It may go without saying that wearing the proper body armor and equipment can save lives. However, many police have admitted to not wearing their vest due to discomfort. However, an external vest carrier police accessory is a vest that is designed for use outside of the uniform. They are easy to wear and remove when needed. As the name implies, it is a carrier, it is not a cover. It’s more like a shell for the body armor that is already owned. External carriers are often designed to have any existing ballistic panels placed inside of it without the need to purchase any new ballistic panels.
It is designed to look as if it is part of the uniform and not as if it is a protective vest. For many years the only protection available for police was made to be worn under the officer’s uniform. This concealment was intended to prevent criminals from taking head shots, should they realize that the officer’s torso was protected. However, numerous television series and films have depicted police wearing a concealed vest, which lead to the construction of an outer vest carrier that resembles a uniform shirt.
This permits the wearing of protection that can be lifted or unzipped to allow for cooling when overheated from hot climate or a lengthy physical encounter with a suspect. Many purchasers have reported that an external vest is more comfortable when compared to one that is concealed. The weight of an external vest is not significantly different from that of a concealed vest; however, the temperature control is very different. Some police who use an external vest carrier have commented that the use of external vest carrier police apparel produces 30% less sweat on underlying clothing at the end of their shift. It is also easier to remove an external vest while inside of the police station when completing paperwork, booking a suspect or when otherwise not exposed to danger.
Depending on the location, some demands for external vest carrier police equipment has climbed recently to the point that up to 30% of vest carrier sales can be attributed to external vest carriers. The external vest carrier is constructed to blend with the numerous uniform shirt styles, and there are color varieties to choose from, for a professional uniform appearance. These external vest carriers offer protection while still appearing as a button up uniform shirt, complete with false buttons and epaulettes. Many users of an external vest carrier recommend them to offload the weight of required accessories, from the belt or waist area to the carrier vest compartments, to alleviate lower back or hip discomfort.
