November 4th, 2020
5minute read
Many shooters carry a firearm daily for personal protection.
Many will also carry a knife, keep a rifle by the bed and regularly train.
How many own body armor?
Do you have any body armor as part of your EDC kit? Do you see any in this image?
Body armor is completely non-offensive and can only save lives.
Yet, there seem to be relatively few gun owners who invest in this kind of protection.
Lets talk about what kind of body armor exists for regular folk like you and me.
Something very low-key yet protective could be a great option for EDC body armor. Do you see any here?
What Is Body Armor?
Body armor is any kind of material that you use to protect yourself against incoming damage.
In ancient times, body armor may have consisted of a stiff leather jerkin and crude shield.
The AR500 AR Concealment Package is a thin carrier that can hold 10”x12” soft body armor panels under a casual shirt, jacket or sweater.
As firearms technology advanced, old forms of body armor like chain mail were discarded as ineffective.
Nevertheless, some people continued to experiment with armor that might stop bullets.
It is rumored that Wyatt Earp may have worn a vest constructed of multiple layers of silk.
The Phoenix Armored Backpack from AR500 is a great option for everyday body armor.
In modern times, body armor is typically made of synthetic fibers woven into strong panels.
These panels can stop many handgun rounds.
Hard plates can stop many rifle rounds.
Looking for a home defense armor rig? Then check out the AR500 Freeman Plate Carrier with Armor Package. It packs two rifle plates for serious protection.
While some people refer to body armor as bullet proof, it is not.
Any body armor can be defeated through a combination of bullet speed, construction and composition.
For example, a standard hunting round like a .270 Winchester will defeat almost any soft body armor.
Most body armor is designed to protect the torso and can be referred to as a vest.
Other forms of body armor include helmets (or even ahat) and shields.
Generally, body armor is legal to own in most areas of the United States.
Even though body armor has no offensive capability, it is regulated by various state and federal laws.
Other states have more restrictive laws on the books.
I strongly encourage you to research your local laws on this.
For a combination of features and price, AR500 Armors products are tough to beat.
The company offers the AR Concealment Plate Carrier that is made of four-way stretchable material.
With two Level II armor panels, the set would cost $249.
Upgrading to the IIIA panels costs a little more but still keeps the total price under $300.
Packing It In
The Phoenix Armored Backpack is the lowest-profile option available from AR500 Armor.
Using a standard-looking backpack, the company sews in an armor panel for a significant measure of protection.
This is not a tactical backpack festooned with webbing that hints at its enhanced capabilities.
It can easily pass for a school pack or a dads diaper bag.
The backpack can provide protection to your heart and lungs from behind while moving away from the danger.
Likewise, you’re free to use the pack as a shield when moving toward the threat.
With a pistol-rated soft armor panel, these backpacks start at $149.
Close to Home
For home defense, check out the AR Freeman Plate Carrier with Armor Package.
This package combines a minimalist-style carrier that can hold two 9x9 rifle plates to protect your heart and lungs.
AR500 Armor uses Cordura 500D nylon with Hypalon shoulders for a combination of durability and light weight.
With the rifle plates, the package starts at an unbelievable $124.
At that price, you even get your choice of colors: black or coyote.
AR500 Armor makes affordable armor that complies with the standards set by the National Institute of Justice.
Consider where body armor might make sense in your life.
