History is a witness to the fact that bulletproof vests provide a lot of protection to their wearers. From metal armor in ancient times to the modern versions, soldiers have worn them over the centuries to stay safe in the face of apparent threats. However, a question still lingers until now – why are hard bulletproof vests so heavy?

We know that a lot of manufacturers out there put great effort into making hard body armor and bulletproof vests as light as possible. Yet, with all the enhancements done to hard armor in this era, it is a wonder why muscle-related and mobility issues still occur when wearing them.

So, why are they heavy?

• Bulletproof vests and hard body armor are heavy because they are built to resist existing high-powered ammunition. Many times, these require heavier materials, especially ceramics.
• The main component of body armor is its ballistic panel, placed on both the chest and the back. The ballistic panel’s properties can depend on the intended design whether it is for soft or hard body armor. To make the panel wearable, the panel must be inserted into a plate carrier.
• Hardbody armor and bulletproof vests can include ceramic, ceramic composites, or bullet-resistant fibers, particularly para-aramid ones like Kevlar®. As for the vest carriers, they are made of viable fabrics such as Cordura nylon and cotton.

Fortunately, there have been some improvements in recent times. For instance, the DFNDR Level IV Armor Plate can withstand a single shot of 7.62×63 APM2 at muzzle velocity. It has quite a strong, yet brittle caliber and pierce. Yet, it weighs only about 5.8 lbs. for a medium cut. This is impressive progress. In fact, the bulletproof vest has a multi-curve plate to reduce the possibilities of deflection and breakage. It is again made of UHMWPE. It has the highest grade of Ceramic strike face upon making light armors.

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