Soft Armor Panel Architecture Options
Because all premium soft armor panels are cut strictly to order, choosing the correct panel structure is vital for your safety, mobility, and comfort. Consequently, we provide three distinct engineering layouts to match your physical build and operational requirements:
- 1. Gender-Neutral / Male Cut: This style uses a standard flat ballistic plane optimized for male and neutral body types. It delivers full, flush coverage across the torso without unnecessary bulk.
- 2. Structured Female Cut: This style incorporates engineered, built-in bust cups designed to naturally follow anatomical curves. Therefore, it prevents dangerous panel flattening and eliminates gaps at the armpits during dynamic movement.
- 3. Unstructured Female Cut: This configuration utilizes a flat ballistic plane layout. However, we alter the perimeter pattern dimensions specifically to accommodate shorter female torso lengths and narrower shoulder frames. This option is highly recommended for female operators who prefer a flat fit or place their panels inside external duty carriers.
Please ensure your selected panel layout matches your physical measurements before completing your order. If you need assistance selecting the proper configuration for your duty assignment, please contact our team directly before checkout.
Male Concealable Armor Sizing Guide:
These instructions serve as a direct supplement to our formal Male / Gender-Neutral Custom Sizing Form. To ensure a flawless, secure fit, you must be precise while recording all requested measurements on that document. Consequently, please follow these tactical preparation rules carefully before pulling your measuring tape.
Operational Setup Rules
- First, the officer must wear their full on-duty gear, including their standard uniform shirt, undergarments, and duty belt during the entire fitting process.
- Meanwhile, the officer must stand and sit normally without sucking in their stomach or artificially altering their posture.
- Therefore, a separate partner should always conduct the physical tracking, as you must never attempt to measure yourself.
- Finally, utilize a soft vinyl or cloth tape measure to ensure precise tracking against body contours.
Required Sizing Tools
| Writing Utensil / Digital Device | Soft Tape Measure |
| Armless Chair | Completed Measurement Form |
Alpha Sizing Baseline
If your custom sizing measurements do not align exactly with the baseline chart below, round your final custom calculations up to the next chart value to determine the appropriate Alpha size.
| Alpha Size | Chest Range | Waist Range | Panel Width | Panel Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SM | 33" - 36" | 28" - 30" | 18 | 13 |
| MD | 37" - 40" | 32" - 34" | 20 | 14 |
| LG | 41" - 44" | 36" - 38" | 22 | 15 |
| XL | 46" - 48" | 40" - 42" | 24 | 16 |
| 2XL | 50" - 52" | 44" - 46" | 26 | 17 |
| 3XL | 54" - 56" | 48" - 50" | 28 | 18 |
| 4XL | 58" - 60" | 52"- 54" | 30 | 19 |
Custom Measurement Steps
A: TORSO WIDTH (Standing)
Locate the officer’s belly button to clear your alignment baseline. Utilizing that specific reference point, accurately measure around the absolute widest part of the abdomen. Round this tracking up to the nearest whole inch and record the value.
B: BACK LENGTH (Standing)
Identify the most prominent cervical vertebra located at the baseline of the neck. Next, measure vertically straight down the spine to the top edge of the duty belt. Round this length calculation down to the nearest whole inch and record the result.
C: CENTER FRONT (Seated)
Have the officer sit normally inside an armless chair. Locate the top center of the jugular notch where the collarbones meet. Track vertically down the center of the torso directly to the top edge of the duty belt. Round this measurement down to the nearest whole inch and record.
D: OVERLAP / SIDE PROTECTION VALUE
Your choice of carrier style directly determines your required tactical overlap coverage. Therefore, follow the designated rules below to record value D. Note: If you plan to deploy your ballistic panels inside BOTH concealable and external carrier systems, always record the larger External / Outer value.
Concealable Carriers Only: Record exactly 3″ for Step D.
External / Outer Carriers: Record exactly 5″ for Step D.
Final Panel Calculation Formula
Calculate Value E by adding your Torso Width (A) directly to your Overlap Value (D):
A + D = E Inches
| FRONT WIDTH: | Calculate E ÷ 2 (Round up to nearest inch) |
| FRONT LENGTH: | Use Center Front Value (C) |
| BACK WIDTH: | Calculate E ÷ 2 (Round up to nearest inch) |
| BACK LENGTH: | Use Back Length Value (B) |
Important Discrepancy Rules: Front Width cannot differ from Back Width by more than 3″. Concurrently, Front Length cannot differ from Back Length by more than 1″.
Female Concealable Armor Sizing Guide:
These instructions serve as a direct supplement to our formal Female Concealable Sizing Form. To ensure a flawless, secure fit, you must be precise while recording all requested measurements on that document. Consequently, please follow these tactical preparation rules carefully before pulling your measuring tape.
Operational Setup Rules
- First, the officer must wear her standard on-duty undergarments, duty pants, and duty belt during the entire fitting process.
- Meanwhile, the officer must not artificially adjust the height of her duty belt or stand with an artificially erect posture.
- Therefore, a separate person should always conduct the physical tracking to ensure total accuracy.
- Finally, utilize a vinyl or cloth measuring tape. Keep the tape level and snug, but do not overtighten it.
Required Sizing Tools
| Writing Utensil | Soft Tape Measure (Vinyl/Cloth) |
| Armless Chair | Straight Edge Ruler |
Alpha Sizing Baseline
| Size | Bust | Waist | Front Panel | Rear Width | Rear Height | Front Width | Front Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SM | 34" - 35" | 27" - 28" | SM-REG | 17 | 13 | 17 | 13 |
| MD | 36" - 38" | 29" - 31" | MD-REG | 18 | 13 | 18 | 13.5 |
| LG | 39" - 41" | 32" - 34" | LG-REG | 20 | 14 | 20 | 14 |
| XL | 43" - 45" | 35" - 38" | XL-REG | 22 | 14 | 22 | 14.5 |
| 2XL | 47" - 49" | 40" - 42" | 2XL-REG | 24 | 15 | 24 | 15 |
| 3XL | 51" - 53" | 44" - 46" | 3XL-REG | 26 | 15 | 26 | 15.5 |
| 4XL | 55" - 57" | 48" - 50" | 4XL-REG | 28 | 16 | 28 | 16 |
Custom Measurement Steps
A: CHEST / BUST MEASUREMENT (Standing)
Measure the fullest part of the chest by wrapping the soft tape directly under the arms, smoothly across the bust line, and straight around the shoulder blades. Round this number up to the nearest whole inch.
Layout Rule: If choosing a Structured Female layout, measure naturally over the apex of the bust line. If choosing an Unstructured Female layout, ensure the tape lays flat across the chest tissue without compressed distortion.
B: TORSO GIRTH (Standing)
Wrap the tape horizontally around the officer’s waist at the widest part of the abdomen, using the center of the navel as your primary baseline reference. Round this tracking up to the nearest whole inch.
C: BACK LENGTH MEASUREMENT (Standing)
Track vertically from the most prominent cervical bone located at the base of the neck straight down to the top edge of the duty belt. Round this total back length metric down to the nearest whole inch.
D: SEATED SUPRASTERNAL NOTCH TO DUTY BELT (Seated)
Have the officer sit comfortably inside an armless chair. Next, place your straight ruler horizontally across the apex of the bust line. Measure vertically from the bottom edge of the suprasternal notch down to the top of the duty belt, routing over the ruler alignment. Round down to the nearest whole inch.
E: STANDING SUPRASTERNAL NOTCH TO DUTY BELT (Standing)
While the officer stands normally, position the straight ruler horizontally straight across the bust line. Track vertically from the bottom of the suprasternal notch down to the top edge of the duty belt, and round down to the nearest whole inch. We utilize this specific measurement as an essential reference point to calculate proper armor coverage transitions between sitting and standing profiles.
