The best armor is, first and foremost, the armor you will actually wear and so have on you when the threat arrives. The next consideration, which is also vitally important, is whether the armor you chose is strong enough to defeat the threat. Even still, if you're not wearing it, it won't matter if you have the toughest Level IV on the planet. You're still NIJ 0. For most civilians most of the time, the best overall choice is going to be some good concealable soft Level IIIA. Most threats they will face come from handguns. Soft armor, especially in its newer, more advanced (and more expensive) versions, is far and away the most wearable for long periods of time. It's just not realistic to wear hard armor day in and day out for the average person. It's also not advisable. Even though legal in most states still, walking around in battle gear in public is going to net you a LOT of unwanted law enforcement attention. People are going to think you're nuts and/or about to go on a shooting rampage. If and when rifle plates are a must, it's back to the question of wearability vs protection (and price). If you need to be as light and mobile as possible, poly is your best bet. The downside? They cost more and won't keep out all 5.56, which is a common round in this country. Another upside? They float, so if you're in an environment where falling into water is a possibility, you're far more likely not to be drowned like a rat by your own armor. If you're not so concerned about mobility - maybe if you're riding in vehicles or wearing the stuff less time, or if you have real reason to be concerned about military grade 5.56, go with ceramic, composite builds of poly and ceramic, or steel. If money is no object, you can get the lightest versions of each platform. You can get a 6 pound ceramic plate that offers the same protection as an 8 pound plate, but you're pay a lot more for it. I don't see any real world advantages for steel, but plenty like that option and to each their own.
The 16lbs for safelife rifle soft armor is for panels not plates, FRAS panels cover 5x more of your body than plates do. And they stop green tip armor piercing rounds and more. Including stab, taser, civil defense rounds, and 5.7 rounds. $1,500 is a lot but you receive front and back with a lot of benefits. Including some from the company They also offer FRAS PLATES that weigh 3.97lbs and are 0.73” thick. With the same protection rating from $449 per plate $599 per plate depending on which size you select. They also have FRAS 3+ which is 1” thick and 4.75lbs that stops the same rounds but also provides the same protection and more .308/7.62x54R and is multihit You can get more than the 5 year shelf life with proper care and storage of your plates or panels HOWEVER while this is the BEST armor available it is not best for majority civilians I have to use carriers & vest everyday for work so while this armor may be expensive and have a low shelf life if you work with body armor and running a full kit for 40hrs a week or more then it is your best option for medical reason. Anyone who has operated/worked wearing a full kit with body armor understands the toll it takes on your body especially the back, hips, and shoulders. Safelife FRAS plates give you the most protection with the lowest weight possible including adding flexibility for movement and comfort which is good for daily use depending on your job especially if you work patrol in a vehicle Deployed over seas or contracting over seas, i wouldn’t recommend this armor. Law enforcement, EP, Security, bounty hunting, or anything domestic that puts you in higher probability situations of getting shot during your job then this is the best armor Pros and cons with everything it just depends on your usage for it and why you need it while yes getting shot would hurt a lot with this armor and you’d have to go to the hospital and probably have some recovery time is true, but you will be alive. I’ve worked in this industry for a while and have never been shot at on the job, i know law enforcement and security officers who have been in those industries for 20 plus years and have never been shot at either that being said i would prefer less stress on my body and better medical situation with the low probability of getting shot and having some short term pain and recovery. The long term medical affects of traditional armor far out weighs the short term affects of being hit with soft armor & then recovering. Average civilians and people who prep, not the armor for you, but if you use it daily for work this is the best option
yeah all this is good info for people who have to wear it all day my channel is really about shtf and prepping. I agree with you about that fras armor for everyday wear though.
@@citizensurvivalplan I do have to say though, body armor in thorough details has not been covered extremely well in most videos I’ve seen on youtube. Your video however is one of the best ones I’ve seen as far as a deeper base dive into different armors, prices, protection, & pros & cons. So good job on that note, I enjoyed the content keep it up for the viewers!!
You got a mini-14 a painting of George Washington and NOT a Liberty I mean Liberal safe behind you and you called it frag instead of spalling!!! I'm subscribing right now!!!👍🇺🇸
Polyethylene is usually the backing for ceramic plates.
The best armor is, first and foremost, the armor you will actually wear and so have on you when the threat arrives.
The next consideration, which is also vitally important, is whether the armor you chose is strong enough to defeat the threat. Even still, if you're not wearing it, it won't matter if you have the toughest Level IV on the planet. You're still NIJ 0.
For most civilians most of the time, the best overall choice is going to be some good concealable soft Level IIIA. Most threats they will face come from handguns. Soft armor, especially in its newer, more advanced (and more expensive) versions, is far and away the most wearable for long periods of time. It's just not realistic to wear hard armor day in and day out for the average person. It's also not advisable. Even though legal in most states still, walking around in battle gear in public is going to net you a LOT of unwanted law enforcement attention. People are going to think you're nuts and/or about to go on a shooting rampage.
If and when rifle plates are a must, it's back to the question of wearability vs protection (and price).
If you need to be as light and mobile as possible, poly is your best bet. The downside? They cost more and won't keep out all 5.56, which is a common round in this country. Another upside? They float, so if you're in an environment where falling into water is a possibility, you're far more likely not to be drowned like a rat by your own armor.
If you're not so concerned about mobility - maybe if you're riding in vehicles or wearing the stuff less time, or if you have real reason to be concerned about military grade 5.56, go with ceramic, composite builds of poly and ceramic, or steel. If money is no object, you can get the lightest versions of each platform. You can get a 6 pound ceramic plate that offers the same protection as an 8 pound plate, but you're pay a lot more for it. I don't see any real world advantages for steel, but plenty like that option and to each their own.
How much does soft armor slow down like M-193 though?
I really don't know that would be a hard test to set up. It would for sure go through though!
Not to any significant extent. Unless that round is coming from such an extreme range that it drops to handgun round velocity, it's going through.
The 16lbs for safelife rifle soft armor is for panels not plates, FRAS panels cover 5x more of your body than plates do. And they stop green tip armor piercing rounds and more. Including stab, taser, civil defense rounds, and 5.7 rounds. $1,500 is a lot but you receive front and back with a lot of benefits. Including some from the company
They also offer FRAS PLATES that weigh 3.97lbs and are 0.73” thick. With the same protection rating from $449 per plate $599 per plate depending on which size you select.
They also have FRAS 3+ which is 1” thick and 4.75lbs that stops the same rounds but also provides the same protection and more .308/7.62x54R and is multihit
You can get more than the 5 year shelf life with proper care and storage of your plates or panels HOWEVER while this is the BEST armor available it is not best for majority civilians
I have to use carriers & vest everyday for work so while this armor may be expensive and have a low shelf life if you work with body armor and running a full kit for 40hrs a week or more then it is your best option for medical reason.
Anyone who has operated/worked wearing a full kit with body armor understands the toll it takes on your body especially the back, hips, and shoulders. Safelife FRAS plates give you the most protection with the lowest weight possible including adding flexibility for movement and comfort which is good for daily use depending on your job especially if you work patrol in a vehicle
Deployed over seas or contracting over seas, i wouldn’t recommend this armor. Law enforcement, EP, Security, bounty hunting, or anything domestic that puts you in higher probability situations of getting shot during your job then this is the best armor
Pros and cons with everything it just depends on your usage for it and why you need it while yes getting shot would hurt a lot with this armor and you’d have to go to the hospital and probably have some recovery time is true, but you will be alive. I’ve worked in this industry for a while and have never been shot at on the job, i know law enforcement and security officers who have been in those industries for 20 plus years and have never been shot at either that being said i would prefer less stress on my body and better medical situation with the low probability of getting shot and having some short term pain and recovery. The long term medical affects of traditional armor far out weighs the short term affects of being hit with soft armor & then recovering.
Average civilians and people who prep, not the armor for you, but if you use it daily for work this is the best option
yeah all this is good info for people who have to wear it all day my channel is really about shtf and prepping. I agree with you about that fras armor for everyday wear though.
@@citizensurvivalplan I do have to say though, body armor in thorough details has not been covered extremely well in most videos I’ve seen on youtube. Your video however is one of the best ones I’ve seen as far as a deeper base dive into different armors, prices, protection, & pros & cons. So good job on that note, I enjoyed the content keep it up for the viewers!!
Thanks this mean alot to me as I am pretty new to youtube.@@Asr.13
You got a mini-14 a painting of George Washington and NOT a Liberty I mean Liberal safe behind you and you called it frag instead of spalling!!! I'm subscribing right now!!!👍🇺🇸
👍👍 Thanks!