You may wear your tactical vest for work every day—or you might keep a vest easily accessible in your home in case of an emergency. Whether or not you wear these safety products daily, they will eventually degrade. Believe it or not, body armor is manufactured with an expiration date, which is usually around 5 years after a vest is produced. While expired vests may still offer considerable protection, they aren’t nearly as reliable or consistent as a vest that is not expired. Let’s take a closer look at some factors that can cause body armor to break down.
Does Body Armor Actually Expire?
You might have thought that expiration dates are limited to items like food and medicine, but body armor and other similar safety products also have a shelf life. This is because the chemical compounds that make up a vest, such as industrial fiber or Kevlar, degrade over time. A number of other factors can speed up the degradation process, too.
What Can Cause Body Armor to Expire?
Humidity
If you’re working in a moist, damp environment, your safety gear is much more likely to expire at an earlier time than the estimated 5-year cutoff. This also means that storing your vest in a humid location can quicken the degradation process.
UV Light
Using your vest in environments with high exposure to ultraviolet radiation can also shorten shelf life. Commonly, body armor vests are exposed to UV rays when worn out in the sunlight for extended periods.
Hard vs. Soft Armor
The type of body armor you’re using also makes a difference—for example, soft armor expires much more quickly than hard armor, as it is more vulnerable to hot, wet environments.
Weight Loss or Gain
Even something as simple as a change in your weight can diminish the protective quality of your gear. If a vest presses too snuggly (or not snuggly enough) against your body, stress may be put on the ballistic panels as they move around inside the carrier.
Internal Damage
A vest may not appear to be expired to the casual observer, or even to the person who is wearing it most frequently. Your product may look pristine on the outside, but on the inside it could be warped, cracked, or bent from use.
What Is the Risk of Using an Expired Vest?
It doesn’t take much imagination to think of all the problems an expired vest could cause for its wearer. To put it bluntly, using an old, worn-out vest could lead to serious bodily injury by a bullet. At worst, such bodily harm could result in death. This is why it’s essential to abide by the manufacturer’s recommendations and stated expiration date.
How Often Should Body Armor Be Replaced?
We recommend that you have your body armor checked regularly for signs of both external and internal damage by an expert in your field. In the case that your gear has, in fact, degraded, it is encouraged that you replace your armor with a more recently-manufactured model.
The key thing to remember here is that you may need to replace your vest even before it has truly expired—it all depends on your individual circ*mstances. After all, don’t want to find yourself in a dangerous situation with damaged or underperforming body equipment.
Where Can I Buy High-Quality Body Armor?
At Body Armor Direct, we value each and every one of our customers, which means we don’t want you to risk using an expired or damaged vest if you can help it. When you’re ready to replace a vest (expired or otherwise), we hope you’ll reach out to our ballistic safety experts.
We Provide a Warranty
Body Armor Direct’s ballistic safety products are all backed by a warranty. This states that for a period of 5 years, your vest’s panels will conform to the minimum requirements of the NIJ protocol for ballistic intervention during an actual confrontation at the stated threat level.
We’re Based in the United States
All of our soft armor products are manufactured at a Florida facility, and we pride ourselves on using the highest-quality materials in our development process. In terms of fine-tuning our products, we wanted to make sure that our customers would get the most out of their armor; that’s why every vest is designed with the goal of lasting for the expected 5-year period.
We’re NIJ-Certified
Body Armor Direct vests are certified by the National Institute of Justice, meaning that all of our products have been sent to an independent, government-approved laboratory and have been tested to ensure they meet the standard requirements for government use. If your armor is not NIJ-certified, it may have been tested at one point in time to a portion of the NIJ standard.
Body Armor Direct Is Always Here to Help
If you have any questions about whether or not you’re due for a replacement vest, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll match you with reliable, consistent, potentially life-saving gear and provide you with the insights you need to use body armor successfully in your line of work.
FAQs
How Long Does Body Armor Last? Body armor will last years with proper care. If protective gear is abused and mistreated, its useful life drastically decreases. At Safe Life, we recommend replacing your panels at least every 5 years, which is directly in line with what the NIJ recommends.
How long does body armor drink last? ›
A: BODYARMOR Sports Drink and BODYARMOR LYTE's best-by date is 1 year from the date of production. The production date can be found on the bottom of the bottle with a 5 digit code. First 2 digits are the last two … see more. The production date can be found on the bottom of the bottle with a 5 digit code.
How often should body armor be replaced? ›
According to the National Institute of Justice, most body armor in the U.S. has a standard five-year life span when properly cared for.
Why is body armor only good for 5 years? ›
There are several reasons why body armor expires, such as weather or light, but what it comes down to is the chemical compounds that make up the armor. And those chemicals tend to break down over time.
How long does a bulletproof vest last? ›
Many vests and ballistics materials have a service life of five years. Do not use Kevlar after its service life is up, and dispose of Kevlar appropriately.
Does BODYARMOR actually hydrate you? ›
BODYARMOR EDGE is NOT considered an energy drink. BODYARMOR EDGE is a hydrating sports performance drink that includes a boost of caffeine. Energy drinks typically only provide energy, most often with artificial ingredients – and don't address the importance of hydration necessary for today's active consumers.
Is it OK to drink a lot of BODYARMOR? ›
Even though you may be trying to replenish these nutrients to help your body function, it's not safe to overload your body with the constant sources of electrolytes and calories that are contained in a sports drink, despite what many may have heard.
What body armor lasts the longest? ›
While steel body armor lasts about 15-20 years before you need to replace it, standard ceramic body armor only last 5-7 years. And those 5-7 years is why you keep getting new armor.
Why is body armor so expensive? ›
A ballistic armor price is higher because it needs heavy duty plates to protect against the type and speed of the bullet that may penetrate it. The more material that is needed to manufacture the ballistic armor, the more it will cost.
Is it good to drink body armor everyday? ›
BodyArmor is decently formulated and we consider it to be a healthier option than Gatorade because it's lower in added sugar and free of artificial food dye. However, we don't recommend the drink overall due to the added sugar, citric acid and flavoring agents.
Body Armor LYTE
- The LYTE version is hands down my top pick for a regular grab-and-go sports drink.
- Per 16-ounce bottle: 20 calories, 18 grams carbs, 2 grams sugar, 40 milligrams sodium and 700 milligrams potassium.
- No artificial sweeteners or colors (sweetened with stevia; colored with natural juice extracts)
What will a level IV plate stop? 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.
Does body armor go bad after opening? ›
We recommend consuming BODYARMOR within 24 hours of opening.
Why do cops hold their vests? ›
The vest hang: A natural transition from the pit tuck, the vest hang is clasping the top of the vest near their collarbones to keep arms from hitting the equipment on the duty belt. The crossed arms: This can look intimidating, but cops use this stance solely for comfort. It's also a great way to warm up on a cold day.
Can an AR 15 penetrate a bulletproof vest? ›
These guardians understand an AR-15's mass murder capability — and so should we. AR-15 bullets can penetrate the soft body armor typically worn by police, which is built to stop handgun rounds.
What is the disadvantage of bulletproof vest? ›
One of the most significant downfalls of body armor is that it offers only a relatively small amount of protection, in terms of surface area. Think – when strapping a bulletproof vest to your chest, it's only going to protect you and the body parts of someone else that is directly behind the vest.
How many body armors should you drink a day? ›
I bet you also want to know how many you should be drinking each day in order to see these milk supply increases. Most breastfeeding moms say that the sweet spot for them is anywhere between 2-5 Body Armor drinks per day.
Can you drink Body Armor before bed? ›
When do I drink Body Armour? Drink Body Armour chilled one hour before consuming alcohol, or as your last drink before bed. This allows your body to fully absorb the formula.
Is Prime or Body Armor better? ›
BCAAs, for instance, are an ingredient rarely seen in non-caffeinated beverages, and Prime's electrolyte total beats Gatorade and Body Armor by over 50 mg. The other impressive fact about Prime is that it adds all these ingredients without any added sugar or substitutes.
What is healthiest drink besides water? ›
Coffee and tea, without added sweeteners, are healthy choices, too. Some beverages should be limited or consumed in moderation, including fruit juice, milk, and those made with low-calorie sweeteners, like diet drinks. Alcohol in moderation can be healthy for some people, but not everyone.
When someone has too many or too few electrolytes, they can experience several symptoms, including:
- Fatigue.
- Headaches.
- Weak muscles.
- Cramps.
- Numbness.
- Tingling.
- Fast or irregular heartbeat.
- Seizures.
For me, I would take the Body Armor drink for breastfeeding about 4 hours before a pumping session to increase milk supply. But on a general note, the Armor Drink could take between 2 to 6 hours before an increase in milk supply is noticed.
Will body armor stop a 12 gauge slug? ›
Finally, a slug is unlikely to penetrate body armor, but it transmits sufficient energy through the vest to cause massive and often debilitating injury.
Can body armor stop a 50 cal? ›
Can Level 4 armor stop 50 BMG? Absolutely not! Unfortunately a 50 caliber BMG is just too fast and powerful for the human body to stop. With a muzzle velocity of 3,044 ft/s and an energy of 13,310 ft-lbs force, this bullet impact alone will destroy your skeletal structure.
How many hits can body armor take? ›
According to NIJ standards, soft armor inserts are to take six shots. Some armor brands may go higher; however, Ace Link American body armor truly stands out, as their vests can even take up to 40 or 50 rounds and stop all of them.
Why is body armor illegal? ›
The rationale for prohibiting many felons from possessing body armor or bulletproof vests is similar to that of prohibiting felons from possessing firearms. These laws aim to protect public and officer safety by keeping "weapons" away from those who've shown they're capable of committing a crime.
What states is body armor illegal? ›
New York State is the only state restricting citizens' constitutional right to purchase body armor. According to the overreaching New York State Penal Law Section 270.21, "Unlawful purchase of body armor is a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class E felony for any subsequent offense."
Why can't civilians buy body armor? ›
California. In California, lawmakers are in the process of passing Assembly Bill 92, which will restrict the purchase and use of body armor for certain professions. As of February 2023, civilians can purchase and use a bulletproof vest, unless he or she has been convicted of a felony.
Can you drink too many electrolytes? ›
But just like anything, too many electrolytes can be unhealthy: Too much sodium, formally referred to as hypernatremia, can cause dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea. Too much potassium, known as hyperkalemia, can impact your kidney function and cause heart arrhythmia, nausea, and an irregular pulse.
Is body armor full of electrolytes? ›
Created in 2011 by Mike Repole, BODYARMOR is packed with electrolytes, coconut water and antioxidants. Low in sodium and high in potassium, BODYARMOR contains natural flavors and sweeteners and no colors or dyes from artificial sources.
The biggest difference is that both Gatorade and Powerade use sodium as their key electrolyte while BodyArmor's primary electrolyte is potassium (a product of the coconut water in the drink). BodyArmor also uses pure can sugar as opposed to dextrose (Gatorade) or high fructose corn syrup (Powerade).
Is soft or hard body armor better? ›
Soft ballistics are the lightest body armor, as well as the most comfortable and easily concealable kind of body armor. Hard body armor is heavier and more rigid but offers greater protection against high-powered weapons.
Is Level 3 or 3a body armor better? ›
Level/Type III Body Armor. Level III body armor is stronger than Level IIIA because it defeats rifle caliber rounds. Level III will always have a hard plate insert that must be tested in a conditioned state.
What is healthier than Gatorade? ›
Powerade has more vitamins than Gatorade
Neither has any fat or protein. However, Gatorade contains 10 more calories and slightly more sodium than Powerade per serving. On the other hand, Powerade packs more micronutrients, including magnesium, niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12, which play important roles in your body.
What level body armor do Marines use? ›
Does the Military Use Level 4 Armor? The U.S. military wears only NIJ-Listed Level 4 plates in active combat environments, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and small conflicts in Africa and South America. The reason they always wear 4 is the protection it offers versus Level 3 plates.
Is there a Level 5 body armor? ›
Level 5 armor plates provide maximum back and chest protection. They are added to the design of a special reliable plate carrier body armor, and are suitable for protection when hit by sniper attacks. Products of this class should be bought by military personnel who do not need to move much.
What is level 6 body armor? ›
Class 6 7.62×54mmR. This armor would protect against three hits, fired from 5.10 meters, of: 9.6 g (148 gr) 7.62×54mmR ST-M2 hardened steel-core bullets at a velocity of 820–840 m/s (2690–2756 ft/s)
How much caffeine is in body armor? ›
BODYARMOR EDGE contains 100mg of natural caffeine, 1,000mg of potassium packed electrolytes, coconut water and natural flavors, sweeteners and no colors from artificial sources or dyes.
What happens if you don't refrigerate body Armour? ›
No, body armor drink typically does not need to be refrigerated and will not go bad if not refrigerated. Body armor drinks are fortified with vitamins and minerals, and they contain sugar as a preservative which helps the drink remain fresh and stable at room temperature.
Why does steel body armor expire? ›
much worse. Expiration dates are a necessity for ballistic protection gear. They are necessary because the protection provided by the body armor plates will degrade over time. Without body armor expiration dates, the equipment would be ineffective.
Police dogs, or K9s, perform dangerous tasks in the line of duty, yet they aren't issued K9 bulletproof vests like many of their human handlers. It's mostly due to a lack of funding – not to a lack of love or caring.
Do cops always cuff you? ›
Outside of an arrest, the main reasons police will place someone in handcuffs are if they are worried about their safety or believe the suspect may try to run away. Common signs police look for to determine if there's a risk of violence include: Not cooperating with an officer's commands. Hiding your hands.
Why do cops put their hands on a car? ›
Essentially, it is an officer safety thing. It is leaving the evidence in case the person harms the officer and flees the scene. Basically, it is giving police officers in the future the ability to lift prints off that vehicle and trace them back to that officer that pulled the vehicle over.
Will a bulletproof vest stop an AK-47 round? ›
Level/Type III Body Armor
A 7.62mm FMJ is normally fired from an AK-47 style rifle or a sniper rifle. Level III will stop most of all 5.56mm and 7.62mm bullets, but will not defeat military-grade armor-piercing ammo.
Can civilians own Level 4 body armor? ›
California. There are no extra body armor regulations in California besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions.
Can a bulletproof vest stop an AK-47? ›
Level III Body Armour
They consist of a carry vest with or without soft body armour into which the plates are inserted (ceramic, steel, etc.). Level III body armour vests must be able to withstand up to six shots from 7.62×51 NATO rounds. These vests are capable of stopping AK-47 rounds.
What is the life expectancy of bulletproof vest? ›
A body armor expiration date helps determine when body armor may no longer be as effective. Over time, body armor will break, and some materials may degrade more quickly than others. For example, bulletproof vests may have a lifespan between five to 10 years, depending on the material.
Do bullets bounce off bullet proof vests? ›
Bullets don't bounce off body armor, of course. For one thing, that would be extremely dangerous as the bullet could ricochet off the vest and hit innocent bystanders. The vest itself would also be extremely heavy and cumbersome and therefore impractical for everyday use.
Can you wear clothes over a bulletproof vest? ›
On its own, it doesn't change the level of protection of the vest if you wear it beneath or over your clothes. But, you can't (comfortably) wear plates under your shirt, and if you already have an external carrier you will want at least pockets for hard plates.
Does body armor drink go bad if not refrigerated? ›
No, body armor drink typically does not need to be refrigerated and will not go bad if not refrigerated. Body armor drinks are fortified with vitamins and minerals, and they contain sugar as a preservative which helps the drink remain fresh and stable at room temperature.
When do I drink Body Armour? Drink Body Armour chilled one hour before consuming alcohol, or as your last drink before bed. This allows your body to fully absorb the formula.
How many body armors can you drink in a day? ›
Most breastfeeding moms say that the sweet spot for them is anywhere between 2-5 Body Armor drinks per day. However, as mentioned above, these drinks do contain a fair amount of sugar.
Can a 4 year old drink BODYARMOR? ›
BODYARMOR is perfectly safe for kids to consume. BODYARMOR Sports Drink and BODYARMOR LYTE is caffeine-free gluten-free, and made with natural ingredients without any artificial sweeteners, flavors, or dyes.
Is it OK to drink expired body armor? ›
Yes, BODYARMOR drinks do expire. All BODYARMOR products have a “Best By” date on the package which indicates when their peak flavor and freshness is expected. After that date has passed, the drink may still be safe to consume, but its flavor and nutritional content may start to diminish.
Do all body armor drinks have electrolytes? ›
Created in 2011 by Mike Repole, BODYARMOR is packed with electrolytes, coconut water and antioxidants. Low in sodium and high in potassium, BODYARMOR contains natural flavors and sweeteners and no colors or dyes from artificial sources.
What is the healthiest thing to drink before bed? ›
The Best Beverages for Sleep
- Water. ...
- Chamomile Tea. ...
- Tart Cherry Juice. ...
- Alcohol. ...
- Coffee. ...
- Black or Green Tea. ...
- Soda. ...
- Magnesium-Infused Beverage Mixes (Like Calm)
The product contains 44 g of sugar, which is 5 g more than a 12 ounce Coca-Cola (source). For this reason alone, we would recommend avoiding this product. Even for elite athletes that may need simple sugars to refuel, we feel there are healthier alternatives to this high of a dose of cane sugar.
What does BODYARMOR do to your body? ›
BODYARMOR Super Drink provides superior nutrition, superior hydration, and superior taste. These delicious beverages are formulated with a combination of proprietary blends and coconut water that work together to protect, prevent and hydrate.
What happens if you drink too many electrolytes? ›
But just like anything, too many electrolytes can be unhealthy: Too much sodium, formally referred to as hypernatremia, can cause dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea. Too much potassium, known as hyperkalemia, can impact your kidney function and cause heart arrhythmia, nausea, and an irregular pulse.
How much caffeine is in BODYARMOR? ›
BODYARMOR EDGE contains 100mg of natural caffeine, 1,000mg of potassium packed electrolytes, coconut water and natural flavors, sweeteners and no colors from artificial sources or dyes.
BODYARMOR EDGE is NOT considered an energy drink. BODYARMOR EDGE is a hydrating sports performance drink that includes a boost of caffeine.
Does BODYARMOR have real fruit? ›
Yes, BODYARMOR uses natural fruit flavors. Using real fruit flavors gives BODYARMOR its refreshing, natural taste.
Can I drink BODYARMOR pregnant? ›
According to some experts, these beverages may be advantageous for expecting mothers since they can keep the body hydrated and replenish vital minerals. There is no conclusive solution, thus it is best to consult a healthcare provider before taking any Body Armor drinks while pregnant.
