Vests?

[onebohemian]

Every now and then someone posts some body armor plates for sale, and the thread ends up touching on legality, product review, etc. I don't think we ever end up with a final say on what's good and what's not, however, or what's really legal and what is not.

I have a friend who desires to purchase a bullet proof vest because he is in a high risk job. He needs to wear it daily. He isnt in need of body armor, but instead something like police may wear. His job is much like the armored car guys that load cash machines but he doesn't work for one of those service companies. I think those guys wear vests like the police, but i am not sure. Does anyone have any resources I could provide my friend so he can start his search on a good foundation?

Thanks.

[thunderoussilence]

Do you mean the uniform looking bullet proof vests? Try Galls.com

Good luck

Declan

[tman]

Vests can be purchased from just about any police supply store. They are NOT unlawful to possess. The crime is using them during the commission of a crime.

Good vests are about $800-$1,000.

Stay away from ANY vest that has "zylon" in it. It degrades more quickly than other materials and is considered unsafe.

(sent from a "secure location" via scrambled phone)

[thunderoussilence]

Vests can be purchased from just about any police supply store. They are NOT unlawful to possess. The crime is using them during the commission of a crime.

Good vests are about $800-$1,000.

Stay away from ANY vest that has "zylon" in it. It degrades more quickly than other materials and is considered unsafe.

(sent from a "secure location" via scrambled phone)

Tman what safety level of vest do you wear?

[cobb]

A friend of mine is also interested in some type of protection.

Years ago he was a repo man for a few companies and financial institutes. He got out of that business for a couple personal reasons and pursued another profession that he is currently not satisfied with. So he is looking at getting back into the repo business, but his concerns are that things have changed a lot over the past 15 years in that line of work. He feels that wearing some extra protective gear like a vest might be a good idea. He isn't interested in saving a buck and buying off e-bay or some other discount place, he wants something that will work.

[forcefed]

Go into Streichers in Plymouth and talk to Pete or any of the guys there. They can set your friend up

[tman]

Tman what safety level of vest do you wear?

IIIA from Safari-land. Got it from Streichers.

(sent from a "secure location" via scrambled phone)

[yang]

You can get the vest from any police supply store.

Streichers in Plymouth, Keeprs in St. Paul and Uniforms Unlimitied (St. Paul and MPLS)

[Consummate]

Plus one for Streichers.

You or your friend will also want IIIA standalone protection.

[Squib Joe]

While we're on the topic, what do you all think of these small defender vests that US Palm is marking to non-LEO consumers?

[rukwikenuf]

i think it's probably better than nothing, but i'd rather have an old Viet Nam era flak jacket.

[Norsesmithy]

It's a small vest, but it's a IIIa small vest. Beats the ever loving **** out of a surplus "flack jacket" which generally won't stop lvl II threats.

IMO, though, if you're gonna have a "grab vest" for emergency situations, you might as well put a hard armor plate in it, it's not like you have to conceal it, so you might as well make it a true lvl III or lvl IV vest.

Though their "Airsave" lvl IV hard armor carrier is twice the price, so I guess I can see their desire to diversify, and the Defender is a plate carrier, so you could always add the plate later.

[Pinnacle]

i think it's probably better than nothing, but i'd rather have an old Viet Nam era flak jacket.

For what?

1. ZYLON is not used in the construction of vests anymore and has not been used for such in many moons.
2. Wear what you carry for a level of protection. I like NIJ2
3. The lighter the weight, the higher the price.
4. Buy NEW and buy something that has the appropriate NIJ Labeling. Dont be a cheapass with your life.
5. Get fit by a professional
6. if you GAIN weight - and the vest doesnt fit - cry to someone else and not the guy that sold you the vest
7. Store the vest FLAT - don't hang it.
8. Buy an additional carrier, you will need it.
9. If you get attacked with a rifle - anything less than NIJ3 is worthless and there are no NIJ3 soft armors available... Hard Armor ONLY SAPI Style Plates which are very expensive and must be used with an appropriate vest.

http://nij.gov/topics/technology/body-armor/welcome.htm

[rtk]

i think it's probably better than nothing, but i'd rather have an old Viet Nam era flak jacket.

For what?

1. ZYLON is not used in the construction of vests anymore and has not been used for such in many moons.
2. Wear what you carry for a level of protection. I like NIJ2
3. The lighter the weight, the higher the price.
4. Buy NEW and buy something that has the appropriate NIJ Labeling. Dont be a cheapass with your life.
5. Get fit by a professional
6. if you GAIN weight - and the vest doesnt fit - cry to someone else and not the guy that sold you the vest
7. Store the vest FLAT - don't hang it.
8. Buy an additional carrier, you will need it.
9. If you get attacked with a rifle - anything less than NIJ3 is worthless and there are no NIJ3 soft armors available... Hard Armor ONLY SAPI Style Plates which are very expensive and must be used with an appropriate vest.

http://nij.gov/topics/technology/body-armor/welcome.htm

Where have you been hiding lately Pinnacle? Glad to see that you are still around!

[Snowgun]

2. Wear what you carry What do you mean by this?
7. Store the vest FLAT - don't hang it. Curious why this is, though I think I can guess..
8. Buy an additional carrier, you will need it. Could you expound on this?

This is a great document from that site you linked:

https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/223054.pdf