Body Armor

Safe Life Defense is located in Henderson, NV and we manufacture the majority of all our gear in house. All ballistic inserts are constructed and tested at our Henderson facility. Some fabric carriers and accessories are sewn internationally for cost-savings we pass on to our customers.

Ballistic material is tested both by the NIJ for NIJ certification and independently at Oregon Ballistics Lab. We also have a testing facility inside our warehouse for batch testing.

We frequently hear people say, “I tried to order from another company and they told me that only law enforcement officers could own armor.” Because of this type of interaction, many individuals believe that body armor is illegal to own. What you need to know is that a large number of manufacturers and retailers restrict their sales to law enforcement only. However, these restrictions are based on individual company policies and are not reflective of federal, state or local laws. It is 100% legal for upstanding civilians to wear, purchase, and own body armor. (With the exception of the state of New York.)

Those looking for a more comfortable armor option usually select soft armor, even though it may offer less protection than other types. Soft armor is very light and can flex for added comfort. This makes it the most concealable type of body armor and a great option for those who don’t want to feel like they’re lugging extra weight around. Current soft body armor can stop most handgun rounds, but armor plates are needed to stop rifle rounds and steel-core handgun rounds like 7.62×25mm.

When you find the item you like, next to size option will see a blue “find my size button.” There you can share your details to find your size.

The single most important thing to look for when shopping for body armor is the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Rating. This rating is the ballistic standard of resistance used in the U.S. and throughout most of the world. Body armor becomes NIJ rated when it passes a strict set of guidelines at a NIJ certified 3rd party ballistic laboratory. The NIJ has been setting standards since 1972, and they’re the only nationally accepted baseline for the body armor worn by law enforcement and corrections officers. It’s the highest level of certification available and a long process for products to get their backing on ballistic performance, which means you can rest assured you’re getting nothing but the best. All Safe Life Defense products undergo ballistic testing at the NIJ-Certified, Oregon Ballistics Laboratory, and our results are always posted on each product page.

Level II armor will stop most common handgun rounds including 45 ACP, 9mm, .40 S&W and .357. The National Institute of Justice specifies that level II armor must stop 9mm FMJ bullets with a mass of 124 grains and a velocity of 1,305 ft/s as well as .357 Magnum jsp with a mass of 158 grains and a velocity of 1,430 ft/s.

Level IIIA armor reliably defends against all common handgun rounds including .357, 9mm, 45 ACP, all the way up to .44 Magnum. Level IIIA protects the wearer from shotgun rounds including 00 buckshot, 12 ga. slugs and even submachine gun rounds. In conjunction with our level IV rifle plate, our armor protects against rifle threats all the way up to .30-06.

Level IIIA+ armor is an innovative protection category that is offered exclusively through Safe Life Defense. This enhanced soft armor not only protects against the same threats as our traditional IIIA but also includes NIJ Level 1 spike protection for up to 36 joules of stab force and protection against armor-piercing handgun ammunition such as Liberty Civil Defense 9mm and FN 5.7×28 40 gr. The unique bullet, strike, slash, stab, taser, and special threat resistance found in Safe Life Defense IIIA+ armor make it the world’s most powerful soft body armor!

Our IIIA+ model has the largest number of reported saved lives due to its strike resistance (an often undervalued feature) that has kept people alive after being hit by motor vehicles, falling from a significant height, and taking on blows from a blunt weapon. The second-largest number of saves come from stabbings. Most reports end up saying, “My doctor said without this vest there’s no chance I would be alive today.”

Level III armor is a hard armor rated for rifle protection. Level III armor is rated to withstand 7.62 mm FMJ (US military M80) rounds with a mass of 147 grains and a velocity of 2780 ft/s. Yes, level III will defeat an AK-47 round.

FRAS® is a new level of flexible rifle body armor we developed to bridge the gap between level III and level IIIA. FRAS® is rated to defend against the most common rifle threats someone may encounter on duty, including 5.56, ss109 and m193 as well as 7.62×39 — predominantly AR-15 and AK-47 rounds. Safe Life Defense FRAS® provides full torso coverage from rifle threats with a phenomenal balance of protection, weight and coverage. When worn in conjunction with a level IIIA vest, our FRAS® is rated III+ for rifle protection up to .308 and 7.62x54R!

Level IV armor is the highest rating of body armor currently available, and it will stop armor-piercing rifle threats. It can withstand up to 30-06 M2ap steel core armor-piercing rounds with a mass of 166 grains and a velocity of 2880 ft/s. Many people choose to have a Level IIIA vest accompanied by in conjunction with (ICW) rifle plates to achieve a higher level of protection. Safe Life Defense offers lightweight level IV ICW rifle plates that are designed to slide into low-profile pockets on our level IIIA vests. This allows you to adapt your armor to a variety of threat levels without making it too cumbersome for daily use.

The best level of body armor for you depends on your personal needs and wants. First, ask yourself, “Do I need protection against handguns, shotguns, rifles or all three?” Then ask yourself, “Do I also need to be protected from bladed weapons, Tasers, blunt-force trauma or all three?” Lastly, evaluate your expectations for this life-saving piece of equipment. Remember, except for FRAS® vests, there is a direct trade-off between protection, comfort and concealability. Generally, the higher the protection level, the heavier and less concealable the armor. The best armor for you is the armor you’ll actually wear. With that in mind, it is highly beneficial to select the lightest option that will protect you from the threats you are most likely to encounter.

If you are like most of us and need protection from handguns as well as shotguns you’ll want to select body armor like the Safe Life Defense Multi-Threat Vest. It comes in level IIIA (which is great for threats all the way up to 12 gauge slugs!) Nowadays, most people are deciding to go with one of our most popular options, the IIIA, because it offers a great deal of protection while still being lightweight and easily concealable. Safe Life Defense Multi-Threat Vests are also strike and slash-resistant! Protection from bullets, bats, and blades? We’ve got you covered.

If you anticipate you’ll need to face a rifle-related threat, then you’ll want to get some heavy-duty gear. For this type of protection, you can select one of two types of armor: (1) Hard body armor, which is rated NIJ III and IV. This type of armor will be much heavier and less concealable than the majority of soft armor, but the tradeoff is a much higher level of protection. Or (2) Safe Life Defense’s Revolutionary FRAS® body armor, the most versatile, comfortable and protective option. Our Multi-Threat Armor System will also work with removable rifle plates that can be used with a level IIIA vest for adjustable levels of protection (IIIA to IV). You’ll have all the benefits of Level IV armor without sacrificing wearability!

WARNING: Testing your body armor is NOT recommended and you should NEVER test armor while you or any other living being is wearing it. Failure to follow this guidance can lead to a major safety hazard, serious injury, or accidental death.

All Safe Life Defense body armor is professionally tested in labs and per NIJ standards. In a ballistic panel with one of our IIIA+ vests, we were able to fire 342 shots before failure. Although our armor is proven to withstand multiple hits, any armor that has been tested must be replaced immediately and cannot be used for protection as its integrity will have been compromised. Stopping a bullet is serious business and even a single shot WILL damage your armor no matter how great it is. If you would like to test shoot your armor, please do so in a safe environment with the assistance of a professional.

Body armor will need to be washed just like any other article of clothing, especially if you are wearing it on a daily basis! Cleaning a Safe Life Defense carrier is easy and can be done in a washing machine as long as the ballistic panels are removed before washing. Since air drying is the best way to ensure a long carrier lifespan, an extra carrier is recommended. Having a spare will allow you to transfer your ballistic panels into the clean carrier while your soiled carrier is properly cleaned. It is important that you never go without protection. For additional information, please read the following instructions carefully:

Remove the ballistic panels from the outer carrier. DO NOT MACHINE WASH OR DRY CLEAN the ballistic panel insert(s).

Wipe the ballistic panels using a MILD SOAP AND WATER solution, then set the panels aside on a flat surface to air dry.

To maintain the form, function, and prevent damage, CLOSE ALL OF THE VELCRO FASTENERS on the carrier.

Dry clean, hand wash or machine wash the carrier on a delicate cycle using a medium water temperature. DO NOT USE BLEACH.

Tumble dry the carrier on a LOW HEAT SETTING or air dry it on a flat surface. Iron on a low heat setting as needed.

Reinsert the ballistic panels into the carrier. Be sure the panels and outer carrier are COMPLETELY DRY before assembling.

Safe Life Defense guarantees the proper fit of your body armor. If you feel your vest does not fit properly, we will exchange your vest. Exchanges must be within 30 days of delivery and in original condition.

Safe Life Defense stands behind our products and your personal protection. In the unfortunate event that you are shot while wearing your vest, we will replace it at no cost as long as a police report is provided during your 5 year warranty.

5 Year manufacturer warranty on all ballistic panels and plates.

2 Year warranty on all carriers.