Body pack Armor Strengths and Weaknesses
Backpack body armor is the latest addition to the market, and the public has recently been introduced to it. Prior to this development, people bought simple soft and hard armor and placed them in their backpacks. The most significant and common level of safety provided by these armors is level II and level IIIA.
The real concern is to be able to figure out which type of armor is best for you. What do the different labels and levels stand for? How is one supposed to make use of the armor? You can find everything you need to know about backpack armor and if it’s right for you and your family here.
Advantages and disadvantages of different Armor Types
Soft Armor
Advantages:
Soft armor has two key advantages. Such armors are very light and can flex easily. These characteristics make soft armors the most concealable type in the different forms of backpack body vests. Furthermore, soft armor is way more concealable than hard armor.
Disadvantages:
There is a significant disadvantage of soft armors. It does not protect you better than the protection provided by a heavy steel plate. Soft armors tend to work well if the attack is by a handgun. However, if you suspect threats from a rifle, then you should not get soft body armor. Furthermore, soft armor tends to deteriorate much faster as compared to hard armor. Their shelf life is usually almost five years. The deterioration can increase if the armor gets wet.
Hard Armor
Advantages:
Hard armor is known to provide the most premium protection. The shelf life of hard armors is about 21 years for steel plates and can even exceed. One of the most significant advantages of hard armors is that they can absorb multiple rounds of bullets before they show signs of wear. Despite this, they have the potential to retain most of their protective capability.
Disadvantages:
Despite its advantages, hard armor does have its cons. Hard armors are more concealable than soft armors. Hard plates are sometimes made of composite materials such as ceramic and plastic. This means they are not so great in their weight and so can degrade faster.
Choose your Armor
In order to select your armor, one of the initial steps is to determine what the threat is mostly like. Like we already mentioned, if you think you will encounter a rifle fire, then soft armor is not your pick, but hard armor can do just the right job for you. The second factor that needs to be considered is weight. Level IV and III plates tend to be heavy, whereas soft armors weigh about a pound. Any backpack that has a pouch is a good option for a body vest. Just ensure that you measure properly before ordering any plates so that you know you’re getting a perfect size.
How to Use Backpack Armor?
Backpack armor has three main uses. Firstly, the armor can be worn as a backpack, and in this way, it can protect your organs while you run away from the source. Secondly, you can use it as a shield while you focus on running. You can cover your vital organs with a backpack. Furthermore, backpack armor can be worn on your torso so that your organs are protected as you move towards the gunman.
Backpack armors are highly beneficial; just make sure you do your search before purchasing.