Saturday, December 17, 2011

Key Features that Your Tactical Body Armor Must Have

The following are the key features that your Tactical Body Armor must have. These features ensure that you have purchased a tactical body armor that is safe, has excellent ballistic performance, comfortable and has the ability to give your safety and protection.

1. Proper labels – Your tactical body armor must have proper labels. Proper labeling is important so that you can view the basic but important information regarding the tactical body armor that you want to purchase. The labels should be able to give you the following information: size, materials used and material content, ballistic testing laboratory that conducted the test on the tactical body armor, model, serial number, lot number and manufacturer. Labels also show if your tactical body armor is certified. Certifications are attestations that certain body armor is safe, reliable and has complied with the minimum standards.

2. Protection rating – Your tactical body armor must indicate the protection level that it can provide to the wearer. This is to enable to wearer to select the body armor that will meet his need specifications and threat levels.

3. Weight – Your tactical body armor must be lightweight so that it can be wearable and will give more comfort and mobility to the wearer thus the weight of the tactical body armor must also be indicated. The normal weight of body armors is around 4 to 5 pounds without the ballistic inserts.

4. Warranty – You must also be able to find warranty information on your tactical body armor. Warranty information will tell you on how long you will be able to utilize your tactical body armor, how the replacement procedure is and the things that can void the warranty.

5. Upgrades – Your tactical body armor must be able provide for necessary upgrades needed for increased and greater protection. It must have additional pockets for ballistic inserts such as trauma plates and trauma pads.

Basic Guidelines on the Proper Care and Maintenance of your Tactical Body Armor

In order to use your Tactical Body Armor throughout its service life or longer, proper care and maintenance is important. The following are the basic guidelines on the proper care and maintenance of your tactical body armor so it will last long without any decrease in its ballistic performance.

1. Always have your tactical body armor properly fitted on you. Make sure that the straps are tight enough so that there will be no movements in your body armor and that you can breathe and move comfortably. Strapping it too tightly will cause curling and unnecessary wear to the panels of your body armor. Also, physical performance and mobility is restricted when there is over strapping. You will know that the there is over strapping if there are creases appearing along the strap lines and when you cannot breathe properly.

2. Trauma pockets are available in your tactical body armor where you can place trauma plates. These trauma plates are meant to protect you from blunt force trauma on the most vulnerable part of the body. These trauma plates are not meant to protect you from additional bullets. Make sure that trauma plates are worn on the pockets specifically provided for the plates.

3. When washing your tactical body armor, do not immerse it in water because this will weaken the fabric of your body armor. Remove the ballistic panels of your tactical body armor and just gently wipe it with damp cloth. Clean it with mild soap and water using sponge. The armor carrier can be washed normally but also with proper care. You can machine wash the carrier as long as it is not prohibited but hand washing would be better.  Do not bleach you tactical body armor.

4. When storing your tactical body armor, never hang it. This will cause curling and prematurely stretch the straps of the armor. Always store it in a flat position and away from other equipment or things.

How to Achieve Proper Fit in Your tactical Body Armor

Proper fit should be achieved in your Tactical Body Armor in order to experience greater comfort and mobility while wearing it. Moreover, proper fitting also ensures increased protection and safety. The following are some tips on how to achieve proper fit in your tactical body armor.

1. Get the right size by having a custom fit tactical body armor that is tailored for your body shape and size. As much as possible, your supplier of tactical body armor should be someone whom you can personally visit so that they can be able to measure your dimensions. If you are buying online, make sure you give the right measurements. Also of you don’t know to measure yourself; you can seek the assistance of another person provided that you know the measurements needed by the supplier for your tactical body armor.

2. Do not be tempted to get larger body armor because of the misconception that you will have more ballistic protection. You will end up unsatisfied when you will get larger tactical body armor because there is a possibility that you will not wear it because of the discomfort that it will give you.

3. The front ballistic panel of your tactical body armor vest must not cover your gun belt. Normally, the front ballistic panel should be two and a half inches off the top edge of the belt when standing. This distance is necessary so that when you sit down; the vest will not cover the gun belt and will not ride up into the throat.

4. Choose the tactical body armor that has adjustable straps so that you can be able to adjust your body armor according to your preferred fitting. Moreover, there is also a possibility of changes in your body size throughout the service life of the tactical body armor. You may gain and lose weight thus your tactical body armor must be flexible and adjustable. You need to get the most out of your body armor so you must be able to wear them within its normal lifespan. You don’t need to buy anymore in case you gain weight because you can adjust your armor to fit your body size. 

What is a Tactical Body Armor?

Tactical Body Armor is a kind of protective clothing that is used to defy weapons such as fired projectiles and knives. It can also protect the wearer from other non ballistic threats such as thermal hazards like heat and fire, chemical and biological hazards and from fragments of explosion. Anybody can wear the tactical body armor but this is commonly worn by police officers and the military because of the dangers they face on their job and because they always face various ballistic threats.

The tactical body armor is made up of different ballistic resistant materials. The most common non ballistic materials used are Kevlar, Spectra, Dyneema and Twaron. These materials are used on tactical body armors because of their capability to give ballistic protection. They also have the following characteristics making them effective in giving safety and protection: high tensile properties and were proven to have five times or more the strength of steel, high cut and shear resistance that can protect the wearer from stab and puncture wounds, high chemical resistance that protects the wearer from chemical erosions and biological threats, and excellent thermal properties that can protect the wearer from heat and fire hazards.

Tactical Body Armor offers increased protection because it is supplemented by hard armor such as ballistic inserts made of ceramic or metal. Tactical body armor has also greater are coverage for protection. But the downside of wearing tactical body armor is that the metal plates are heavy and it restricts the mobility of the wearer. It will also provide less comfort ability as compared to the concealable body armor.

Tactical Body Armor are tested first before commercial distribution and regularly certified. It is subjected to ballistic testing to determine their ability to give protection from different projectiles from different types of weapons. Ballistic testing of the tactical body armor is essential in order to ensure that all body armors offered to the public are safe, reliable and has complied with the minimum requirements. 

An Overview of Your Tactical Body Armor

Tactical Body Armor is a personal body armor that is meant to shield a wearer from the negative effects of combat such as being hit by a projectile, puncture and stab wounds, thermal hazards, chemical and biological hazards, fractured bones and lacerations. Tactical body armor is commonly used by people who are exposed to various projectile threats such as police officers and soldiers, military and army though this may also be used by security personnel and private citizens. Tactical body armor is available in various forms to in order to address the different protection needs of users. Some of the different forms of tactical body armor are ballistic vests or bulletproof vests, combat helmet, neck and groin protectors, trauma plates and leg protectors. The tactical ballistic vest may be used alone or in combination with the other tactical body armors for increased protection and depending on the protection need of the user.

As compared to the concealable body armor, tactical body armor offers greater protection. The ballistic panels of the tactical body armor contains more layers making it thicker thus giving your more protection from various ballistic threats. The tactical body armor is also designed to resist projectile fired from small handguns as well as rifles and stronger ammunitions. There are also tactical body armors that can provide protection both from bullets and stab attacks from pointed and sharp edged weapons. Moreover, you can also add trauma plates on the tactical body armor for an increased protection from high velocity firearms. These trauma plates are effective in reducing the blunt trauma that the wearer may suffer from the impact of a bullet.

Despite the greater protection that it provides, there are also advantages in wearing the tactical body armor. The tactical body armor is usually worn over clothing making it non concealable. It is also heavier because of the ballistic inserts added on the body armor. Since it is thicker and heavier, it restricts mobility and there is a possibility of experiencing discomfort. The tactical body armor is not also ideal to wear on hot climates. 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Fit and Care Guidelines for Your Tactical Body Armor

Body armor such as your tactical body armor is considered as one of the most important investments that you can have for your protection. And to maintain the level of protection and performance that it can provide you throughout its service life, giving you safety from various threats and risks, proper fitting and care is important. The following are some fit and care guidelines on your tactical body armor so that it will last long without any decrease in the ballistic performance.

1. A custom sized vest that is tailored for your body shape and type is the ideal body armor for you. This is because tactical body armor that is too big or small for you will provide discomfort and you will end up not wearing your vest. Moreover, you are more protected with a tactical body armor that fits you just fine because it will be able to cover you properly and you will be able to have more freedom in your movements.  

2. The straps of your tactical body armor should not be too tight or too loose. Adjust it so that it will fit your body properly to avoid excessive movements of the panel.

3. Washing should be done gently y using mild detergent and water. Do not wash the ballistic panels of your tactical body armor as this will degrade the materials used on the panels. Just clean it by gently wiping the ballistic panels using a damp cloth. Do not machine wash your tactical body armor. You can only machine wash the armor carrier if possible.

4. Make sure your store your tactical body armor properly. Store it in a flat position with no other equipments on top of it or around the body armor. Never hang your tactical body armor because this will cause curling, creases and stretching on the body armor. Avoid storing your tactical body armor in extremely hot, wet and humid areas. 

Certain Specifications That You Tactical Body Armor Must Meet

Tactical Body Armor is used for protection and safety and it must be able to live up to its purpose. In order to get good protection as well as comfort and mobility in your tactical body armor, it must be able to meet the following specifications.

1. You tactical body armor must be made of excellent ballistic resistant materials.

To get excellent performance and good ballistic protection from your tactical body armor, it must be made of excellent ballistic resistant materials. This is because the level of protection that your body armor would provide is large dependent on the materials or fabrics used. Be sure to check the material content of your body armor before any purchase. You can achieve this by both asking your manufacturer and inspecting the labels. The top ballistic resistant materials used on body armors today are Kevlar, Dyneema, Spectra, Twaron and Aramid fibers.

2. You tactical body armor must be certified.

To ensure that you get safe and reliable tactical body armor and has met the minimum performance requirements, it must be certified by the National Institute of Justice or other local regulating bodies. National Institute of Justice is the research, development and evaluation agency of the US government that reviews and evaluates the ballistic performance of body armors such as your tactical body armor and determines if a body armor model is effective in giving protection.

3. Your tactical body armor must have adjustable straps.

Adjustable straps are necessary in your tactical ballistic armor because they help you achieve the right fit on your body armor. Adjustable straps help you experience greater comfort and mobility of your tactical body armor. You may have the right fit at the time you have purchased your tactical body armor, but there is a possibility that you can gain or lose weight during the service life of your body armor. The adjustable straps will help you adjust the body armor so that it will match your body size and type. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Your Tactical Body Armor

What is the use of Tactical Body Armor?

Tactical Body Armor is a type of body armor that is commonly used by the military and the police force during heavy combats and tactical missions that protect the whole body of the wearer from various threats such as bullets and other projectiles, knives and other sharp edged weapons, chemical and biological hazards as well as fragments from explosions.

What are the different kinds of tactical body armor?

The modern tactical body armor is a combination of the ballistic vest or bullet resistant vests and other items of protective clothing such as the combat helmet, neck and groin protectors, gloves, trauma pads and leg protectors.

What are the top qualities to look for in tactical body armor?

All tactical body armors are capable of giving protection but to be considered a good buy, choose the tactical body armor that can provide you with comfort and mobility, maximum protection, adjustability, excellent ballistic performance and it must be lightweight.

What makes the tactical body armor effective in giving protection?

The materials used on the tactical body armor are the one responsible in giving protection and safety to the wearer. Body armors are made from a number of woven or non woven fabric materials that have great ballistic resistance, high dimensional stability, great tensile strength, and cut and shear resistance, excellent thermal properties and high chemical resistance. Examples of these ballistic resistant materials are Kevlar, Spectra, Twaron and Dyneema. Kevlar is one of the first fibers used for modern ballistic resistant material that is lightweight and strong. Some manufacturers use a combination of these materials for greater protection.

What ballistic material is best for tactical body armor?

All the ballistic materials are effective in giving protection. Though there were certain characteristics that are inherent in each of the ballistic materials which can satisfy more your need. The material that is better for your tactical body armor would largely depend on your need and the risks that are present and you will likely encounter. If the most common threat that you will face involves knives and other sharp weapons, choose the material that is resistant to stab, puncture and slash attacks. 

What is your Tactical Body Armor Made of?

What is present in your tactical body armor making it effective in resisting bullets and other weapons?

During the early times, body armors are made up of animal skins, leathers and woods and hardened metals. At that time they were effective in giving protection from common threats. But at the advent of gunpowder and the introduction of various firearms and ammunitions, these body armors were rendered useless and ineffective in giving protection. There were various advances made to the body armor in order to meet the protection need from these firearms but there is actually no body armor that is effective for this purpose. It was only in 1965, when DuPont Company discovered the Kevlar fabric that opened the door to bulletproof vests that are effective in stopping handgun and rifle bullets.

The discovery of Kevlar started the use of soft body armor. New and stronger fibers were later on introduced by different manufacturers after the success of Kevlar. Today, body armors are now made of lightweight materials that provide more comfort and flexibility. They are also now available in varied models, styles, weights and types. You can choose from a concealable body armor and tactical body armor depending on your need.  

The different materials that make your tactical body armor are the following: Kevlar, Dyneema, Twaron, Spectra Fiber and Aramid. They are effective in giving protection and safety because they possess the following characteristic: excellent thermal properties and flame resistant that have the ability to protect you from a range of thermal hazards such as heat and fire; excellent dimensional stability that makes the tactical body armor durable and strong and can withstand various changes and deterioration; high cut resistance which can block puncture and stab wounds; high chemical resistance which can protect you from chemical and biological hazards. Moreover, these materials are also lightweight and comfortable, providing you mobility and flexibility when wearing your tactical body armor. 

Facts about Your Tactical Body Armor

Below are some important facts that you need to know about your tactical body armor.

1. Tactical Body Armor is a form of protective clothing that is used to shield the wearer from knife and bullet impacts from higher velocity firearms and stronger ammunitions. Anybody can wear tactical body armor but this is commonly used for military and law enforcement applications.

2. Tactical Body Armor is made of lightweight yet strong materials that have great ballistic properties. In addition, these materials also have the following characteristics: high chemical resistance, durable, high cut resistance, flame resistant, high energy absorption capabilities, high tensile strength and offers comfort and flexibility. These characteristics make the tactical body armor effective in giving multi threat protection and safety from both ballistic and non ballistic threats.

3. Based on studies made on the safety of police officers, 42% of deaths by firearms should have been avoided had the officer wore tactical body armor or any body armor.

4. The top five threats that are commonly faced by the military and police force as well as private citizens are: blunt trauma, knives, hypodermic needles, pointed and other sharp edged objects and bullets.

5. The Tactical Body Armor works in a way that the fibers contained in the ballistic panel of the body armor catches the bullet, absorbs and immediately disperse the impact energy of the bullet reducing possible injuries that a person may suffer from being hit by a bullet.

6. Tactical Body Armor comes in varied styles, weight, models, color and protection levels. You choice of tactical body armor would generally depend on the threat level involved in your work or duty, climate, risks associated with your mission, comfort ability and your personal preference.

7. If you have doubts regarding the authenticity of your tactical body armor, double check the labels. It must be able to provide you the following: size, model, serial number, lot number, manufacturer, issue date, basic care instructions, warranty and the materials used as well as the material content of the tactical body armor.