Choosing
How to Choose Body Armor: Type, Class, Weight and Size
· 5 min read · Andrey Sokolov
First decide what you need protection from: that sets the class. The class points to the type of vest - concealable, tactical or assault. The type sets the weight. The last steps are size and documents.
Step 1. Decide what you are afraid of
Find what worries you in the table. Next to it is the class you need.
| Threat | Class | What fits |
|---|---|---|
| Knife | S | a soft vest; all our models stop knives |
| Fragments | S2 | a soft vest; all our models stop fragments |
| 9×18 handgun, such as the Makarov | Br1 | a soft vest |
| More powerful 9×21 handgun | Br2 | a soft vest, thicker than Br1 |
| Armor-piercing handgun bullet | Br3 | a Br3 vest or plate |
| Assault rifle | Br4 | hard plate only |
| Sniper rifle | Br5 | hard plate only |
One vest can have several classes. Say, the soft part is Br1 and the area under the plates is Br5. All classes in plain words are in our article on protection classes.
Step 2. Choose the type of vest
| Type | When it is chosen | Protection | Weight of our models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concealable | city, all day under clothing | soft pack up to Br2 | 1.4-2.9 kg |
| Plate carrier | a light base for plates | Br1 pack and plates up to Br5 | 1.5 kg without plates |
| Tactical | security, patrol, work with pouches | Br2 pack around the body, plate pockets | 3-3.6 kg without plates |
| Assault | assault, full-body protection | vest, modules, Br5 plates | 9-15 kg |
Concealable is worn under a shirt or jacket. On the outside it is smooth fabric, with no straps or pockets. Our COYOTE weighs 1.4 kg. How to choose one is in our concealable vest guide.
Tactical goes over a uniform or jacket. It has webbing for pouches and pockets for plates. DARK ARMOR M-5 has mounts for KAP spacer pads and a strap to drag a wounded person out.
Assault is a tactical vest plus modules for the neck, shoulders, arms, groin and thighs. It covers the most, and it weighs the most. How it differs from a plate carrier is explained in plate carrier vs body armor.
Step 3. Decide what must be covered
Only the area with a pack or plate is protected. The rest is fabric. Check what the vest covers:
- Chest and back. Every model has this.
- Sides. Covered if the packs go around the body or sit in side flaps.
- Plate area. Our Br5 plate is a 25 by 29.5 cm rectangle; there are two, on the chest and on the back.
- Neck, shoulders, groin, thighs. These are assault vest modules.
Every covered area adds weight. If you need covered sides, take a vest with packs on the sides. Elastic side straps do not protect the sides.
Step 4. Count the weight with all your gear
Count the vest together with everything that will be on it: plates, modules, pouches, water. Our two Br5 plates weigh 5.5 kg - more than a tactical vest without them. The weight of each type is covered in our article on body armor weight.
The rule is simple: take a weight you can carry for as long as the danger lasts. A vest taken off from fatigue protects nothing.
Step 5. Pick the size
Measure your chest and height - your jacket size will not help here. A vest bought to grow into moves around and leaves the sides bare. A tight one squeezes and rides up.
| Models | Sizes |
|---|---|
| most models | 44-48, 50-54, 56-58 |
| DARK ARMOR M-3 and M-5 | the same, plus two height options |
| DARK ARMOR M-3 Big Size | 60-62 |
| COYOTE | 48-54 |
If no size fits, we will make any model to your measurements, for men or women, at no extra charge.
What to measure and how to check that the vest fits is shown in our size guide.
Step 6. Check the documents
Before paying, you need two papers:
- Certificate. It shows the model, the classes and the date it is valid until.
- Test report. It shows who tested the vest, when, and with which weapon.
Plates need their own documents: the vest's certificate does not cover them. We work under certificate РОСС RU.32623.ОС10.04969, valid until March 10, 2027. We send copies before purchase. The scan is on the home page, in Documents.
How much body armor costs
| Type | Models | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Concealable | COYOTE, DARK ARMOR M-3 | from $367 |
| Plate carrier | TactiX | $478, plates separately |
| Tactical | ELITE BLACK, DARK ARMOR M-5, DELTA | $456-$500, plates separately |
| Assault | OBSIDIAN Basic | $733, plates separately |
| Assault with Br5 plates | OBSIDIAN MAX | $1,422 |
The price depends on the class, the size of the protected area, plates and modules. If a vest is suspiciously cheap, ask for the test report. The savings usually come from the protective pack.
If you can't pick a type, call 8 800 101-76-37, the call is free. Tell us where and for how long you need the vest. We will suggest a type, class and size.
Frequently asked questions
Which body armor is best? The one that protects against your threat and is not too heavy for you. In the city - a light concealable Br1 or Br2. In security work - a tactical vest with covered sides. In a war zone - with Br5 plates.
Which body armor should a civilian choose? Usually a concealable one, class Br1 or Br2. Our concealable vests stop knives and fragments. No license is needed in Russia to buy or wear one.
Which body armor is lighter? A concealable one without plates. Our COYOTE weighs 1.4 kg. One Br5 plate adds 2.75 kg.
Is a certificate required for body armor? Without a certificate and a test report, the class is confirmed by nothing. Ask for both documents. Our certificate РОСС RU.32623.ОС10.04969 was issued under a voluntary certification system.
