FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How can I order a vest?
2. Which soft ballistic packages do you offer?
3. How long does it take before I receive my order?
4. What are the shipping costs ?
5. How will the vest be shipped ?
6. What ballistic protection level should I get?
7. What about rifle and submachine gun protection?
8. How comfortable are your vests?
9. How durable are your vests?
10. Do you have a printed catalog ?
11. Is it possible to get a discount on large orders ?
12. What materials does EnGarde USA use for it's vests?
13. Do you sell second hand or over stock vests?
14. How concealable are the concealable bullet proof vests?
15. Is it legal for civilians to buy body armor?
16. Where can I find more information about body armor?
17. Does EnGarde have distributors in other countries?
Question 1.
How can I order a vest?
If you are interested in one or more vest. Please contact us.
Question 2.
Which soft ballistic packages do you offer?
Using the worlds strongest fibers, Dyneema® and Spectra®, enables us to produce bullet proof vests which are very flexible, extremely light and durable. Currently we offer two high-end ballistic packages. The ENGARDEIIIA-PRO and the newly developed ENGARDEII-ULTRALIGHT.
ENGARDEIIIA-PRO
Superb stopping power and first rate comfort
The ENGARDEIIIA-PRO is a full-wrap design made of 100% Dyneema offering superior stopping power, excellent blunt trauma capabilities and first rate comfort. The ENGARDEIIIA-PRO exceeds NIJ Level IIIA performance and minimizes blunt trauma due to integrated anti-trauma stitching.
Armor technical details
| Ballistic capabilities: | NIJ Level IIIA+ Tokarev Ball 7,62x25mm, Makarov 9x18mm and Action Effect 9x19mm |
| V50 (9mm): | 563 m/sec |
| Armor material: | DSM Dyneema® |
| Areal Density: | 5.6 kg/m2 |
| Weight (medium size): | 1.8 kg / 3.9 lbs |
| Thinness: | 7.5 mm |
| Warranty: | 10 years |
The ENGARDEIIIA-PRO package has been tested and found to comply with the NIJ 2005 Interim Requirements for Bullet-Resistant Body Armor and has been added to the NIJ compliance list.
The ENGARDEIIIA-PRO NIJ Level IIIA panel performed very well during the tests at HP White laboratory Inc., an NIJ/NLECTC Approved Testing Laboratory. The BFS (=backface signature) of the panels stayed well below the maximum allowed 44 mm.
ENGARDEII-ULTRALIGHT
High performance and extremely lightweight
The ENGARDEII-ULTRALIGHT is our latest, lightest and most flexible ballistic package. The 100% Spectra Shield II full-wrap design offers high performance, extremely lightweight properties and ultimate comfort. Test results show that the ENGARDEII-ULTRALIGHT exceeds NIJ Level II.
Armor technical details
| Ballistic capabilities: | NIJ Level II+ Tokarev Ball 7,62x25mm, Makarov 9x18mm and Effect 9x19mm |
| Armor material: | Honeywell Spectra Shield® II |
| Areal Density: | 3.85 kg/m2 |
| Weight (medium size): | 1.2 kg / 2.6 lbs |
| Thinness: | 5.5 mm |
| Warranty: | 10 years |
All our ballistic packages have been thoroughly tested at official testing laboratories such as H.P. White Laboratory (USA), TNO (Netherlands) and Mellrichstadt Ballistic Laboratory (Germany).
Question 3.
How long does it take before I receive my order?
It usually takes around 10 business days before your order arrives at you address. Because all our high quality bullet proof vests are custom made, it takes a few days before your order has been manufactured and shipped.
Question 4.
What are the shipping costs?
All our vests' prices include shipping.
Question 5.
How will the vest be shipped?
We ship your vest using UPS or other courier available. You will receive the tracking code of the package as soon as your order has been shipped.
Question 6.
What ballistic protection level should I order?
NIJ Level II is a good balance between comfort, concealabitly and blunt trauma.
Level III-A will stop the majority of handgun bullets out there, such as 9mm and .44 mm magnum rounds. The Level III and Level IV bullet proof vests will protect against machine gun rounds and other high velocity rounds.
Of course no bullet proof vest can provide absolute protection against firearm threat but will provide the utmost protection possible under given circumstances. The lower protection levels are less restricting but also provide less protection.
Level IIIA is advised by NIJ for policemen. This is the most acceptable vest in de industry with regards to safety, cost and its ability to be worn as a concealable body armor.
Level III and IV require hard armor inserts into a level IIIA vest and thus are heavier and more expensive. The main difference between the level III and IV inserts is that the level IV inserts also protect against Armor Piercing bullets. These vests are highly desirable under machine gun threats.
Refer to the ballistic test chart for more detailed information on the protection specifications.
Question 7.
What about rifle and submachine gun protection?
Rifle and submachine guns are capable of delivering more power to the rounds, thus rendering soft armor ineffective. Therefore we advice the use of hard armor inserts which upgrade a level IIIA to a level III or IV in the front and back. EnGarde USA offers inserts made of Ceramics
and
DYNEEMA® to cover the chest and back. Soft body armor vests only provide pistol and shotgun protection.
Question 8.
How comfortable are your vests?
Our bulletproof vests are very comfortable because they are custom made in order to provide you with a perfect fit. The overall activity-improved design by using human body engineering not only provides a comfortable fit but also a secure protection of your life the moment you put on our body armor. The usage of advanced materials such as COOLMAX® further adds to the comfort of wearing our vests.
Question 9.
How durable are you vests?
Our vests are made with DYNEEMA® and Spectra®, the strongest fiber in the world. The DYNEEMA® panels are guaranteed to give the stated protection for ten years. Tests have shown that even after ten years the ballistic properties are well maintained.
Question 10.
Do you have a printed catalog?
Sorry, we do not publish a printed catalog. To serve you better we prefer to keep our product information, such as pricing and new products accurate.
Question 11.
Is it possible to get a discount on large orders?
We provide a discount of 10% for more then 10 vests. For larger orders please contact us.
Question 12.
What ballistic materials does EnGarde USA use for its body armor?
EnGarde USA's scientifically engineered body armor jackets are of superior quality and are designed for a broad range of use. This has been accomplished by using a combination of the most advanced materials on the market today through complementation of the material's characteristics. Moreover, comfort and usability have also been greatly improved by the addition of tactical fiber shells that are waterproof, windproof and breathable.
For the construction of our ballistic panels we use the strongest fibers in the world Dyneema® and Spectra Shield®
Question 13.
Do you sell second hand or over stock vests?
No we do not sell used or outdated vests. All our vests are made to order and will therefore give you the maximum protection at all time.
Question 14.
How concealable are the concealable vests?
Our concealable bullet proof vests are made for concealable purposes. Unlike old bulky vests our vests offer a thin layer with high protection. Therefore the vests are perfect for wearing under your everyday clothing. Our EnGarde DeLuxe and EnGarde Dual Use vests are therefore a very good choice for policemen and security personnel who require a high protection against firearm threats all day long.
Question 15.
Is it legal for civilians to buy body armor?
In general, yes. But a felony conviction makes possession of body armor illegal in some states.
Question 16.
Where can I find more information about body armor? At www.bodyarmornews.com you are able to find a lot of general information and news about body armor.
Question 17.
Does EnGarde have distributors in other countries?
Yes, EnGarde has distributors in the following countries:
EnGarde body armor: www.engardebodyarmor.com
EnGarde Czech Rep.: www.engardeczechrepublic.com
EnGarde Denmark: www.engardedenmark.com
EnGarde Egypt: www.engardeegypt.com
EnGarde France: www.engarde.fr
EnGarde Germany: www.engarde-germany.de
EnGarde Greece: www.engardegreece.com
EnGarde Ireland: www.engardeireland.com
EnGarde The Netherlands: www.engardekogelvrijekleding.nl
EnGarde Norway: www.engardenorge.com
EnGarde Slovak Rep.: www.engardeslovakrepublic.com
EnGarde Spain: www.engardespain.com
EnGarde Sweden: www.engardesweden.se
EnGarde Switzerland: www.schutzwesten.ch
EnGarde Turkey: www.engardeturkey.com
EnGarde United Kingdom: www.ukbodyarmour.com