Bulletproof Vests
![ProtectVest® - Fast, Easy and Trusted Bulletproof Vest (choose size and level)](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/BulletproofZone360Photos-5_39427cf1-be83-433c-b049-4a6e0f2b1446_{width}x.jpg?v=1662601220)
![BulletSafe Bulletproof Vest VP3 Level IIIA - NIJ Certified](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/files/BS52003B-L_IMG_ALT1_1000_720x_4bdff548-2e48-40e3-b757-35c6c35ca714_{width}x.jpg?v=1700665276)
![Bulletsafe Bulletproof Vest VP4 Level IIIA - NIJ Certified](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/files/BS52004B_IMG_FRONT_{width}x.jpg?v=1712007939)
![Ace Link Armor Level IIIA "Primer" Bullet and Stab Proof Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/livewire-vest-clean1_jpg_{width}x.webp?v=1659990831)
![Ace Link Armor M.S.O.V Modular Special Operations Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/ace-link-armor-product-msov-1_{width}x.jpg?v=1616173674)
![BLACKHAWK! Omega Elite Tactical Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/BH-30EV03BK_{width}x.jpg?v=1624927090)
![BLACKHAWK! Omega Elite Vest Cross Draw With Pistol Mag Black Color with belt loops provide additional stability](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/BH-30EV26BK_{width}x.jpg?v=1624889324)
![BLACKHAWK! Phalanx Hsv Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/blackhawk-phalanx-hsv-vest-bk_0cde8865-3585-4b9b-9a14-021c5d398b14_{width}x.jpg?v=1624315090)
![Model wearing the Blade Runner Anti-Stab Covert Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/1rp6631_{width}x.jpg?v=1616614329)
![Female model wearing the BulletBlocker NIJ IIIA Women's Cut Bulletproof Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/MAIN_{width}x.jpg?v=1613395857)
![Model wearing a BulletBlocker NIJ IIIA Bulletproof Defender Plus Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/bulletblocker-nij-iiia-bulletproof-defender-plus-vest-39_{width}x.jpg?v=1616186330)
![Citizen Armor Classic Body Armor and Carrier](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/citizen-classic-body-armor-and-carrier-ballistic-vest-109_626x626_50fefdfa-ee19-4eca-ab56-c2cdb6e0d5a2_{width}x.webp?v=1680032072)
![Citizen Armor Covert Female Body Armor and Carrier](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/covert_{width}x.webp?v=1679951041)
![Citizen Armor SHTF Tactical Vest front view](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/SHTF-tactical-front_{width}x.png?v=1616189431)
![CITIZEN V-SHIELD ULTRA CONCEAL BODY ARMOR AND CARRIER](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/05dda5c3-ae03-46cb-b2ae-179a07ebee57_695x695_a700a4f9-48c5-487b-9031-7f4835e3bd55_{width}x.webp?v=1679953758)
![CITIZEN ARMOR V-SHIELD ULTRA CONCEAL FEMALE BODY ARMOR AND CARRIER](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/covert_6d5dffad-ff09-4d38-9882-2987e168d326_{width}x.webp?v=1679956921)
![CompassArmor Armored®UHMWPE Ballistic Body Armor Vest NIJ IIIA With Extra Plate Pockets](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/Compass_Security_Armor_Bulletproof_Vest_BPV-S04_Black_1_600x600_40959928-20f4-492c-b139-2c823580295c_{width}x.jpg?v=1634860954)
![Compass Armor Armored® UHMWPE Bulletproof Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/Compass_Concealed_Armor_Bulletproof_Vest_BPV-C04_Black_1_600x600_3d4f1907-7dfa-4e7b-8e80-1244c759938c_{width}x.jpg?v=1662995209)
![CompassArmor Armored®UHMWPE Ballistic Soft Body Armor Vest Concealable NIJ IIIA For Self Defense Black](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/Compass_Concealed_Armor_Bulletproof_Vest_BPV-C01_Black_2_600x600_3bc135a3-b257-48fe-8cb3-4ff3ab714f8b_{width}x.jpg?v=1634860974)
![CompassArmor Concealable Armored®UHMWPE Body Armor Vest NIJ IIIA Bullet Proof Personal Vests](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/Concealable_Comfort_Kevlar_Body_Armor_Vest_Lvl_IIIA_Bullet_Proof_Personal_Vests1_600x600_607c9786-7839-42e6-9bb1-55c8136fbba6_{width}x.jpg?v=1634860915)
![CompassArmor Concealed Armored®UHMWPE Bulletproof Vest NIJ IIIA Soft Body Armor](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/VIP_Covert_bulletproof_vest_Ballistic_Concealable_Kevlar_Body_Armor_Vest_NIJ_IIIA_Suit_Vest_6_600x600_884fcccb-31c1-439d-97c0-61e9a5d00e5d_{width}x.jpg?v=1634860902)
![Compass Armor Soft Lightweight Concealable Military Bulletproof Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/Compass_Concealed_Armor_Bulletproof_Vest_BPV-C06_0_600x600_a330ffd2-6a0a-4397-b7e6-eaab2c3b602d_{width}x.jpg?v=1634860862)
![Compass Armor MOLLE Operator Tactical Chest Rig](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/military_modular_Operator_Plate_Carrier_Tactical_vest_600x600_ea5f07d8-f2f4-4b0b-9ce3-82f3d88a98ed_{width}x.jpg?v=1634860937)
![Compass Armor UHMWPE Concealed Bulletproof Vest IIIA with Extra Pockets](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/BPV-PC1_1_600x600_24ed50dc-e97c-4b91-956f-e5fc95c445df_{width}x.jpg?v=1634860802)
![CompassArmor UHMWPE Concealed Bulletproof IIIA Vest Body Armor With Extra Pockets](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/Military_UHMWPE_Concealable_Body_Armor_NIJ_IIIA_Bulletproof_Vest_Ballistic_Vest_with_The_Front_and_Back_Pocket_for_2530_Ballsitic_Plates_600x600_35847010-37c5-454a-9f31-05cbd351126d_{width}x.jpg?v=1634860878)
![CompassArmor Ultra Thin Bullet Proof Vest T-Shirt Concealable Kevlar Body Armor NIJ Level IIIA Black](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/Compass_t-shirt_Armor_Bulletproof_T-Shirt_BPV-TS_Black_3_600x600_eebab058-6c98-4436-8408-6ffb698d007d_{width}x.jpg?v=1634860848)
![Compass Armor Ultra Thin Body Armor T shirt Vest Level 3A](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/Ultra_Thin_T_shirt_Concealed_Bulletproof_Vest_Body_Armor_made_with_Kevlar_IIIA2_600x600_e6e920c7-86ae-4c83-ac78-f000631df4d3_{width}x.jpg?v=1675362403)
![Condor Elite Tactical Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/etv_001f_2017recolour_{width}x.jpg?v=1611887659)
![Condor Mesh Hydration Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/mhv_002f_2017recolour_{width}x.jpg?v=1611902355)
![Condor Modular Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/mv_002f_2017recolour_{width}x.jpg?v=1611904801)
![Model wearing Israel Catalog Level IIIA Thin and Lightweight Bulletproof Vest in Multicam](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/bpv-super-light-super-thin_{width}x.gif?v=1616093331)
![Israel Catalog Concealed Civilian Bullet Proof Vest Level IIIA VIP Model](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/Concealed-Civilian-Bullet-Proof-Vest-Level-IIIA-VIP-Model-Back_{width}x.jpg?v=1621523483)
![Israel Catalog Concealed Level IIIA Bulletproof Vest Undershirt](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/1_c78efd30-0897-41de-b3d5-5a50753a0493_{width}x.jpg?v=1636483843)
![Israel Catalog Level III+ Concealed Bulletproof and Stab Proof Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/Level-_III_-Concealed-Bulletproof-and-Stab-Proof-Vest-Front_{width}x.jpg?v=1621862100)
![Model wearing the Israel Catalog Level IIIA SP1 Concealed Stab Proof and Bulletproof Vest in white](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/body-vests-bullet-stab-proof-vest-concealed-level-iiia-sp1-1_{width}x.gif?v=1620809817)
![Model wearing an Israel Catalog Israel Catalog Level IIIA Light Concealed Bulletproof Vest in White](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/bpv-ultralight-concealed_{width}x.gif?v=1615927934)
![Israel Catalog Lightweight Level IIIA Bullet Proof Vest for Kids Plates Carrier](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/lightweight-bullet-proof-vest-kids-plates-carrier-kevlar-vest_{width}x.jpg?v=1624543864)
![Legacy 11x14 Tactical Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/Vest-2_4d7f7308-5b79-45a0-ac74-7f97e598103e_{width}x.jpg?v=1640892585)
![Legacy Level IIIA Tactical Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/s-l1600_{width}x.jpg?v=1634263076)
![Legacy Safety IIIA EMS Security Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/full_large_affdf9ab-6239-4b62-8773-d22759487da8_{width}x.jpg?v=1650671447)
![Legacy Safety Security IIIA 5 Point Breakaway Safety Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/3906bc3f-cca5-4a68-a8d5-064a06cc0057_1.750862cbde0447b46e5b07baf87b84d8_{width}x.jpg?v=1650672231)
![Level-4 Armor Level IIIA Bulletproof Vest](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/level-iiia-vest-basic-tag_{width}x.png?v=1677794982)
![North American Rescue PH2 Shooters Cut Ballistic Plate Carriers with Cummerbund in Black](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/70-0192_b_1_{width}x.jpg?v=1616615491)
![North American Rescue PH2 Shooters Cut Rescue Task Force Vest Kit in Black](http://bulletproofzone.com/cdn/shop/products/70-0195_b_2_{width}x.jpg?v=1616617039)
What is a Bulletproof Vest?
A bulletproof vest, also known as a ballistic vest or kevlar vest , is a popular type of body armor that provides ballistic protection by absorbing the impact of bullets or projectiles to protect the body.
While body armor covers a wide range of ballistic protection equipment, bullet proof vests typically only covers the torso. It is specifically designed to distribute the bullet’s energy and to decrease the chances of blunt force trauma through the deformation of the slug.
The most common type of bulletproof vest incorporates the use of soft armor ballistic panels in the front and back with NIJ level II, level IIA, or level IIIA protection and is primarily used by law enforcement, security guards, and private citizens.
Those who are frequently exposed to threats from rifle rounds or armor piercing bullets like active shooter rescue teams or special mission units on the other hand use bullet proof vests or Plate Carriers in conjunction with hard body armor plates that have an NIJ Level III (level 3) to Level IV (level 4) protection level.
Are they really bullet proof?
While ballistic vests provide substantial protection from projectiles, it's better to think of them as bullet resistant rather than bullet proof. Bullet proof vests can come in various quality and protection levels to fit every need and price.
Their level of protection also depends on the material of the ballistic panels and the type of combat it is designed for. While the most popular type is a Kevlar vest that usually offers protection from level IIA to Level IIIA threats, you can also find bullet proof vests with additional pockets that can be inserted with hard armor made of ceramic or steel ballistic panels for protection similar to a plate carrier.
Before purchasing a bullet proof vest, much like any other body armor equipment, you should consider who will be using it, and for what situations.
Who uses bulletproof vests?
A bullet proof vest is the core piece of body armor equipment for any tactical loadout and is utilized by various professionals such as:
- Active military
- Law enforcement officers /Â Police Officers
- Private Security
- Security Guards
- VIPs
- Enthusiasts
Is it legal to own a bulletproof vest?
In most places in the United States, it is also legal for civilians to own and wear body armor and bullet proof vests.
What can bullet proof vests protect me from?
Body armor protection levels are rated by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), with level III (3) and level IIIA (3A) ballistic armor panels, most often soft body armor, being some of the most popular for their versatility and level of protection.
Note that the higher the protection level, the heavier the armor plate usually becomes. Some people may opt for as low as NIJ level II (2) protection if they only expect handgun rounds and knives as a threat.
Keep in mind the caliber or the weapon you might face though. While NIJ level II (2) may do fine against a 9mm handgun, it is much less effective against higher caliber ones such as a .44 magnum that Level IIIA soft armor offers. Also, keep in mind that not all bullet proof vests or kevlar vest are stab proof or spike proof.
Most body armor manufacturers include additional armor plate pockets so that the wearer can add hard body armor plates up to a level IV to his bullet proof vest to increase the ballistic protection level as well as stab proof capabilities similar to how plate carriers function.
Bullet proof vests are most often associated with Kevlar, and a Kevlar vest is one of the more popular types you can find. Nowadays you can find bullet proof vests made from a variety of materials. From kevlar vests, to ceramic body armor, and hard steel armor, there are many different choices to fit your threat level requirements.
Choosing the best bulletproof vest for your needs
Here at Bulletproof Zone, we want to make sure that every purchase you make with us is a wise investment in you and your family's security. Hence, we've put together a comprehensive guide on how to find the best bulletproof vest which will undoubtedly come in handy, especially in a life-or-death situation