SPECIAL REPORT
Point Blank Alpha Elite Series Body Armor
els, not the carrier that holds the ballis- tic panels. This allows more positional control over the ballistic panels and limits the movement of the ballistic panels inside the carrier. The panels cannot move back and forth, up and down inside the carrier. Instead, the ballistic panels stay exactly where the carrier is, and the carrier is held in place both by body fi t (contour) and by mul- tiple elastic straps. On the shoulder strap, the “alliga-
tor mouth” hook is sewn to a 200 de- nier tab, which is welded and moisture sealed within the panel. The alligator mouth hook is then sewn to the ballistic panel for extra strap-to-panel strength.
Comfortable Shoulder Strap Access Other body armor models made by Point Blank also use the SSBS strap sus- pension system. However, the Alpha Elite Series has a new, more comfort- able, lower profi le way to access the shoulder straps to armor connection. The carrier uses an overlapping, peel- back shoulder design. During normal wear, the soft, Active Stretch exterior fabric completely covers the strap loop and alligator-mouth twin hook. On some other carriers, the down- ward-facing Velcro® hook can be
slightly misplaced on the loop and then scratch or irritate the shoulder area. Completely surrounding the strap to armor connection with the exterior fab- ric eliminates this possible discomfort. Some offi cers undo the side straps
and remove the armor and carrier over their head like a pullover shirt. Other offi cers undo both side straps and one of the shoulder straps and remove the armor and carrier like a buttoned shirt—yes, to avoid dragging the armor over their face and hair.
Active Stretch, Inner Mesh The exterior fabric is made of 85 percent polyester and 15 percent spandex. (The name “spandex” is an anagram of the word “expands.”) The exterior fabric has a memory that allows it to be peeled back to expose the shoulder strap to ballistic panel connection, and then return to fully sur- rounded once released. The use of this Active
Stretch sportswear, active wear fabric also results in a slightly snugger overall fi t of the soft body armor. The ex- terior fabric is Aegis® anti- microbial treated. The Elite carrier has a Mi-
cro-Spacer Inner Mesh insert positioned in the center of the back and the center of the front of the carrier. The anti-mi- crobial mesh acts as a cooling spacer, to both wick away moisture and vent air between the body and the carrier.
Longer Straps On the male carrier, the straps have been extended from 7 inches to 9 inches. On the female carrier, the straps have been extended from 5 inches to 7 inches. In both cases, the carrier is designed for a snip and cut to fi t. The offi cer should put on the new vest and review the fi t. If the shoulder straps are too long, re- move the vest, and undo one edge of the Breathe-O-Prene® straps from the front vest ballistic panel. Cut 1 inch from each strap, being careful not to cut the carrier. Reassemble the strap to the vest, and try on again.
In Men’s armor, the Alpha Elite-series is available in Level II and Level IIIA. The Level IIIA Dyneema ballistic fabric is 26 percent lighter than the industry average for Level IIIA.
36 LAW and ORDER I May 2014
The Alpha Elite carrier allows easy access to the “alligator mouth” shoulder strap connections. The armor uses strap suspended panels to prevent the ballistic panels from sagging and bunching.
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