Tough Hook

  Tough Hook

[embed]https://d2pq0u4uni88oo.cloudfront.net/projects/423963/video-194680-h264_high.mp4[/embed]

A coat hanger… Not that exciting, except this isn’t your normal coat hanger. It’s been designed specifically for plate carrier/body armor. You can use it for other heavy gear, anything that has straps. You could hang ropes up. Or even pull ups with its over 150lbs weight rating.

Much like everything that’s great, it was born out of necessity. An Army veteran came up with the idea for this because all of the alternatives weren’t cutting it. He put his product on kickstarter and raised over $17,000 of his $11,000 goal. Clearly he wasn’t the only one who thought it was a good idea.

After talking to my friend who’s a veteran, it seems the go to for storing body armor is either in a corner on the floor or tape three coat hangers together to hang it up. On top of being over engineered with its tough I-Beam construction, it has flared ends to keep shoulder straps from falling off.

“That’s all cool but what about carrying to my car, or wherever I’m gonna move it to?” you might ask. They’ve got you covered. Instead is having to hold onto the hook with all that weight they’ve integrated a handle on the underside of the hanger. And because of that, it's usefulness doesn't end at the closet. You can use it to carry your gear to the car, range, work, or wherever you think you want it at. All you have to do is spin the hanger inside the vest and you have a nice, wide grip to carry it with. It’s just like carrying a briefcase, except it contains SAPI plates instead of documents.

The only thing I wished this had was an accessory hook. As it is, you’d just have to put your ears or gloves on your vest or in a dump pouch.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Holding/transporting plate carrier/body armor.

Target Market: Military, LEOs, home defense, anyone who owns plate carrier/body armor

FNBs (Features 'N' Benefits):

• Comes in a variety of colors to match your plate carrier
• Built in carry handle
• Made in the USA

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:

• Black
• Tan
• Green

What others are saying?: 

• “Best solution I have found to hang heavy equipment.” - ChrisH, amazon.com

Price point:

• MSRP -  $14.99 on their site
• Retail - $14.99 on amazon.com or (FRN Referral Link)

I need it now! Availability:  Amazon is the best bet because you can get free shipping with Prime.

Our Rating:

Pros + Our Rating + Handle for carrying + Wide to prevent strap deformation + Tough as H*** + Inexpensive + Army veteran created + Made in America + Lifetime Warranty

Cons - No accessory hooks/attachment points - Very Specific application

Score: 9.0 Amazing 

Safeguard Armor Stealth Body Armor

Safeguard Armor produces multiple types of body armor for civilian, police, and military applications.  Their Stealth body armor is considered to be their most concealable, lightweight, and durable version.  I was able to test and review their PP1 panel system with level II ballistic protection and level I edged blade protection.

Out of the box, the Safeguard Armor Stealth Body Armor is heavier than any other type of soft body armor I have worn, including panels with greater ballistic protection like level IIIA.  I attribute this to one of two things: either their ballistic protection material (Kevlar) is heaver and more dense, or their edged blade protection adds increased volume and weight to the system.  The edged blade protection is made up of what appears to be woven chainmail, which likely contributes to the added weight.  The panels are also thicker than competing panels which could take away from the concealability of the unit.

The vest carrier is made of Coolmax mesh which helps keep the user cooler in hot weather and hopefully also less sweaty.  Safeguard’s sizing chart also allows for multiple sizes to be purchased that fit most body types, without the hassle of having to be custom fit.  This saves time and money in the long run.  Their website also has nicely detailed measuring instructions so you can order your proper size the first time.  I would like to see Safeguard add small Velcro strips on the inside shoulders of the carrier which would allow for the panels themselves to be suspended within the carrier so they don’t slouch within the carrier with extended use.

The panel carrier goes on kind of like a t-shirt which is convenient, but it does not allow the user to adjust the height the panels ride at with shoulder straps.  To me this is an absolute necessity because if body armor is worn at the incorrect height it can be less effective at blocking shots to vital areas.  Additionally, the girth straps are only adjustable at the front which limits the amount of adjustability for particularly small or large girth individuals.  I’ve seen other carriers that allow for both custom shoulder and girth adjustments which allow for a much more “custom” fit.  Proper sizing is absolutely necessary to allow for maximum coverage for the front, back, and sides.

The cut of the front and rear panels allow for sufficient arm and shoulder movement which doesn’t interfere with fighting or shooting, which us a huge benefit.  The unit also comes with a large carrying bag sufficient in size to carry the armor and additional gear if necessary.  Too many times I’ve been issued body armor with a miniature bag that I can never figure out how to squeeze it back in.

The Safeguard Stealth as tested (level II ballistic/level I edge) costs $476.  If you don’t need edged weapon protection, I’d suggest either a level II or IIIA option which run $371 and $476 respectively.  For occasional or rare use, you really can’t beat this stuff for the price.  However for people who intend to use this on a daily basis (i.e. law enforcement or security officers), I’d recommend testing other brands with similar ballistic protection.  This way you can determin if the added cost of a lighter and less bulky armor would be worth it.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame: Concealable body armor capable of level II ballistic protection and level I edged blade protection.

Target Market: Civilians, security, and law enforcement.

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

• Ballistic and edged blade protection.
• Coolmax vest carrier.
• Available spike protection.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?:  Black or white concealable carrier.

What others are saying?:  “The SafeGuard Armor Stealth vest provides an excellent level of protection against the bullets it’s rated to stop as well as edged weapons. And it does so without any telltale signs that you’re wearing much at all under your shirt.” – Nick Leghorn,  The Truth About Guns

Price point:

• MSRP = $371 - $906 depending on levels of protection and size.
• Retail = $371 - $906 depending on levels of protection and size.

I need it now! Availability:  In-stock and available only through the manufacturer.

Our Rating:

+ Coolmax carrier helps with heat and sweat during hot summer months. + Large bag for transporting and storing your vest and some gear. + Front and back chest/shoulder cut allow excellent movement for fighting and shooting. + Available sizing appears to fit most body types without expensive custom manufacturing.

- Thicker and heavier than other models/competition available on the market. - No internal suspension to hold up vest panels inside of the carrier. - No shoulder adjustment straps and girth straps can limit adjustability.

Score:  7.0 Good

Steve’s links: Firearmsradio.tv