What is the best vest?

tikka · 05-31-2011, 21:25

Need advice, I need a new vest. I am currently using an extreme by ABA. I want the lightest and most comfortable one I can get. Thanks

x_out86 · 05-31-2011, 23:46

I have been extremely happy with my Point Blank C-Series IIIA.

Comfortable, adjusts well, and can fit 8x10 plates front and back.

Mine is NIJ .06 certified and even came with an extra carrier. Was under $500 too.

Wore Safarilands before this one. Cant complain about those either.

GearGuru · 06-02-2011, 11:11

US Armor XLT, great carrier and good weight/flexibility

***volsbear*** · 06-02-2011, 11:22

I loved all my previous Second Chance vests. Completely comfortable for me. My new Armor Express product was horribly uncomfortable. It just felt terrible and seemed surprisingly heavy. But we were given the option of an external vest carrier (made custom by J&G Uniform in Chicago) and THOSE are fannnnnnnnnnnntastic. You can't even tell you're wearing body armor. It fits PERFECTLY.

My thanks to the little tiny polish man who made it!!

spyd3r05 · 06-02-2011, 17:05

Vols which carrier do you have cause I kind of like my armor express... feels a bit better than the gall's brand it just replaced...

GTownGlockMan · 06-05-2011, 18:39

I was issued a Point Blank Hi-lite IIIA at my last department. Really liked it, ditto on the large plate pockets. Was thin, very light, very flexible. Just got picked up at another dept and have to supply my own armor this time. Plan on another Hi-Lite or possibly a Point Blank Vision since it comes standard with Thorshield

***volsbear*** · 06-05-2011, 18:40

There's no brand name to my vest carrier. It's custom made by J&G Uniform in Chicago. You walk in there with your vest. They measure the vest, measure your body, trace an outline of the vest on paper, and a very gifted little polish man about 5 feet tall creates the thing from scratch.

x_out86 · 06-06-2011, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTownGlockMan

I was issued a Point Blank Hi-lite IIIA at my last department. Really liked it, ditto on the large plate pockets. Was thin, very light, very flexible. Just got picked up at another dept and have to supply my own armor this time. Plan on another Hi-Lite or possibly a Point Blank Vision since it comes standard with Thorshield

I would be very careful about getting anything with the Thorshield.

Got an officer safety e-mail about vests with that in them. Apparently if both darts get the vest, it does it job as designed. However, if one gets the vest and the other gets your skin, the TASER effect is magnified.

I will see if I can find that e-mail and forward it to you in a PM if you are interested.

GTownGlockMan · 06-06-2011, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by x_out86

I would be very careful about getting anything with the Thorshield.

Got an officer safety e-mail about vests with that in them. Apparently if both darts get the vest, it does it job as designed. However, if one gets the vest and the other gets your skin, the TASER effect is magnified.

I will see if I can find that e-mail and forward it to you in a PM if you are interested.

Hey man I really appreciate that! Yeah it was a point of contention for me on the Thorshield. Thought it was a good idea but had a hard time justifying it. Hell, the chance of being hit with an esd is further reduced at my new department since we don't carry Taser to begin with. In my head I was playing out the scenario of maybe some BG attempting to drive stun me and with Thorshield I would have been protected. I know, chances are slim and none. And for a difference of close to $150 when I'm already struggling to drop $700 on a Hi-Lite I was already iffy as it was.

DaBigBR · 06-07-2011, 08:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTownGlockMan

Hey man I really appreciate that! Yeah it was a point of contention for me on the Thorshield. Thought it was a good idea but had a hard time justifying it. Hell, the chance of being hit with an esd is further reduced at my new department since we don't carry Taser to begin with. In my head I was playing out the scenario of maybe some BG attempting to drive stun me and with Thorshield I would have been protected. I know, chances are slim and none. And for a difference of close to $150 when I'm already struggling to drop $700 on a Hi-Lite I was already iffy as it was.

You're probably not getting shocked through your body armor with a drive stun, depedning of course, on where the stun is delivered.

buddah · 06-07-2011, 10:59

Stay away from first choice body armor, also known as diamondback tactical. My department issued level3 and the panels started to get moldy. They are suppose to replace the defective panels and we have been waiting for 2 months now. I went out and bought a PPE Python. The vest is very comfortable.

x_out86 · 06-08-2011, 06:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTownGlockMan

Hey man I really appreciate that! Yeah it was a point of contention for me on the Thorshield. Thought it was a good idea but had a hard time justifying it. Hell, the chance of being hit with an esd is further reduced at my new department since we don't carry Taser to begin with. In my head I was playing out the scenario of maybe some BG attempting to drive stun me and with Thorshield I would have been protected. I know, chances are slim and none. And for a difference of close to $150 when I'm already struggling to drop $700 on a Hi-Lite I was already iffy as it was.

I will see if I can find that e-mail. It even contains a number of videos that show exactly what I was talking about. Might take me a few days to dig it up.

GTownGlockMan · 06-08-2011, 07:56

Good deal, just placed my order with BodyArmorOutlet for my IIIA Hi-Lite without Thorshield, $689 shipped, not too bad

x_out86 · 06-09-2011, 01:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTownGlockMan

Good deal, just placed my order with BodyArmorOutlet for my IIIA Hi-Lite without Thorshield, $689 shipped, not too bad

Did you get an extra carrier for free?

GTownGlockMan · 06-09-2011, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by x_out86

Did you get an extra carrier for free?

Come to think of it nothing was said about an extra carrier...so i dunno. Hope so.

x_out86 · 07-26-2011, 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTownGlockMan

Hey man I really appreciate that! Yeah it was a point of contention for me on the Thorshield. Thought it was a good idea but had a hard time justifying it. Hell, the chance of being hit with an esd is further reduced at my new department since we don't carry Taser to begin with. In my head I was playing out the scenario of maybe some BG attempting to drive stun me and with Thorshield I would have been protected. I know, chances are slim and none. And for a difference of close to $150 when I'm already struggling to drop $700 on a Hi-Lite I was already iffy as it was.

As promised, I was finally able to track down the video/e-mail that I talked about. Here is the link to the video from youtube:

http://youtu.be/Cj4s4VkWNw0

If you are still interested in the rest of the e-mail, PM me.

pal2511 · 07-26-2011, 06:52

I love my usarmor vest I just dont care for the customer service. I didn't get an extra carrier either and they are $100 a pop

COLOSHOOTR · 07-26-2011, 13:56

I like US Armor and tend to stick with the Kevlar models. My vest did come with and extra carrier. My new vest is also approved to the new .06 standard. The new standard simulates normal wear and tear better then the old ones so you have a better idea that it is not as likely to degrade and fail.

Too many things seem to go wrong with those super high tech, light weight, flexable, exotic blends. Think Xylon....

We used to have a State approved body armor list (don't know if we do now due to cuts and not hearing a word about it anymore). The guy that ran the tests was very passionate about what he did. He would take vests that were ordered by Officers for duty use and shoot those vests rather then one specifically sent to them to be tested. It was amazing all the super high tech blends that failed the testing.

The Kevlar is time tested. It may be a little heavier and less flexable but on that bad day at work when you do take one to the chest you can be sure the Kevlar will work.