Stab vests and stab proof vests. Buy a stab proof vest from SafeGuard CLOTHING

Overt vests simply means the cover on the panels is designed to be more durable, and hard wearing then a covert cover. The panels inside the evsts are the exact same. Generally overt vests should be worn on top of clothing, and are made from strong durable products such as Cordura. This helps minimize abrasion, cuts and general wear and tear, providing much more value. Alternatively covert stab vests, which can be found eleswhere on our site, usually have a white cover that is lighter and more breathable. Choosing your cover will depend entirely on how the user will be wearing the stab proof vest.

All of our stab proof vests are certified to a specified NIJ level. We have an overview of the NIJ Levels on our site. Choosing the correct protection level is vital, and the most important part of buying a stab vest along with the sizing. More protection doesn't mean a 'better' stab proof vest. As protection levels increase so does the weight of the stab vest, and flexibility and comfort will also decrease. On the other hand if you choose a stab vest with a protection level that is below that of the threats you expect to face, the dangers are obvious. A threat assessment is vital before purchasing a stab proof vest.

DuPont (who make Kevlar) claim that Kevlar in soft body armor has a lifespan that is  "practically unlimited". They state that "Ballistic decay without use is unlikely assuming it hasn't been mistreated during storage".

All our stab proof vests have been professional refurbished by an armor expert. This involves stripping the stab vest down to the Kevlar, and checking for any defects, and then recovering and sealing the vest. Unless otherwise stated our stab vests have only just run out of a standard 5 year warranty, and then been refurbished. Due to the fact we use only Kevlar, and our stab proof vests come from government agencies, once refurbished the stab vest will perform as new. It is not uncommon for a Kevlar stab proof vest to even have an original warranty of 10 or 15 years, this is actually what is normally offered to most armies and police forces.

How does a stab vest differ from a bullet proof vest?

Firstly most of our stab proof vests also offer ballistic protection. The difference between a ballistic only vest and a multi threat vest (ballistic and stab), is usually a few extra layers of treated Kevlar. There are a few popular methods of treating a vest to add stab protection. The two main ways are to treat Kevlar directly with a high strength plastic or glue (similiar to laminating paper, but with industrial high strength products). The second most popular way is to attach chain mail to the kevlar stopping edge weapons from penatrating. Both ways are equally effective methods for creating a stab proof vest, and provide similiar results.