A stab vest is the one piece of kit where good enough is not good enough. You either trust it on the night you need it, or you don't. This collection carries both ArmorLite lines, and they protect in two different ways, so it's worth a minute to understand the difference before you choose.

FlexGuard: certified stab protection

FlexGuard vests are built around a carbon-fibre composite certified to NIJ 0115.0 Level 1, the US standard for stab resistance. It's tested at 24 joules of knife energy and 36 joules for a spike. It is not a CAST KR1/SP1 product — CAST and NIJ both use a 24-joule knife threshold but test to different protocols, so the two are not interchangeable. In plain terms, 24 joules is a firm one-handed hammer swing, or a full one-litre water bottle dropped from a doorway height onto a knife tip. FlexGuard also carries a VPAM K1 rating for blunt force and EN388 Level 5 for blade cut(selected models only). It weighs about 1.8 kg, around half the weight of a steel plate, and it stops the blade without the bulk that gives you away.

SoftGuard: discreet everyday protection

SoftGuard vests take a quieter route. The fabric is a super-dense knit of HPPE and mulberry silk, rated EN388:2016 Level 4 for puncture at three times the requirement, plus ANSI/ISEA 105 A8 for cut. That's 450 newtons before a probe gets through, about a loaded airline suitcase balancing on a pencil tip. SoftGuard is roughly 70% lighter than steel, so it disappears under a shirt. One thing to be clear about: SoftGuard is tested to EN388 and ANSI, not NIJ or CAST. It's a discreet everyday layer that stops slashes and most punctures, not a weapon-level stab panel.

Which vest should you buy?

So which line do you reach for? If blades are a real part of your working day, like door supervision or late-night delivery, FlexGuard is the answer. If you want protection nobody can see and you'll actually wear every day, SoftGuard does that job. The worst vest is the one you leave at home because it's too heavy or too obvious.

Things people ask us - is it legal to wear one?

Yes, stab proof vests are legal to wear in the UK. And no, they don't have to look like body armour. Our vests are built to sit under a jacket or a looser shirt. And yes, you can wash them. Both lines hold up to normal washing, which matters more than people admit, because a vest you can't clean becomes a vest you stop wearing.

Upgrading from a steel-plate vest?

If you're moving up from a cheaper steel-plate vest, you already know the trade-offs: the weight on your shoulders, the rigid edges, the heat. That's exactly what FlexGuard and SoftGuard were designed to solve. Lighter panels, a softer feel, and coverage that moves with you. Browse the vests below. Each product page walks through its certifications in plain English, and we're happy to answer questions before you order. The right vest is the one you wear, and it works. Everything else is noise.