Very much so. It'd be a lot heavier, thicker and less flexible if I'd gone with the cheaper one. As it is, it's not uncomfortable and if I wear something over it, no one's likely to notice it. Even people who know I'm wearing it only notice a slight thickening of the torso.
(Of course, as soon as you buy something they come out with something better. The next catalog had a vest that was even lighter plus Taser-proof for $1000. Too rich for my blood, but now I've a sore case of vest envy.)
It could have been a lot heavier. The 8x10 metal trauma plates for distributing impacts and stab protection (that I don't wear because they're super obvious, even through clothes) would add another 20 oz. each. And since they're completely rigid the back plate was a little rough on my spine to be wearing ten hours straight. If I got Level III or IV ceramic plates for stopping rifle rounds, I'd at least triple the weight: the lightest Level III plate is almost 4 lbs. and the heaviest Level IV is almost 8 lbs. (And you need a front plate and a back plate.) So a real hardcore tactical vest like a soldier might wear could be more along the lines of 20 lbs. instead of my concealable five pounder.
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2009-04-26 07:27 pm (UTC)(Of course, as soon as you buy something they come out with something better. The next catalog had a vest that was even lighter plus Taser-proof for $1000. Too rich for my blood, but now I've a sore case of vest envy.)
It could have been a lot heavier. The 8x10 metal trauma plates for distributing impacts and stab protection (that I don't wear because they're super obvious, even through clothes) would add another 20 oz. each. And since they're completely rigid the back plate was a little rough on my spine to be wearing ten hours straight. If I got Level III or IV ceramic plates for stopping rifle rounds, I'd at least triple the weight: the lightest Level III plate is almost 4 lbs. and the heaviest Level IV is almost 8 lbs. (And you need a front plate and a back plate.) So a real hardcore tactical vest like a soldier might wear could be more along the lines of 20 lbs. instead of my concealable five pounder.