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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Question 1
How do I order an EnGarde vest?

To order an EnGarde vest, please contact our customer service line at +31 (0)255 517 381.

You can also purchase your EnGarde body armor online. At the product page you can click on the Order Now button which you find below each product. All payments are processed with Secure PayPal.

UPS shipments to US addresses are included in the price. When your order has shipped, you will receive a tracking code for your convenience.


Question 2
Which soft ballistic packages do you offer?

We are able to produce durable, lightweight and flexible bullet proof vests because we use the supremely strong material Dyneema®. Currently, we have two high quality ballistic packages: ENGARDEIIIA-ULTRA-06 and the new ENGARDEII-ULTRA-06. Please see our Technology page for more information.


Question 3
How long does it take before I receive my order?

It should take about 5 - 10 business days for your order to arrive.


Question 4
What ballistic protection level should I order?

NIJ Level II will provide good comfort, will be discreet and will protect against blunt trauma.

Most US policemen wear NIJ Level IIIA vests. It's the most acceptable in the industry in regard to cost, safety and concealability.

NIJ Level III and IV are heavier, more expensive and require plates. The plates give better protection for blunt trauma and they allow the wearer the ability return fire after an impact. These vests allow superior protection from machine gun rounds and high velocity arms attacks.

Please consult the ballistic test chart for more comprehensive information about the various levels of protection.

NIJ Standard (US) — 0101.04 — Ballistic
Protection Level Bullet Type Bullet Weight[g] Bullet Velocity[m/s] Max Back Face Deformation[mm] Test Conditions
I .22 Caliber LR LRN 2.6 329 ± 9 44 0°, 30° and Wet
.380 ACP FMJ RN 6.2 322 ± 9 0°, 30° and Wet
IIA 9 mm FHJ RN 8.0 341 ± 9 44 0°, 30°, Wet and V50
.40 S&W FHJ RN 11.7 322 ± 9 0°, 30° and Wet
II 9 mm FHJ RN 8.0 367 ± 9 44 0°, 30°, Wet and V50
.357 Magnum JSP 10.2 438 ± 9 0°, 30° and Wet
IIIA 9 mm FHJ RN 8.0 436 ± 9 44 0°, 30°, Wet and V50
.44 Magnum JHP 15.6 436 ± 9 0°, 30° and Wet
III 7.62 mm Nato FMJ RN 9.6 848 ± 9 44 0°, 30° and Wet
IV .30 Caliber M2 AP 10.8 878 ± 9 44 0°, 30° and Wet

  AP: armour piercing - FMJ: full metal jacket - JHP: jacketed hollow point - LR LRN: long riffle lead round nose - RN: round nose


Question 5
What about rifle and submachine gun protection?

Because rifle and submachine gun rounds have the capacity to deliver more power, soft armor would be rendered ineffective. It is necessary, then, to use hard armor plates to enhance the protection of a Level IIIA vest to a higher Level III or Level IV. EnGarde produces plates of Dyneema® and ceramics in combination, designed to cover the front and the back of the vest. Soft vests without inserts only protect against small arms fire and shotgun blasts.


Question 6
How comfortable is EnGarde body armor?

EnGarde Bulletproof vests are very comfortable, only becoming uncomfortable in the hottest conditions.


Question 7
How discreet are the concealable vests?

Our concealable vests are made to be discrete. They are not bulky like the vests of the past. They are made in thin layers for the utmost in protection and are made to wear under clothing. EnGarde DeLuxe and Dual Use vests are the choice of law enforcement and security officers who need protection from small arms threats while on duty.


Question 8
Where can I find more information about body armour?

EnGarde's body armor is engineered scientifically for the highest quality standards and we design it to be used in many ways. For our soft body armor we use Dyneema®.

Dyneema® fiber has 3GPa of tensile strength and 172GPA of modulus. It absorbs shock power extremely efficiently and has a density of 0.97GR/cm3-lighter than water (1GR/cm3). The technological advancements regarding this material have allowed us to make our products lighter than ever. Since the September 11th attacks, airlines have decided to reinforce the cockpit doors of their planes with Dyneema®.

Our hard inserts are made of Dyneema®, Aramid and Ceramic.

1. DYNEEMA®
Dyneema® fiber has 3GPa of tensile strength and 172GPA of modulus. It absorbs shock power extremely efficiently and has a density of 0.97GR/cm3-lighter than water (1GR/cm3). The technological advancements regarding this material have allowed us to make our products lighter than ever. Since the September 11th attacks, airlines have decided to reinforce the cockpit doors of their planes with Dyneema®. To find out more about Dyneema®, go to www.dyneema.com.

2. SPECTRA®
One of the world's strongest and most light weight fibers, Spectra®, made by Honeywell, is a polyethylene that is fifteen times stronger than steel by weight. It is more durable than polyester and has a 40% higher specific strength than Aramid fiber.

3. ARAMID
Aramid fiber (1961), fire-resistant and extremely strong, is used in the aerospace industry and the military for bullet proof fabric in body armor and as a substitute for asbestos. The term comes from “aromatic polyamide,” although it is mostly known by its DuPont name, Kevlar, or twaron. Stephanie Kwolek developed this fiber.

4. CERAMICS
Ceramic plates are special bulletproof plates strong enough to protect people from submachine guns. They can protect against 7.62mm full metal-jacketed bullets and U.S. military M80 shot. Ceramic plates are bulletproof plates of great strength which also provide protection against 30 calibre armour-piercing bullets.


Question 9
Do you have any television footage of your body armor being tested?

Yes, click here to see footage from Dutch TV testing our EnGarde Undergarment vest with various kinds of ammunition. You must have Macromedia Flash Player 8 to view. Download the plug in here.


Question 10
Where can I find more information about body armor?

More news and information about body armor can be found at www.bodyarmornews.com.


Question 11
Do you have a printed catalogue?

Yes, if you send us your contact details using our contact form we will be delighted to send you our catalogue out by mail.


Question 12
Is it possible to get a discount on large orders?

We can offer excellent discounts for orders in excess of five (5) vests.


Question 13
Does EnGarde have a presence in other countries?

Yes, EnGarde has resellers in the following countries:

EnGarde Czech Republic
EnGarde Cyprus
EnGarde Denmark
EnGarde Ecuador
EnGarde Egypt
EnGarde Finland
EnGarde France
EnGarde Germany
EnGarde Greece
EnGarde Ireland
EnGarde Italy
EnGarde Malaysia
EnGarde Mexico
EnGarde Norway
EnGarde Peru
EnGarde Portugal
EnGarde Saudi Arabia
EnGarde Slovakia
EnGarde Spain
EnGarde Sweden
EnGarde Switzerland
EnGarde The Netherlands
EnGarde Turkey
EnGarde United Kingdom
EnGarde United States