Editing Bulletproof vest (section)

==Armor carriers==
In order for ballistic protection to be wearable, the ballistic panels and/or hard rifle-resistant plates are placed within a carrier. The term "plate carrier" is used specifically to refer to armour carriers which can hold ballistic plates. Broadly, there are two major types of carriers: overt carriers, and low-profile carriers which are meant to be concealed:<ref name="tac vs low profile carriers">{{cite web |last1=Erestain |first1=Nicolette |title=What Is The Difference Between Concealable and Overt Body Armor? |url=https://bulletproofzone.com/blogs/bullet-proof-blog/what-is-the-difference-between-concealable-and-overt-body-armor |website=Bullet Proof Zone |access-date=13 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804040319/https://bulletproofzone.com/blogs/bullet-proof-blog/what-is-the-difference-between-concealable-and-overt-body-armor |archive-date=4 August 2021 |date=5 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="spartan armor overt/covert">{{cite web |title=Pros and Cons of Body Armor Shapes and Sizes Infographic |url=https://www.spartanarmorsystems.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-body-armor-shapes-and-sizes-infographic-/ |website=Spartan Armor Systems |access-date=13 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723151504/https://www.spartanarmorsystems.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-body-armor-shapes-and-sizes-infographic-/ |archive-date=23 July 2021 |date=15 November 2019}}</ref>

===Overt/Tactical carriers===
[[File:Operation Triple Beam San Antonio 2017-27 (38294407494).jpg|right|thumb|[[United States Marshals Service|US Marshals]] wearing tactical plate carriers]]

Overt/Tactical armour carriers typically include pouches and/or mounting systems, like [[MOLLE]],<ref name="soldier project pc vs vest">{{cite web |last1=Bartell |first1=Brain |title=Plate Carrier Vs Vest: Differences and Comparison |url=https://www.thesoldiersproject.org/plate-carrier-vs-vest/ |website=The Soldier Project |access-date=13 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525134659/https://www.thesoldiersproject.org/plate-carrier-vs-vest/ |archive-date=25 May 2022 |date=2 May 2022}}</ref> for carrying gear and are usually designed to provide higher amounts of protection.<ref name="tac vs low profile carriers"/> The [[Improved Outer Tactical Vest]] and [[Soldier Plate Carrier System]]s are examples of military carriers design to be used with ballistic plate inserts.

In addition to load carriage, this type of carrier may include pockets for neck protection, side plates, groin plates, and backside protection. As this style of carrier is not close fitting, sizing in this system is straightforward for both men and women, making custom fabrication unnecessary.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pax|first=Bastion|title=Comprehensive Guide to Plate Carriers: Features and Benefits|url=https://bastionpax.com/comprehensive-guide-to-plate-carriers-features-and-benefits/|access-date=10 August 2024}}</ref>

===Low-Profile/Concealable carriers===
[[File:PC Gen III low profile.png|thumb|The low-profile configuration of the Plate Carrier Generation III]]
Low profile/concealable carriers holds the ballistic panels and/or ballistic plates close to the wearer's body and a uniform shirt may be worn over the carrier. This type of carrier must be designed to conform closely to the officer's body shape. For concealable armor to conform to the body it must be correctly fitted to a particular individual. Many programs specify full custom measurement and manufacturing of armor panels and carriers to ensure good fit and comfortable armor.  Officers who are either female or significantly overweight have more difficulty in getting accurately measured and having comfortable armor fabricated.<ref>Robin H Hooper, ''Why Do Police Officers Leave Their Body Armour in the Cupboard?'', Contemporary Ergonomics 1999, ''(ed. Margaret Hanson, E. J. Lovesey, S. A. Robertson)'', (Padstow, UK: T.J. International) pp. 358–362.</ref>

===Vest slips===
A third textile layer is often found between the carrier and the ballistic components. The ballistic panels are covered in a coated pouch or slip. This slip provides the encapsulation of the ballistic materials. Slips are manufactured in two types: heat sealed hermetic slips and simple sewn slips. For some ballistic fibers such as [[Kevlar]] the slip is a critical part of the system. The slip prevents moisture from the user's body from saturating the ballistic materials.  This protection from moisture cycling increases the useful life of the armor.<ref>Journal of Applied Polymer Science "Kinetics for the tensile strength degradation of nylon and Kevlar yarns" I. Auerbach Aerodynamics Department, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=November 2012}}