Our Body Armor collection is proudly Made in the U.S.A. and independently tested at NIJ-accredited laboratories to ensure consistent ballistic integrity. From Level III+ steel and ultralight polyethylene to RF2 Special Rifle Threat hybrids and Level IV ceramic protection, every option is chosen for real-world threat defeat, durability, and wearable performance—not theoretical ratings alone.
Shop by threat level
Body armor is a wearable plate or panel rated to stop a defined set of projectiles. What it stops is set by its rating, not by how it looks or what it costs — a handgun-rated panel will not stop a rifle round, and no plate stops everything.
Ratings here follow the NIJ framework. HG covers handgun threats, RF covers rifle threats, and the number after each is the severity of the threat defeated. Every plate on this page is made in the U.S.A. and tested at NIJ-accredited laboratories.
Four materials, four different trade-offs. Weight, thickness, cost and what each one will actually stop all move together — there is no single best option, only the right one for how you will carry it.
| Material | Threat levels | Profile | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Armor | HG1 · HG2 | Thinnest and lightest, flexible | Handgun threats only — will not stop rifle rounds |
| Composite | HG2 · RF1 · RF2 · SRT | Light and rigid | Thicker than steel at a comparable level |
| Steel | RF1 · RF2 | Thin but heavy | Lowest cost; needs an anti-spall coating |
| Ceramic | RF3 | Light for the protection it gives | Highest cost; handle with care |
What each armor type looks like and where it sits in the range.
Soft armor — HG1 and HG2 handgun ratings
Composite armor — HG2 through RF2 and SRT
Steel armor — RF1 and RF2 rifle ratings
Ceramic armor — RF3, the highest rifle rating
The rating tells you the worst thing a plate is certified to stop. Higher is not automatically better — it is heavier, thicker and more expensive, and the right level is the one that matches the threat you are actually preparing for.
Plates need something to carry them. These are the collections most people pair with armor.
Tap any point on the chart to see the plate that carries that rating.
Questions
In most of the United States, yes — body armor can legally be bought and owned by civilians. There are exceptions. Federal law bars possession by anyone convicted of a violent felony, and a small number of states and cities add their own restrictions on purchase, online sales or carrying it in certain places.
Rules change, so check the law where you live before ordering.
Weight depends far more on material and threat level than on brand. Soft handgun-rated panels are the lightest, polyethylene and composite rifle plates sit in the middle, and steel is the heaviest for a given level. Ceramic gives the most protection per pound, which is why Level IV plates are not as heavy as people expect.
Every product page lists the weight of that specific plate, and the Armor Weights Table compares them side by side.
They are two generations of the same framework. The older naming used Roman numerals — IIIA, III, IV. The newer NIJ standard splits threats into HG for handgun and RF for rifle, then numbers them by severity.
Both namings appear on this site because both are still in common use: HG2 is Level IIIA, RF1 is Level III+, RF3 is Level IV.
Armor carries a manufacturer's rated service life, and it is a guideline rather than a switch that flips. Soft armor degrades faster than hard plates because the fibres are affected by heat, moisture and flexing. Hard plates are more stable but can be compromised by a drop or an impact even when nothing is visible from the outside.
Inspect plates regularly, store them flat and out of heat, and replace anything that has been struck or dropped hard.
Yes. When a round strikes a steel plate it fragments, and those fragments travel outward along the face of the plate rather than stopping. A build-up coating captures them.
Steel plates sold here ship with an anti-spall coating. Ceramic and polyethylene plates break up rounds differently and do not have the same problem.
The plate is the armor — it stops the round. The carrier is the vest that holds the plates against your body and gives you somewhere to mount pouches and gear. Neither does the other's job, and they are sold separately so you can match a plate to the way you actually carry it.
If you want both together, the Armor Kits collection pairs them.
4.81 from 48 reviews on Body Armor
It fits snuggly, feels exactly the same, and I love that it comes with the M-LOK rails pre installed. I can't wait to get all the toys to put on it!
Fits comfortably, and the service is excellent and responsive. Definitely recommend these guys if you're thinking about purchasing from them.
Great quality and having piece of mind of extra safety for protecting my family and my self.
Bought these truma pads good price great service and quick shipping.
The product is very high quality, easy to put together overall feel is great. Couldn’t be happier.
Everything worked out really good. Its pretty heavy but thats how I know it works. Great price on this item and i will definitely be ordering the other one to complete my vest set up. Thanks Calvin.
Phenomenal quality, phenomenal customer service. 10/10 would recommend
Love these plates so far. Shaved 10 lbs off the weight of my plate carrier by using these instead of steel ones. I’ve got an old back injury that made the steel plates a pain to drag around so these are a godsend.
Great quality just not the ones i wanted!
Phenomenal plate and shape, feels tight. Very lightweight, amazing!
Lightweight, curved and shaped right. I no longer dread donning my plate carrier. Looking forward to purchasing another set for my son. Hopefully will never have to test its capabilities but I am confident it will stop what it is rated for. Thanks for the awesome price! Deus Vult.
