I got to thinking today about my armor setup. It's a Pointblank Interceptor with IIIA soft armor and level 4 plates on top of that. I have it lying flat with the back side underneath. What I'm wondering is if the weight of the plates will degrade the soft armor over time? Should I try to store it upright?
How do you store your armor?
- Thread starter Creature
- Start date
Keep it out of extreme heat, never expose the actual soft armor to sunlight (UV degradation), and keep it clean. Moisture and dirt along with wear and heat degrades soft armor. Don't let it have any sharp creases and it will be perfectly fine for many years to come. Most manufacturers actually recommend storing it flat.
ETA: Well, in reading about a recent study, maybe the moisture isn't as degrading as was once thought before. That had to do with the Zylon type, but not others. Here you go, read to your heart's content! https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/240222.pdf
ETA: Well, in reading about a recent study, maybe the moisture isn't as degrading as was once thought before. That had to do with the Zylon type, but not others. Here you go, read to your heart's content! https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/240222.pdf
Last edited:
I stand it up on the closet floor so air can get to both sides. I tried the hanger thing, but the shoulder elastic wore out prematurely.
I believe it depends on what kind or how it is worn. In Iraq with SAPIs in a outer carrier we made make shift crosses and put them on them to air out. Now with an agency that utilizes soft armor it also gets hung if its in an outer carrier. When worn underneath uniform I just stand it up flat. However it gets hot as hell here and it's starts to stink, so inevitably I remove the panels and end up washing the vest in the sink. I will then hang it up to dry as I really don't have to worry about extra weight on the straps since the panels are out after a wipe down and a squirt or two of febreeze.
Tapatalk2
Tapatalk2
+1for scuba hanger. Give it the fresh water washdown now and then, and hang on scuba hanger.
When I was a new guy they showed us a demo of rough handled body armor. One set was left outdoors for a few (3-6) months with no care and lots of sunlight. Wouldn't even stop 9mm any more. The other had been soaked in salt water every couple days for a couple months and not cleaned, but kept indoors. That one wasnt worth wearing either. That demo was an eye opener. I damn sure cleaned my armor in fresh water after that and let it dry indoors as condition/ ops would allow. And I would trade it out for new gear every chance I got.
When I was a new guy they showed us a demo of rough handled body armor. One set was left outdoors for a few (3-6) months with no care and lots of sunlight. Wouldn't even stop 9mm any more. The other had been soaked in salt water every couple days for a couple months and not cleaned, but kept indoors. That one wasnt worth wearing either. That demo was an eye opener. I damn sure cleaned my armor in fresh water after that and let it dry indoors as condition/ ops would allow. And I would trade it out for new gear every chance I got.
The flip side is that I knew a guy who worked with body armor who had the chance to shoot some vests that had sat in a garage for 17 years...after being worn on duty for 5 years. Still shot to NIJ standards, even after that much heat and humidity exposure. Quality vests will last longer than many people expect.
Really? I wonder what the rational is behind that and I wonder if that applies to soft armor with plates on it?
Something to do with gravity affecting the layout of the fibers over time. A vest works by dispersing energy like a sheet rippling in the wind. Stands to reason that if the fibers sag over time, their layout changes, and the material becomes less efficient at energy dispersal.
It would affect all soft armor, a carrier with plates can be stored however you like, any soft armor, lay it flat so sayeth the man in charge of testing and selection for a large department.
Seems to make sense to me so I lay mine flat.
I made a hanger using a piece of conduit 1" and an eye bolt. It hangs on a coat hook on the wall next to my desk. The cross stands are handy but take up to much floor space for my liking.
I looked at several different hangers that are on the market but the one I made didn't cost me anything. Sometime being creative is alright
LBT-6094M with soft armor and ESAPI plates.
I looked at several different hangers that are on the market but the one I made didn't cost me anything. Sometime being creative is alright
LBT-6094M with soft armor and ESAPI plates.
Last edited:
I made a hanger using a piece of conduit 1" and an eye bolt. It hangs on a coat hook on the wall next to my desk. The cross stands are handy but take up to much floor space for my liking.
I looked at several different hangers that are on the market but the one I made didn't cost me anything. Sometime being creative is alright
LBT-6094M with soft armor and ESAPI plates.
That's a pretty good idea, and I bet it's fairly light as well. Nice job use the ol' brain housing group.
Tapatalk2
Backing up a little, I use the "hanger" for now but if storing it for a long period of time I'd lay it flat. As it hangs for now it's on and off the hanger all the time so I don't worry. When done working over here (one of these years) and I'm back stateside it'll be stored properly, laying flat with other gear in a big ass Tupperware storage container.......
Similar threads
