Best Stab Proof Vests in 2024: Top Picks for Ultimate Safety and Protection

Are you looking for the best stab-proof vest?

In the United States, death by knife attacks is the next most common cause of homicide after firearms.

When entering a home for a domestic situation there are two locations law enforcement officers keep everyone away from: the master bedroom and the kitchen.

Most firearms are stored in the master bedroom and every kitchen has at least one knife or cutting instrument. But every law enforcement officer knows that this doesn't account for all weapons in the home.

Knife wounds are no joke and — even for law enforcement — there is almost no avoiding getting stabbed or cut during a knife attack.

Whether you're a journalist, military, private security, or law enforcement, the right stab-proof vest could be the difference between some bandage and a stay in intensive care.

Keep reading and discover our top recommendations for stab-proof vests in 2024.

What is a Stab Proof Vest?

Stab-proof vests or stab vests are pieces of body armor that can be worn under or over clothing, designed to resist knife attacks to the chest, back, and sides.

A stab vest differs from a bulletproof vest in how it handles the impact of the object. Bulletproof vests displace and absorb the energy generated by the projectile at the point of impact. However, this does nothing for an edged weapon that can cut through the fabric.

To illustrate the point, hang a piece of paper and punch it. Repeat the process but stab or slash the paper and see which causes the most damage.

Stab-proof vests work by creating friction between the edged weapon and the material of the vest. The thickness of the material used absorbs and displaces the energy at the impact point across the chest. The tightly woven mesh creates friction and slows the weapon eventually trapping it in the material.

It's important to note that stab protection does not offer protection against sharp-tipped objects or blunt objects such as needles or baseball bats. Stab-resistant vests are meant for sharp-edged weapons and bladed weapons such as knives and swords.

So what can a stab-proof vest stop? Check out this video of PPSS Group's CEO Robert Kaiser demonstrating the comprehensive protection of one of their covert stab vests.

Understanding your tactical style, threat needs, and budgetary constraints are all crucial factors when choosing the right stab-proof vest. To assist you in this decision, we've curated a selection of vests that cater to these diverse considerations.

1. ACE LINK ARMOR SKELETAC HYBRID BULLET AND STAB-PROOF VEST

When it comes to versatility and all-around threat protection, the Ace Link Armor Skeletac Hybrid Bullet and Stab-proof Vest is where it's at. With a reputation for excellence and a commitment to quality, Ace Link Armor is a trusted name in the field of body armor — and for good reason.

The Ace Link Armor Skeletac Hybrid vest is designed with law enforcement, security personnel, and civilian use in mind. With a bulletproof rating of NIJ.06 IIIA and a NIJ.0115 rating of 36J, this vest can withstand threats from a .44 magnum and attacks from sharp-edged weapons with a moderate amount of force of around 36 joules.

Currently priced at $892.99 ($950.00 reg) Ace Link Armor's stab-proof vest is not just about protection but also protection and comfort. The Skeletac Hybrid vest is fully adjustable for torso length and girth with hook and loop straps at the shoulders and cumberbund. Along with its sleek design, this vest is ideal for on-duty and worn over your uniform, or off-duty under your street clothes.

2. ISRAEL CATALOG BULLETPROOF VEST SUPER LIGHT SUPER THIN LEVEL III-A

 

When it comes to the best protection for the best value, we would be remiss to not mention the Israel Catalog Level IIIA Thin and Lightweight Bulletproof Vest. Similar to the Ace Link body armor above, the Isreal Catalog Level IIIA stab vest offers both ballistic and stab protection as well as a truly discreet appearance under clothing.

The Isreal Catalog IIIA vest can be purchased as solely a ballistic vest or with the stab-proof upgrade option on sale currently at $399.99 ($735.00 reg). Adding the stab-proof upgrade provides the Isreal Catalog IIIA vest with a stab-proof rating of SP1. This means it is rated to protect against 85% of real-world knife attacks.

The Isreal Catalog IIIA Stab-Proof vest can be broken down and machine-washed. This can be ideal for agencies or companies needing to share stab-proof vests amongst staff.

Blade Runner Ultra-Thin Stab Resistant Plates

When it comes to innovation and creativity, there are few comparable to the minds over at Bladerunner. And there is no better shining example of this than their ultra-thin covert stab-proof vest plates. Not to be caught resting, the folks over at Bladerunner sent their panels to the most advanced testing labs in the U.S.

Despite the thinness (each vest only weighs about 10 ounces), these panels are found to meet the KR1 and SP1 standards for stab-proof vests. This means these panels are rated to protect the wearer from the force exerted in 85% of real-life attacks against edged blades.

With the plate carrier (sold separately), you'll be hard-pressed to find a more covert appearance and feel offering the same level of protection when you need it most. On sale now for $183.99 ($260.00 reg).

PPSS Group Overt Stab Resistant Body Armour with Reflective Tape

 

Covert is nice when you need to be sneaky and not draw attention to yourself, but sometimes you want to be visible — especially if your primary theatre of operation is on roadways with traffic rushing by.

However, being visible should not be an excuse for lack of protection. And so we recommend the PPSS group overt stab-resistant body armor with reflective tape. While the reflective tape enhances visibility in low-light conditions, it's just one of the many features this stab-proof vest offers. Rated to meet KR1 and SP1 standards, this stab-proof vest can also protect against blunt force trauma.

It can withstand 100 joules of blunt force and give you the best chance of surviving most attacks from blunt force instruments. When it comes to sifting through the plethora of stab-proof vests available, there's a reason this one is in our top four. Currently on sale for $312.99 ($425.00 reg).

PPSS Group Covert Stab Body Armour

And finally, we come to the PPSS Group Covert Stab Body Armor. When it comes to stab vests you can't go wrong with the company with over 100 years of experience in law enforcement, military, and security career fields.

Currently on sale for $233.99 ($290.00 reg), this stab-resistant armor may be extremely lightweight, weighing in at only 1.75kg for a large, this stab vest can offer protection from edged weapons, sharp-tipped objects, and blunt trauma. Rated KR1 by CAST, this stab-resistant vest can withstand 24 joules of impact force from edged weapons.

Stab-Proof Vest Rating Standards

In each of the stab-proof vests above, we mentioned ratings received from the NIJ and CAST labs. These organizations have taken the time to provide standards that law enforcement, military, and civilian alike, can trust to know the stab-proof vest or bulletproof vest they are wearing to protect them when they need it most.

Below is a quick explanation of these organizations' ratings and standards for stab-proof vests.

Protection Standards of Stab Resistant Vests

The United States Institute of Justice (NIJ) has the NIJ Standard 0115.00 and the UK has the UK Center for Applied Science and Technology (CAST), both rate stab-proof vests according to their ability to resist knife attacks of different force levels. Both organizations offer a rating for the recommended force stab-proof vests can withstand, as well as what levels of force beyond that it may offer protection against.

NIJ Standards

The NIJ rates stab vests standards using levels 1 through 3 and can effectively withstand attacks ranging from 24 to 43 joules of force.

CAST Standards

The CAST standards use 2 levels of ratings for body armor and compares resistance to a percentage of real-life knife attacks.

• Level 1 (KR1) can withstand the same amount of force used in 85% of real-life knife attacks.
• Level 2 (KR2) can withstand the same amount of energy and force used in 90% of real-life knife attacks.

For KR1 stab vests, the wearer can expect to be protected against 24 joules of strike energy. KR2 stab vests can protect you from 33 joules of strike energy.

NIJ and CAST Ratings and You

These standards ensure that stab-proof vests used will protect the wearer from the threats it claims to. When it comes to protecting your vital organs from harm you'll want to know that what you are wearing will deliver. Purchasing a vest not rated by the NIJ or (CAST) is too risky a venture.

As a real-world comparison, 24 joules of force is roughly equivalent to being hit by a baseball traveling at about 10 mph. It's slightly weaker than an average man's punch. Keep in mind though, that the force is being focused into the area of a knife's edge, making it far more dangerous than it sounds.

For most people, a Level 1 degree of protection is sufficient enough to protect against most stabbing attacks.

The Best Stab-Proof Vest for You

When it comes to choosing the right stab-resistant vests for you or your department's needs we hope our recommendations have shed some light on this often intimidating task. The key is to choose the vest that offers the right kind of protection (ballistic, stab, or blunt) and the level of protection (24 to 43 joules) it can effectively protect against.

For a wider range of products, check out Bulletproof Zone's complete catalogue of stab vests.

Do you have a favorite vest or story about how your equipment protected you in an attack? Share it in the comments below! We love to hear your stories and feedback.