Body armour & protective equipment guides

26 guides

Stand-Alone vs ICW Armour Plates: A UK Buying Guide
Stand-alone vs in-conjunction (ICW) hard armour plates explained for UK buyers: ratings, weight, cost and how to choose. Read more...
ESAPI vs SAPI Plate Sizing Explained for UK Buyers
A UK buying guide to ESAPI and SAPI hard armour plate sizing, the standard size chart, and how plates map to NIJ levels. Read more...
What RF1, RF2 and RF3 Mean Under NIJ 0101.07
A UK buying guide to the NIJ 0101.07 rifle armour ratings RF1, RF2 and RF3, how they compare to old NIJ levels, and how to choose a plate. Read more...
NIJ IV vs NIJ III+ rifle plates: which body armour do you need?
NIJ III+ vs NIJ IV rifle plates compared for UK buyers: threat coverage, weight, cost and which hard armour fits your use case. Read more...
Ceramic vs Polyethylene Rifle Armour Plates Compared
Ceramic vs polyethylene rifle armour plates compared on weight, protection rating, durability and cost. A UK buying guide. Read more...
Body armour and PPE glossary — R Supply Store guide
A glossary of body armour and PPE terms
A plain-English glossary of the body armour and PPE terms you'll meet while shopping: NIJ, UHMWPE, MOLLE and more. Read more...
What bulletproof really means, body armour myths — R Supply Store guide
What 'bulletproof' really means: five body armour myths
No armour is truly bulletproof. We bust five common myths about levels, coverage, weight and stab resistance. Read more...
How soft body armour stops a bullet — R Supply Store guide
How soft body armour stops a bullet
How woven fibre armour catches and slows a bullet by spreading its energy, and why that's different from stopping a blade. Read more...
K9 body armour for working dogs — R Supply Store guide
K9 body armour: protecting working dogs
What ballistic dog vests are, how K9 armour is shaped for movement, and what to look for in a working dog vest. Read more...
Stab and spike resistance explained — R Supply Store guide
Stab and spike ratings explained: Home Office KR/SP levels vs manufacturer ratings
Stab vs spike protection, what KR1 and SP1 mean, and how to read the manufacturer-stated stab ratings on imported vests. Read more...
How to choose a covert vest — R Supply Store guide
How to choose a covert (concealable) body armour vest
Picking a concealable vest comes down to level, fit, weight and coverage. Here's a practical buyer's checklist. Read more...
What is UHMWPE soft body armour — R Supply Store guide
What is UHMWPE? The material behind soft body armour
UHMWPE is the lightweight, strong fibre behind much modern soft armour. Here's what it is and how it compares to aramid. Read more...
Body Armour and PPE Questions Answered
Honest answers to common body armour and PPE questions. UK legality, NIJ protection levels, sizing, care, and how to buy from R Supply Store. Read more...
Best Body Armour for Security Professionals and Door Supervisors
Concealable NIJ IIIA vs overt body armour for security staff and door supervisors. Compare comfort, threat level and fit for long shifts and choose well. Read more...
Stab-Resistant Protection for Couriers and Delivery Riders
How stab-resistant vests work for couriers and delivery riders, the protection levels available, plus how to stay discreet and comfortable on shift. Read more...
Ballistic Shields Explained: Handheld vs Arm, Steel vs Composite
Ballistic shields compared. Handheld vs arm shields, steel vs composite, weight and protection levels, plus when a shield actually makes sense. Read more...
Tactical Helmet Buying Guide: FAST, MICH, SL-style and Airframe
Compare FAST, MICH, SL-style and Airframe tactical helmets, high cut versus full cut shells, accessory rails and how to get the fit right before you buy. Read more...
How to Set Up a Plate Carrier: A Practical Beginner Guide
Learn how to set up a plate carrier the right way. Choose the carrier, compare soft and hard panels, size your plates and build a sensible MOLLE loadout. Read more...
Caring for and Storing Body Armour: A Buyer's Guide
Learn how to care for and store soft and hard body armour, what damages it, and how to inspect armour so it lasts and stays ready when you need it. Read more...
EN388 Cut Resistance Levels Explained: A Buyer's Guide
Understand EN388 cut resistance levels, what each glove and garment rating means, and how to choose the right cut-resistant gear for your task. Read more...
Is Body Armour Legal to Own in the UK?
Yes, civilians can legally own body armour, bulletproof vests and stab vests in England, Wales and Scotland with no licence. A clear UK law explainer plus international notes. Read more...
Stab-Resistant vs Ballistic Armour: Key Differences
Stab-resistant and ballistic armour stop different threats. Learn why one does not protect against the other and how to pick the right body armour. Read more...
How to Choose Body Armour: A Practical Buying Guide
Learn how to choose body armour by threat level, fit, concealment and weight. A clear UK buying guide for civilians and professionals from R Supply Store. Read more...
How to Size and Fit a Ballistic Helmet
Learn how to measure your head, choose high-cut vs full-cut, and get a secure, comfortable ballistic helmet fit. A clear UK buying guide from R Supply Store. Read more...
NIJ Protection Levels Explained: Body Armour Rating Chart (IIA to IV, HG1 to RF3)
NIJ body armour ratings explained in plain language, with a rating chart covering IIA, II, IIIA, III and IV and the newer HG1, HG2, RF1, RF2 and RF3 levels. Read more...
Soft Armour vs Hard Armour Plates: Which Do You Need?
Soft armour vs hard armour plates explained. Compare threat levels, pros, cons and which type of body armour you actually need, plus UK legality. Read more...