OMB's Express Police Supply

Not to be confused with Rifle Plates, Blunt Trauma Pads are added to help lessen the “blunt trauma”, i.e., bruising (or a cracked bone). that happens when a bullet is stopped by a vest. Even though your vest stops the bullet, it still hits like a sledgehammer – a Blunt Trauma Pad helps spread out this impact and lessen the severity of injury to the mid-Chest and the Sternum bone that is so vulnerable just under the skin. Tap the middle of your chest with your knuckles.... and then imagine the impact of a bullet pushing on the vest! Vests are NIJ certified WITHOUT a Blunt Trauma Pad and thus it is not strictly necessary, but we strongly recommend them. The 5" by 8" rigid Steel plate (~13 by 20 cm.) or Kevlar® / Spectra® Soft Pack slips into a pocket on the front of the vest. Steel is heavier and stiffer but better protection versus knives and fists. The Aramid / Kevlar® Soft Pack offers more ballistic (bullet) protection, and is lighter, flexible, and more concealable. (Or you can even double up Steel and Kevlar.) The rigid Steel may create a slight flat spot to hurt concealability a little bit, but the flexible Aramid / Kevlar® Soft Pack doesn't generally hurt concealability, as it conforms to the center of the chest.