Soft Body Armor Selection

[167]

It is time to get new body armor for work, and I am limited to one of two vest options. I can either get an American Body Armor Exteme HP, or a Second Chance Summit, both level II vest. During the last vest selection my only option was the Extreme HP. I was wondering if anyone had any info on either of these vest? Thanks.

[tpd223]

Both are made by the same company, in the same building, the ballistics package is likely very similar.

I'd pick the design of the two that fits you the best.

[DocGKR]

I would ask your agency what selection criteria they used for selecting the soft armor in question and whether they guarantee that the armor will stop a contact shot by your service weapon/load...

[167]

There isn't much of a selection process. These are the same two vest used by most of the other departments in the area, what the local supplier carries, and are NIJ-06 compliant. That is about it unfortunately.

The ABA vest uses Dyneema, Twaron Microlaminate and Gold Shield as the ballistic material.

The Summit vest uses Twaron Microlaminate and Gold Shield GN-2117.

I understand Twaron to be a woven p-aramid, but what does the microlaminate part mean?

[tpd223]

Doc,

I know they beefed up the ABA Extreme design after my trip to Ontario, after I pointed out the issues with our then current issued vests.

[167]

tpd223,

What sort of issues were you having with the older ABA Extreme vests?