Choosing
Body Armor Spacer Pads (KAP), Side Protection and Collars
· 5 min read · Andrey Sokolov
A KAP pad lets you wear a plated vest for hours: it keeps an air gap at the body and spreads the plate's pressure evenly. It does not change the protection class. There are separate modules for the sides, neck, groin and shoulders.
KAP pads and add-on protection: the short answer
| Component | What it is for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| KAP spacer pad | air gap, even plate pressure on the body | does not change the protection class |
| Soft side protection | covers the sides against fragments and handguns | does not protect against assault rifles |
| Side plate | stops a rifle bullet from the side | small area, weighs about a kilogram |
| Collar and throat guard | covers the neck and collarbones | has its own class, not the plates' class |
| Groin, shoulders, arms, thighs | cover areas outside the vest | add weight and heat |
| Cummerbund | holds the vest against the body, carries side panels | adjust it with the panels inside |
| Pouches on MOLLE webbing | carry magazines, first aid kit, radio | add no protection, but add weight |
What a KAP pad in body armor is
KAP is the Russian abbreviation for "climate and shock-absorbing spacer". It is a pad of dense foam blocks separated by grooves, on a mesh backing. It attaches with hook-and-loop to the inner side of the vest, between the soft panel and the body.
Air moves through the grooves between the blocks, so less sweat builds up under the vest. Through the KAP a hard plate presses on the chest evenly, without hard edges, and chafes less when walking. According to manufacturers, one KAP pad weighs about 150 g.
Does a KAP pad protect against bullet impact
We do not claim that a KAP pad reduces injury from a hit. Such an effect is confirmed only by testing a specific vest with a specific plate. The KAP does not change the protection class: the plate and the panel stop the bullet.
Comfort is protection too: a heavy vest that chafes gets taken off too early.
Do you need a KAP pad in a vest with plates
- OBSIDIAN Basic and OBSIDIAN MAX assault kits come with two KAP pads: chest and back.
- ELITE BLACK and DARK ARMOR M-5 have hook-and-loop for a KAP on the inside; the pads are bought separately.
- The longer you wear the vest and the hotter it is, the more noticeable the difference.
How to fit a KAP pad
- Open the vest and find the hook-and-loop on the inner side of the front and back.
- Place the KAP with the blocks toward the body, centred on the plate: the top of the pad level with the top of the plate.
- Press the hook-and-loop over the whole area so the pad does not slip.
- Put the vest on with plates and test it in motion: squat, bend, raise your arms.
Side protection: soft panel or side plate
Sides are covered in two ways. A soft panel covers a larger area and weighs little, but stops only fragments and handgun bullets of its class. A side plate stops a rifle bullet, but it is smaller: a military 15×20 cm side plate weighs about a kilogram.
Our models cover the sides with soft armor. On OBSIDIAN these are cummerbunds with a UHMWPE panel of class Br1: they stop fragments and a 9×18 handgun bullet. TactiX has UHMWPE side panels; on ELITE BLACK and DARK ARMOR M-5 the Br2 panel continues into the sides of the vest.
Collar, groin, shoulder and leg protection
Modules increase the area under armor; they do not raise the class of the main protection. A Br2 throat guard stays Br2 even if the vest holds Br5 plates.
| Module | OBSIDIAN Basic | OBSIDIAN MAX |
|---|---|---|
| Collar: neck and throat | yes | yes: neck Br1, throat Br2 |
| Shoulders, arms, hands | - | yes, Br2 |
| Groin | - | yes, Br2 |
| Thighs | - | yes, Br2 |
| Cummerbunds with panels | yes, Br1 | yes, Br1 |
| Helmet mount | yes | yes |
| Br5 plates | sold separately | 2 included |
| KAP pads | 2 | 2 |
Each module adds weight and heat. Modules attach with hook-and-loop and straps and come off for the task.
How to put together protection for the task
- Long wear and heat - KAP pads are a must, remove unneeded modules.
- Fragments - sides, collar, groin: a fragment can come from any direction.
- Assault rifle and rifle - Br4 or Br5 plates front and back, with the soft panel around them.
- Working in a vehicle - vest with collar and KAP, without thigh protection: it gets in the way when seated.
Call 8 800 101-76-37 and tell us where and for how many hours you will wear the vest: we will choose the configuration. How a full assault kit is built is covered in our article on assault body armor; all models are on the "Tactical and assault" page.
FAQ
What are side KAP pads? Small spacer pads for the sides: they go under the cummerbund against chafing and for ventilation. They do not raise the protection class.
What is groin protection on body armor called? Groin protection, also called a groin flap or apron. On OBSIDIAN MAX it is removable, class Br2.
How is a collar attached to body armor? With hook-and-loop and straps along the top edge of the vest. No tools are needed to remove it.
Does a collar protect against bullets? On OBSIDIAN MAX the neck guard is class Br1 and the throat guard is Br2: each stops handgun bullets of its class and fragments. Assault rifle bullets are stopped by the plates.
Can you wear body armor without a KAP pad? Yes: the plate and the panel stop the bullet. Without a pad the vest is hotter and, in long wear, the plate presses harder on the chest.
Can a KAP pad be fitted to any vest? You need hook-and-loop on the inner side of the vest and a pad of the right size. OBSIDIAN, ELITE BLACK and DARK ARMOR M-5 have that hook-and-loop.
