Armored clothing has skyrocketed in popularity, and for multiple reasons. Not only is this type of body armor very comfortable, relatively light, and completely covert, it is also immeasurably cool.
But, before you indulge in your dystopian fantasy to eat cheesy fries on your couch wearing nothing but an armored sweatshirt, there are a few things to take into consideration. In a realistic situation, you might be under attack by something more dangerous than empty calories, and it would be a good thing to be prepared.
There are five aspects to consider when trying to pick out adequate armored clothing:
- Protection Level
- Weight
- Comfort
- Size
- Warmth
And, depending on where you live, the appearance itself might also be a factor. One of the main points of armored clothes is that they are covert, and you would lose some of that advantage if your fashion sense sticks out from the rest.
Thankfully, there are options out there that fall into the ‘casual-smart’ category. These can be worn to virtually any place, provided that the temperature is right.
Finally, for things like armored T-shits, you can always wear one under other clothing, or on its own, allowing for maximum adaptability. The only downside is that armored innerwear only goes to NIJ Level II protection level, which is not effective against large-caliber handguns like the .357 Magnum.
Adapt to Your Surroundings
This includes adapting both from the security perspective and visually.
Because armored clothing must behave and move as similar as possible as regular clothing, it is impossible to place hard plates inside. Not only would the weight become very uncomfortable, but the clothes itself would be too stiff, and people will notice them.
But, something like the AH™ Armored Hoodie from https://uarmprotection.com/product/armored-hoodie/ can have NIJ Level IIIa protection, that will stop virtually any pistol round, and it looks like a regular hoodie. Regardless of where you wear it, you will look casual and won’t raise suspicion.
This is especially helpful when offering covert security and surveillance because you can look like just another customer, and still be ready to act in seconds.
Synergize Your Gear
The best thing about armored clothing is that it can easily combine with a different firearm and defensive tactics, giving you a wide range of possibilities.
Some models like the APJ™ Armored Puffer Jacket are ideal for protecting VIPs and even groups. The wide area of protection makes it possible to completely cover your client in ballistic protection, without the need for them to carry any sort of body armor.
Also, you can keep a complete set of tools under the jacket without it sticking out and breaking your cover. This is the opposite from simply wearing a covert bulletproof vest over which you would carry your gear, because then you would need an oversized jacket to cover that, making you suspicious.
But, with covert armored clothing, you can have both your gun, comms, and other items ideally concealed under your plain-looking clothes.
