Body Armour Guide

It’s no secret that tensions in many parts of the world are on the rise, with the rate of violent crimes increasing in many places that were previously considered safe. If you want peace of mind about your safety, whether it’s at work or in your local neighbourhood, you might be interested in browsing our range of body armour. We have many items that are perfectly legal for ordinary citizens to buy in nations like the UK and the USA. We also stock heavy-duty items that are fit for military and law enforcement personnel in high-risk situations.

But how do you know which body armour to purchase – or what body armour actually protects you against? You’ll find the answers to those questions and more in this comprehensive body armour guide.

 

What Is Body Armour?

Body armour refers to protective clothing that’s designed to protect the wearer from physical attacks. Most body armour defends the torso against projectiles, with some designed to deflect weapons such as knives and others to absorb powerful gunshots. While body armour is mostly associated with professions such as law enforcement, security and military, it’s becoming increasingly popular with ordinary citizens in many nations.

Different types of body armour tend to fall into two main categories: soft body armour and hard body armour. Soft armour is usually made from lightweight and flexible materials like Dyneema or Kevlar, protecting the user from most handgun rounds and some fragmentation. Hard armour usually comes fitted with rigid plates made from steel, polyethylene or ceramic, providing protection against higher-calibre ammunition such as rifle rounds. However, this additional defensive capability can make hard armour heavy and less flexible than soft alternatives.

The easiest way to determine which category an item of body armour falls into and its defensive capabilities is to analyse the details of its National Institute of Justice (NIJ) rating level, which we’ll discuss in detail later.

Is It Legal to Own Body Armour?

Whether it’s legal to own and use body armour largely depends on your location, with different nations and even different jurisdictions within those nations implementing their own laws and guidelines.

 

Legality of Body Armour in the USA

At the federal level in the USA, there are no laws prohibiting the sale, purchase and use of body armour for ordinary civilians, though there are limitations for people with prior felony convictions. Additionally, some states impose additional restrictions for citizens.

 

Legality of Body Armour in the UK

In the UK, body armour is considered a protective item rather than an offensive weapon and is therefore legal for most civilians to own without requiring any special licenses or permits. However, there are exceptions such as harsher penalties are usually given to those wearing body armour while committing a crime such as an armed robbery. 

 

Legality of Body Armour in Australia

The legality of armour in Australia depends on the state, though most states consider it a prohibited weapon that requires authorisation to use and own. In most cases, ownership of body armour is restricted to certain professions, such as security and law enforcement. In VIC state permits may be required for some security equipment. 

Legality of Body Armour in Canada

Many Canadian states, including Ontario and Quebec, have no restrictions or specific regulations on the use or possession of body armour, even for ordinary civilians. However, states including Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia and Alberta restrict the sale, purchase, use and transport of body armour to those who hold permits or work in an exempted profession, such as security or law enforcement.

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Types of Body Armour

While there are many items of body armour designed to protect different parts of the body, most of the armour available to civilians is designed to protect the torso, the most common target of attack that holds most of your vital organs. Here are some of the most common types of body armour:

 

Body Armour Vest

Also known as a ballistic or bulletproof vest, the body armour vest is purposed to deflect and reduce the impact of a bullet. Some vests can stop and encapsulate the bullet on impact, preventing it from turning into shrapnel that can cause serious injuries. While bullets often can’t penetrate body armour, a gunshot may still cause a nasty bruise. Still, this type of body armour has the potential to save your life.

 

Bulletproof Plate Carrier

Plate carriers are a special type of bulletproof vest that tend to be more comfortable and lightweight than their full-body counterparts. Plate carriers can hold armoured plates that provide various levels of protection, making them a popular choice among law enforcement and military personnel who have varying protection level needs depending on the task or mission.

 

Soft Armour Plates

Despite being extremely strong, soft armour plates are flexible, soft and light to wear. They’re usually worn in relatively low-risk situations as part of a concealed body armour outfit or in a plate carrier.

 

Hard Armour Plates

As the name suggests, these armour plates are much stronger than soft alternatives, often providing effective protection against the likes of rifle rounds. However, hard plates can be heavy and often inflexible, which mostly limits their use to high-risk situations.

Bulletproof Bags and Backpacks

Bulletproof backpacks are designed to hold plates similar to a plate carrier vest. They can protect the user against bullets and knife attacks without being conspicuous. Some parents invest in these types of bags for their children, but it’s worth remembering that they can be rather heavy.

 

Concealed Vests

If you want to feel protected against physical threats without sticking out like a sore thumb, concealed vests may be a suitable option. Designed to be worn under your clothes, concealed vests are invisible to other people, and they can protect your back and sides as well as torso.

 

Body Armour Ratings

You can determine the level of protection an item of body armour provides by checking its National Institute of Justice (NIJ) rating, of which there are five main levels that detail an item’s defensive capabilities in terms of the impacts it can withstand. The higher the rating, the more protection an item of armour provides. Here’s a quick overview:

 

Level IIA and Level II

Most types of soft body armour fall into the lowest two categories, Level IIA (lowest) and Level II. These items provide protection against most handgun rounds, though they often aren’t effective against rifle rounds or powerful handguns like Magnum revolvers or Desert Eagles.

 

Level IIIA Body Armour

The highest rating soft body armour can achieve is Level IIIA, and some items of hard armour fall into this rating as well. Concealed vests and backpack inserts are often rated Level IIIA. The vests you typically see worn by on-duty police officers are also likely to have a Level IIIA rating.

 

Level III Armour

The lowest level of hard armour to withstand many types of rifle rounds, Level III rated items can provide effective protection against powerful rounds such as 5.56 and 7.62. However, they may not provide adequate protection against armour-piercing rounds.

 

Level IV Body Armour

Level IV is the highest rating an item of body armour can be given. Vests with this rating are capable of stopping or deflecting armour-piercing rifle rounds. While the level of protection Level IV items offer is extremely high, most clothing in this rating is heavy and uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, which usually limits their use to military personnel and law enforcement in high-risk situations.

 

Order Body Armour Today from Our Survival Experts

At The Survival Island, we source the highest-quality items of body armour from esteemed manufacturers from all corners of the globe, settling for nothing but the best for our customers that range from military personnel to ordinary civilians. If you need items of clothing that help you feel safe, whether it’s at work or just exploring your own neighbourhood, we have the perfect body armour for you. So, contact our survival and wilderness experts today for more information.