What is the Difference Between Tactical Vests & Bulletproof Vests

Plate carriers, tactical vests, and bulletproof vests are all types of gear designed to protect against ballistic projectiles and stabs or punctures.

Although they all serve the same purpose, there are significant differences between them in terms of details and use cases. Let's learn more about the distinctions between these essential tactical gear options.

What is a tactical body armor vest?

A tactical body armor vest, or plate carrier, is a protective vest that covers the wearer's torso and back. They are typically ergonomically designed to be comfortably worn for long periods, with substantial padding to protect your upper body and spine.

Plate carriers are almost always worn outside of clothing. There are some plate carriers like the Spartan Armor Systems® DL Concealment Plate Carrier, that are made specifically to wear under your clothes.

Almost every tactical vest does not provide any ballistic protection until you insert a body armor plate.

Plates come in different shapes and sizes. We are talking about vests specifically in this article though. So to learn more about body armor plates protection level, watch here. For more information on the different shapes, watch here.

Tactical vests are designed for both civilian uses as well as military use. Plate carriers are most used by police forces and special forces units because they offer protection from rifle rounds and improvised explosive devices when using level III, level III+, or level IV armor plates, but have also been used by regular citizens when training at the range, or even working out.

Now let’s take a look at the Pros and Cons of Tactical Body Armor Vests (Plate Carriers):

Pros	Cons
Has the capability to add on accessories with either PALS Webbing or MOLLE attachments	Usually not concealable and is worn outside of clothing
Can hold thicker plates for more protection	Can be bulky and heavy depending on the body plates inserted
Can have multiple pockets and other features for gear	Does not provide any ballistic protection without body armor plates
Can be less expensive than “bulletproof vests” with built in protection

What is a Bulletproof Vest?

Technically speaking a bulletproof vest can be the same thing as a plate carrier, as long as there are body armor plates inserted into it.

Yes, a bulletproof vest is a garment that is worn on the torso to protect against ballistic projectiles and other melee weapons.

The difference comes to us from the general vocabulary of the industry and niche. It usually utilizes soft body armor protection, like Kevlar, and only protects against handgun rounds.

Keep in mind that handguns are still the number one used weapon in homicides.

As an example, the Spartan Armor Systems® Concealable Wraparound Bulletproof Vest has more coverage than that of a normal plate carrier, when it comes to coverage area.

It has a rating level of IIIA, which is the NIJ rating for protection against handgun rounds.

This type of gear is what would be a “bulletproof vest”. Let’s look now at the pros and cons:

Pros

Cons

Can be concealable and worn under clothes

Often does not have options to attach additional tactical gear

Some bulletproof vests have pockets for body armor inserts

More expensive than plate carriers because of the protection already built-in

Usually, lighter in weight compared to tactical vests

Most are limited to level IIIA handgun protection

Why do you need to know the difference?

Understanding the difference between these two types of tactical gear is essential, especially when looking to purchase one.

Here are some use cases and the recommended products from Spartan Armor Systems®:

Bulletproof Vests
Concealment Wraparound Bulletproof Vest	A low-profile bulletproof vest that is great for men and women. High concealable and easy to set up.
Tactical Wraparound Bulletproof Vest	Great all-around bulletproof vest. It has pockets to accept additional hard body armor plates and has PALS webbing and Velcro for adding tactical accessories.
Tactical Body Armor Vests
Spartan Shooters Cut Plat Carrier	Low barrier-to-entry plate carrier. High durability, at a low price. Great for using a first-time-body armor user.
Sentinel High Mobility Plate Carrier	Looking for agility and speed? This plate carrier uses a “swimmer cut” design to limit weight and keep the range of motion high. Use this carrier to take your CrossFit workouts to new heights.
Hydra Lightweight Plate Carrier	This tactical vest is a must-have to keep in your vehicle. With a lightweight and straightforward design, the Hydra is a great solution for those incidents at the moment.
Tactical Response Kit	A laser cut plate carrier made from 1000 denier materials, MOLLE attachments, removeable triple M4 pouch, and comes with a handy Spartan Storage Bag. Great kit to keep in your car or go bag.
Leonidas Legend Plate Carrier – Made in the USA	Ultimate protection and durability on this tactical vest. With pockets to hold side plates as well as chest and back plates, you can be comfortable, have full rifle-rated protection, and have all of your gear on you at all times.