When we think of body armor, we often tend to associate it with the likes of police officers, soldiers, security guards, etc. These are individuals that most commonly use body armor and protective gear of this nature, but there’s a very good argument to be made when it comes to body armor for civilian use. Naturally, today we’re talking about the best civilian body armor that you can buy right now.
The market for civilian body armor isn’t all that large at the moment, but it’s steadily growing into something that all preppers should take note of. Body armor offers ample protection throughout your day-to-day activities, and it’s quickly doing so in much more discrete manners than in years past.
Body armor is something that just makes sense from the perspective of proper preparation and survival, but not everyone has taken it as seriously as they should.
A lot of this has to do with not knowing where to look for good, quality body armor, and we’re here to fix that.
We’ve selected the 5 best body armor plates and picks for the best bullet proof vest for civilians, and this is what we came up with:
1. Pacific Blue Line Body Armor Cooling Vest
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Our first product comes from Pacific Blue Line, and it’s simply named as the Body Armour Cooling Vest. This is designed to be used by cops, but in all honesty, anyone can purchase and use this thing with ease. This vest is designed to be worn under other articles of clothing, whether that be a jacket, shirt, coat, etc.
The perforated design allows for maximum air ventilation, and this helps to keep the wearer as cool as possible. Better yet, this design promotes better odor-fighting and wicking away of sweat. For preppers that plan on wearing this for prolonged periods of time, these two things will come very much so in handy.
Velcro sides allow for super easy adjustments and removal, and even when wearing the vest for a long time, the four shoulder straps help to keep it in place no matter what. Pacific Blue Line recommends that you order one size smaller than what you wear for your under-shirt, and although the price is a bit high, we think it’s well worth it considering everything that you’re getting.
2. Uvex Bionic Face Shield With Clear Polycarbonate Visor
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If you’re looking for protection for your face rather than your chest, Uvex has you covered with the Bionic Face Shield With Clear Polycarbonate Visor. In a SHTF setting, you’ll likely find yourself traversing the wilderness/wild — facing animals, insects, and possibly even assailants. When doing so, you’ll want to ensure that your face is as protected as can be without limiting your visibility. This is exactly what Uvex accomplishes here.
The full-shield design of this mask provides full protection for your entire face, even including a built-in chin protection system with an extended bit of safety for the top of your head as well. This does a great job at keeping you safe from falling or flying objects, and the clear polycarbonate visor keeps your whole face safe while allowing you to still see your surroundings with ease.
You can replace the visor with another option from Uvex if you want to shake things up a bit, and the strap in the back allows for easy size adjustments to get the perfect fit. This really is one of our favorite pieces of gear, as it offers great protection for your face without limiting your line of sight. That’s a huge win win in our book, and in a SHTF situation, it’ll really come in handy.
3. BSX Gear Revco Industries BX-KK-18T Double Layer
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Our next pick is the BSX Gear Revco Industries BX-KK-18T Double Layer sleeves. These are essentially sleeves that are meant to be worn along with your shirt, and the cut-resistant kevlar design offers ample protection against oncoming attacks and other sorts of debris.
The double-layer design that’s found here offers more than ample protection, and the 18-inch length means that you should have plenty of wiggle room. Thumb holes allow for perfect dexterity, and they also help to ensure that the sleeve don’t fall off in the heat of the moment.
An Ansi cut level of 4 means that you can withstand a surprising amount of sharpness and force, and for quick scuffs or brawls, you’ll really be thankful for something along these lines.
4. UnderTech Undercover Men’s Concealment Tank Top Coolux Shirt
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Although not technically a piece of body armor, the UnderTech Undercover Men’s Concealment Tank Top is so ingenious that we had to include it on here. This is a tank top that you can wear underneath any ordinary shirt, and while it may look normal at first, there’s more here than what meets the eye.
On both the left and right side of the tank top below your armpit, you’ll find two identical easy-access holsters that you can use to carry two concealed firearms. You can choose to carry two guns at once, or one gun and use the other holster for spare ammo. Either way, the function here is truly fantastic.
This tank top was made right here in the USA, and it makes carrying a concealed weapon that much easier and more effective. This is a great way to have easy access to a gun while wearing just about any article of clothing, and it’s a product that we highly recommend to anyone that likes to conceal carry a weapon with them on a regular basis.
5. Rothco Special Ops Soft Shell Jacket
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Lastly, let’s talk about the Rothco Special Ops Soft Shell Jacket. This jacket is made out of polyester, and it comes in quite a few different colors — all of which look quite nice. A 3-layer construction enables the jacket to deflect wind, retain body heat, and wick away moisture — all at the same time.
The collar is lined with fleece for maximum warmth during the winter, and the detachable hood is a great touch as well. Although there aren’t any armor plates or anything in the jacket, it offers excellent storage and compartments for all sorts of weapons and other self-defense products.
This is one of the best tactical jackets we’ve ever tested, as it feels great, offers a lot of storage, and is roomy enough that you can easily slip this over a bullet-proof vest to take your body armor setup even further.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never shopped around for the best civilian body armor, now’s the time to do so. Outfitting yourself with the right gear to keep you safe and protected is something that’s becoming increasingly more important in our crazy and wild world, and as the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Body armor might be a bit daunting of a market to go into if you’ve never done so before, but with a little help, it’s actually quite easy to navigate through.