive government, the group has frequently found itself on the receiving end of violent crackdowns by Egypt’s National Security Agency.

In 2013, a thousand protesters were gunned down near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in Cairo to end a peaceful sit-in. Unfortunately, in a nation where the people have no weapons to fight back, anti-government protesters have had to rely on jury-rigged homemade solutions for their own protection, such as this “bulletproof” vest made from soda cans and glue.

With materials easily obtainable from local hardware stores and restaurants, anyone can make the Mosireen soda can vest by gluing together 6-10 sheets of aluminum and duct taping them to an undershirt.

Mosireen Soda Can Armor

The question is, of course, if it’ll actually stop bullets. According to Mosireen, the answer is maybe… sometimes… and only at distances of 8 yards or greater. The Mosireen vest is primarily designed to stop birdshot and nonlethal rounds, which wouldn’t even meet Level IIA standards on the NIJ scale. Unfortunately for Mosireen protesters, Egyptian security forces frequently pack AK-47s and sidearms along with their 12 gauges so the practicality of this armor is questionable at best.

Clint Emerson’s Book Armor

In contrast to the Egyptians, former Navy SEAL Clint Emerson created something with substantially more survivability that can be made with a fraction of the materials and the effort. Made of nothing but copies of his moderately thick “100 Deadly Skills” books, ceramic pool tiles, and duct tape, Emerson’s makeshift armor is surprisingly effective against 9mm rounds, but shouldn’t be relied on to stop anything heavier.

By making a double-layered ceramic tile sandwich between two books and duct tape, Emerson created armor that can assembled in a hurry or in an emergency situation by anyone with access to common household items. Even without the ceramic tiles, the books can be moderately effective at stopping smaller calibers like .22LR and 9mm at long ranges. Ceramic tiles or not, it should still not be trusted to stop anything beyond small caliber pistol rounds.

704 Tactical’s Ceramic Tile Armor

The YouTuber 704 Tactical took the pool tile armor concept and made it slightly more professional-looking. His $6 DIY armor made out of three layers of pool tiles, 0.3 inches worth of copy paper, and a layer of duct tape, this DIY plate weighs 8.5lbs and is strong enough to stop 9mm rounds and 12ga buckshot.

However, the armor comes with an unfortunate caveat. In 704 Tactical’s own words, “don’t rely on it, you’ll definitely die.” While some companies rely on ceramic plates for their bulletproof materials, professionally-made armor is always augmented with some form of ballistic fiber, and copy paper just doesn’t provide the same level of protection.

Trojan Ballistics Armor

Troy Hurtubise's Trojan Armor

While the “Trojan” looks semi-professional, it’s actually the brainchild of one man. Troy Hurtubise, the Canadian inventor of the bear suit, was famous for testing his homemade heavy armor while wearing it himself. The aforementioned bear suit, for example, was hit by a 300lb log.

Around the time of the War in Iraq, Mr. Hurtubise grew concerned about IED attacks on Canadian soldiers, so he put his efforts into creating a new suit rated to stop bullets and shrapnel. He described his Trojan Ballistics Armor as the “first ballistic, full exoskeleton body suit of armor.” The full body armor was capable of stopping 9mm, .357 Magnum, and 12ga buckshot at close range. Hurtubise even made the bold claim it could stop a round from an elephant gun (loosely defined as any large caliber centerfire chambered in .400 or greater) but no evidence was found to prove this. The suit was never tested against IEDs.

Based on the modifications he made to the suit, Hurtubise probably intended to create a real-life Iron Man suit for special operations use. Weighing a mere 50lbs, the suit was equipped with magnetic holsters, helmet-mounted headlights, a solar-powered air conditioning system, a recording device, a pepper spray capsule, and a compartment for emergency morphine and salt.

While the product seemed top notch on paper, Hurtubise’s marketing for government contracts was less so. In 2010, his research and development drove him to bankruptcy and later divorce. Tragically, Hurtubise died in a freak highway accident in 2018 when his car collided with a gasoline truck which resulted in a fiery explosion. He was not wearing his armor at the time.

Hurtubise was confident that its bullet-resistant foam, a material of his own design, would be able to stop even the largest calibers of ammo, and he proved it to be at least Level IIIA resistant, but sadly the suit’s true capabilities may never truly be tested.

BulletSafe

BulletSafe VP3 vest

Unlike these other examples of bulletproof armor, BulletSafe vests and plates are NIJ tested and approved. The VP3 vest is affordable, durable, and lightweight Level IIIA armor capable of stopping rounds up to Level IIIA, and BulletSafe Level IV plates have been shown to be capable of defeating .30-06 armor piercing ammunition.

If you decide you need bulletproof protection at home, there’s no need to improvise. BulletSafe’s vests are sold at just $299.99 and are worn by security and law enforcement professionals all over the world.

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. 

In 2019, the DusitD2 complex in Nairobi, Kenya was rocked by a violent explosion. Witnesses reported seeing human limbs flying through the air as gunfire erupted from other areas within the complex. Terrorists from the Al-Shabaab militant group began firing into crowds at random.

Retired SAS operator Christian Craighead, who was in the country training Kenyan counter-terrorist units, was on break at the time. Craighead heard the gunfire erupt and rushed to his vehicle, where he retrieved his kit, consisting of his Canadian C2 rifle, a sidearm, and his plate carrier. After spending mere seconds gearing up, he ran towards the sound of gunfire. With the help of local police forces, the attackers were subdued. Craighead became a legend in the firearms community almost overnight.

If you are reading this from the United States, the likelihood of you being involved in a mass shooting is substantially higher than it would be in Kenya. While it would generally not be a good idea to storm into a building to subdue a shooter (first responders might mistake you for the bad guy), it would be a good idea to add a plate carrier to your vehicle EDC kit.

Jacob Albarado, the hero of the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde, famously had to borrow his barber’s shotgun and helped with the evacuation but did not go into the school because of his lack of gear.

“At one point, I was there at the door fixing to go in, but once again I didn't have any of my gear. It wouldn't have been a smart move for me. All those guys had their gear and stuff so like I said, I pulled back."

To be fair to Albarado, this wasn’t cowardice at all. Through no fault of his own, he found himself unprepared. Realistically, who imagines they’ll ever be in a situation where they need to fight for their lives or the lives of their loved ones? However, in the crazy, dangerous world we live in, it’s becoming more and more likely, and it’s important to be prepared.

You never know when the next riot, natural disaster, terrorist attack, mass shooting, or other life-threatening circumstance might happen, so if you choose to throw a vest in your back seat, know that it may be there for a very long time. For long-term storage, soft armor vests are not the best. Prolonged exposure to humidity and ultraviolet light can cause degradation over the long run, so when it comes to vehicle storage, Level III or IV plates are the better option.

BulletSafe’s Level IV ballistic plates area made of durable alumina-oxide ceramic, which does not degrade over time like its soft armor counterpart. In addition, Level IV plates are stronger than soft armor, capable of defeating rifle fire from AR-15s and AK-47s as well as a single .30-06 round.

While we hope the worst case scenarios never come to pass, a bulletproof vest in the car would be beneficial in several scenarios, such as:

Working High-Risk Jobs. Armed security personnel and asset protection units put their lives on the line every day. It would be good for company vehicles to have vests in the back seat in case of worst case scenarios or if visitors might need them.

Living in High-Crime Areas. If you live in a particularly bad area known for frequent gang wars and fall asleep to the sound of gunshots every weekend, it might be a good idea to put a vest in your car. Depending on how bad the crime is where you live, you might even want to consider mounting it on the back of your seat. Mounts like the vehicle seat back plate carrier hanger from Grey Man Tactical work perfectly for this.

Active Shooter Situations. As previously mentioned, active shooters are becoming more common in the United States. You don’t want to compromise on your safety, and a Level IV vest is an incredible asset whether you’re escaping from a shooting or if you’re going in to help others.

Natural Disasters. In the aftermath of a natural disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake, there may be an increased risk of looting and violence. Carrying a bulletproof vest in your car can help protect you in case of an attack during these chaotic situations.

Traditional plate carriers, unlike soft vests, are usually equipped with MOLLE webbing. This means that aside from serving as armor, vehicle plate carriers can also serve as light “bug out survival vests.”

Aside from ammo, your vest can also carry an individual first aid kit, a fire starter, and probably a small pouch where you can keep an esbit stove and a life straw. This kit should serve as something that can keep you alive if you happen to run out of gas in the middle of Notown, USA and you need to get help, but you shouldn’t have so much gear that you’ll be over-encumbered.

It's important to note that carrying a bulletproof vest is not a guarantee of safety and should be done in conjunction with other safety measures such as avoiding dangerous situations, being aware of your surroundings, and calling law enforcement if you feel threatened.

Though violent crimes have steadily been declining in recent years, it's hard to turn on the news these days without hearing a report about another criminal using force to impose their will on others. While encountering an attacker is rare, situations and circumstances can change in an instant, and many have decided to take protection into their own hands.

For the everyday commuter, the BulletSafe bulletproof backpack panel is the size of a 10x14 inch notebook and at 17 ounces, weighs just as much. Deceptively soft and pliable, this lightweight bulletproof panel is NIJ Certified to Level IIIA, making it capable of stopping a wide variety of handgun calibers up to and including the legendary .44 magnum.

Statistically, the handgun was the most used firearm in crimes across the United States.

In a 2021 study conducted by the FBI, 62% of the total firearms used in crimes were handguns, while 3.6% were rifles, and another 3.6% were automatic weapons/machine guns.

A separate 2021 study by the Office of the Attorney General revealed that the 9mm has been the caliber of choice for criminals since the late 1990s due to its abundance and low cost. Out of the sample of firearms used in crimes which were examined by the Bureau of Forensic Services for the study, 90.3% were handguns, and 46 of those were chambered in 9mm, with the second most common caliber being the .40 Smith and Wesson. Thankfully, a Level IIIA plate like the BulletSafe bulletproof backpack panel is more than capable of defeating a 9mm even in close quarters.

Another advantage of buying a $99.97 bulletproof backpack panel is cost. Other companies might charge as much as $899 for a complete backpack system, but an insert, especially one as light at the BulletSafe bulletproof backpack panel, can be placed in the laptop panel of any conventional backpack without any need for modification.

As the old adage goes, it is better to have and not need than to need and not have. Investing in a BulletSafe bulletproof backpack panel is also an investment in your peace of mind.

When people think of “Kevlar” most imagine a vest – any vest – that stops bullets. Many assume that the modern American warfighter still wears Kevlar vests just like his predecessors in the 1990s. In fact, the Kevlar Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT) and modern plate carrier have little in common with each other.

For starters, Kevlar is actually a registered trademark of the Dupont company, who originally used the lightweight but highly durable material as a replacement for steel in racing tires. Kevlar itself is a blend of a tough but light material called aramid that is unique to Dupont. Other companies produce aramid fibers and armor but cannot legally use the Kevlar brand name.

In contrast, the armored ceramic plates are made of various materials such as steel, ceramics, or most commonly, ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene also known as UHMWPE. While hard armor plates can be made of Kevlar, UHMWPE provides some advantages Kevlar lacks.

When the United States military first started issuing Kevlar body armor en masse to its troops, it came in the form of the PASGT system in the 1990s. This revolutionary body system replaced the aging flak jacket used in the Vietnam War, which relied on ballistic nylon and was never meant to survive a direct impact from even small pistol calibers. The PASGT system, on the other hand, was built with lightweight, flexible Kevlar. The new armor could stop 9mm rounds but would only slow down a round if hit by a larger rifle bullet, which would still penetrate.

Despite the fact it could defeat 9mm, the PASGT was meant to only protect against fragmentation threats. For rifle rounds, the Army needed something sturdier. Beginning in 1998, full production of a new, exciting vest came underway. The Interceptor Body Armor was made of Kevlar aramid fibers while protected from the front and back by solid plates. This new type of armor could take on direct hits from 7.62x39mm rounds and survive. This isn’t to say that the UHMWPE is the end-all be all in terms of personal armor, but it comes close.

STRENGTH

Bulletproof materials require immense strength, and tensile strength measured in pascals determines how much stress a material can take before it breaks under tension. While Kevlar is quite sturdy with its tensile strength of 3,620 megapascals (compared to the 400 megapascals of structural steel), it pales in comparison to UHMWPE, which has a tensile strength so high it can stretch from 4 to 10 gigapascals, making it the world’s strongest fiber.

Winner: UHMWPE

DURABILITY

Aramid fibers like those in a Kevlar vest decay faster than UHMWPE and are degraded by UV light. A Kevlar vest will usually begin to show signs of degradation after five years, after which time it would no longer be wise – or safe – to trust one’s life to the vest, while UHMWPE fibers in armor tend to persist for far longer, thanks to their unique molecular structure, which makes them resistant to water, moisture, chemicals, ultraviolet radiation and microorganisms.

Winner: UHMWPE

TEMPERATURE

When operating in a warm environment, UHMWPE’s light weight and high heat resistance make it a primary candidate for service in deserts and prairies. In contrast, aramid vests are excellent at retaining heat, which makes them more suitable for cold weather operations.

Winner: Varies

MOISTURE RETENTION

UHMWPE is waterproof, and unlike steel or any other metal, will not rust or corrode. This unique property is highly valued among both the Navy SEALs and shark divers, who use UHMWPE as part of their armor. Certain companies sell shark-proof wetsuits with UHMWPE sewn in with the nylon, while SEALs regularly utilize UHMWPE plate carriers during UDT operations. Aramid, on the other hand, can take on water. Wearing a bulletproof vest in a wet or humid environment can result in an aramid vest taking on as much as 3.5% of its own weight in water.

Winner: UHMWPE

If someone wants something with a combination of the benefits of both fibers, they should look into BulletSafe vests. BulletSafe offers bulletproof vests made of a blend of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene with a blend of aramid fibers, giving users a wide array of options from bulletproof backpacks to soft armor and hard plates. BulletSafe vests are NIJ certified, and the company is committed to providing affordable quality bulletproof products to any and all protection-minded individuals.