With the prohibitive costs of body armors, it is not surprising that many civilians who want to protect themselves opt to shop for used body armor for sale. However, there are certain things that people interested in used bullet proof vest sale should realize. First is that there’s a risk in buying second hand bullet proof vests especially if the fabric is worn out. Second, there are some websites that sell new body vests at very competitive prices and which can pose as a good alternative to used body armors.
Bullet proof vests are quite expensive, with the prices of these products going for at leat a few hundreds dollars. A hard body armor can cost anywhere from $400 to $600, and this is not inclusive of the ballistic plates. A soft body armor costs cheaper, but not inexpensive enough for some budget-conscious buyers to stop looking at used bullet proof vest for sale.
Used bullet proof vest for sale can be bought for at least half the price of new vests. Most of these vests are sold by ex-military or police personnel. Websites like eBay (www.eBay.com) are good online sources of used ballistic vest and even used Kevlar vest, which has been associated by many people as bullet resistant vests. Kevlar is actually the first bullet resistant fiber, but there are now other ballistic fibers like Twaron and polyethylene materials such as Goldflex and Dyneema.
Buying Used Vests
Usually, soft body armors sold in the United States will last for five years, according to the standards set by the National Institute of Justice. So most of the second body vests of this kind, meaning vests that are categorized as Type IIIA and below, are at the most five years old.
But when shopping for a used body vest, the purchase should not be based on the cost and age of the outfit. The buyer should check for damages like tears and creases before agreeing to pay for the vest.
Buyers also have to take into consideration the add-ons of the vests. Body armors have numerous add-ons, like shoulder guards, side protection for the abdomen, neck guard, and protection for the groin. Anyone buying a used armor should also check if the add-ons fit snugly to his body so as not to constrict his movement.
Of course, the used vest should fit comfortably. Buying an armor that is too large for you results to slippage, while an armor that is too small can leave certain parts of the wearer’s body vulnerable to injury. This is why buying used vests online can be very risky, as the customer not only has a limited idea on the history of the product but he also cannot fit it before buying.
Most security experts even advise against the purchase of a used body vest from a complete stranger. The buyer may not know the full history of the body armor, exposing himself to risks later on.
Dangers of Buying a Used Vest
Buying a second hand vest is akin to buying a second hand parachute. It’s a very risky proposition, especially if the buyer has absolutely no idea how the body vest was used before. The previous owner of the body vest may have mistreated it before, or it could have been inappropriately stored.
Worst, the past owner may have been assaulted wearing the very same armor. Structural damage to a body armor is invisible to the human eye, thus there is no way to tell a buyer that the second hand body vest he’s interested in is no longer safe to use.
Second hand body armors that are more than five years in age will need re-evaluation. The manufacturer, using the latest technology, will determine if the used body armor is still safe for use and issue a warranty.
Cheap New Body Vest
Given that buying a used body vest can be risky, it makes a lot of sense to opt for a new body armor that is not as expensive as most of the models sold today. BulletSafe (www.bulletsafe.com) sells a Class 3A military-grade body vest that is almost 50% cheaper than the body armors currently available in the market.
Sold for just $299, the class IIIA body vest of BulletSafe is perhaps the most reasonably priced product of its kind today. It provides adequate protection against handgun bullets, from those emanating from a .44 magnum revolver to a BB gun. Prospective buyers should realize that nearly seven out of 10 gun violence cases in the United States is caused by handguns, the bullets of which this body vest can resist.
Advantages of BulletSafe’s Body Vest
BulletSafe’s body vest is not only cheaper compared to other body armors, it is also lightweight and comfortable enough for everyday wear. It is considered as a soft body armor, hence, the owner can easily conceal it by wearing a shirt over it. Using a soft body armor is considered safer because the wearer won’t be susceptible to enemies taking aim at uncovered areas of the body like the head.
The body vest can also transform into a Class IV protection, or a hard armor, as it has front and rear pockets where metallic plates can be put in.
And unlike some used body armors that come in standard sizes, the class IIIA body vest of BulletSafe comes in six sizes. Interested buyers will surely find a size that comfortably fits them instead of insisting on a used vest that is either too big or too small for them.
Conclusion
With the high costs of owning a body armor, it is understandable why many civilians who want to protect themselves against danger settle for second hand body vests. However, with the availability of cheap body vests like the $299 Class 3A armor of BulletSafe, security-conscious individuals don’t have to make do with used body vests that pose security threats. To find out more about BulletSafe’s affordable Class 3A body vest, visit the website at www.bulletsafe.com.