Body armor is protective gear built to stop bullets and fragments from reaching your vital organs. It comes in two main forms: soft armor made of woven fibers, and hard plates made of steel, ceramic or polyethylene.
Armor only works where it covers. A great plate worn too low will not protect your heart and lungs, so fit matters as much as the rating on the label.
Before buying, learn to read the label. It should tell you the protection level, the standard it was tested to, the size, the date it was made and which side faces out.
Body armor videos
These videos cover the basics of soft and hard body armor, plates and carriers.