A knife-proof t-shirt sounds like a gimmick until you understand what's actually in the fabric. This collection spans both ArmorLite lines, so you'll see two kinds of protection here, and the difference is worth knowing before you pick one.

FlexGuard: weapon-level protection in a tee

FlexGuard pieces use the same carbon-fibre composite as our vests, certified to NIJ 0115.0 Level 1 at 24 joules of knife energy and 36 joules for a spike. That's the US stab standard, and it matches the UK CAST KR1/SP1 threshold. In everyday terms, 24 joules is a firm one-handed hammer swing, or a 5-Litre water bottle dropped from thigh height. This is genuine weapon-level protection built into a t-shirt or polo, and it weighs about half what a steel plate does.

SoftGuard: the everyday option

SoftGuard pieces take a lighter route. The knit is 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 breaks through, about a loaded suitcase resting on a pencil tip. SoftGuard is roughly 70% lighter than steel and sits flat under a shirt. To be clear, SoftGuard is tested to EN388 and ANSI, not NIJ or CAST. It stops slashes and everyday punctures rather than being a weapon-level stab panel.

Why choose a shirt over a vest?

The reason people reach for a t-shirt, polo, or pullover instead of a vest is simple: they wear it. A protective shirt you actually put on every day beats a vest left in the boot. For delivery drivers, shop staff, or anyone who's had a close call and wants protection without the bulk, this is the collection people start with.

Washing and comfort

Hygiene gets talked about less than it should. A protective shirt you can't wash is one you stop wearing, and then it protects nobody. Both lines handle normal machine washing and hold their rating, which isn't true of every fabric. (Do please remember to take the protective inserts out from the FlexGuard armour, before throwing these into the washing machine).They're breathable and anti-microbial, so they don't trap heat the way you'd expect from something that stops a knife.

Before you buy

These are legal to wear in the UK. They work under a shirt or on their own. Sizing runs true, but if you're between sizes and you plan to layer, go down so it sits flat. If you're switching from a cheap steel vest, expect this to feel like a normal shirt by comparison. That's the idea. The pieces are below, and each product page explains the certifications in plain English with no small print. If you're deciding between a t-shirt and a full vest, the honest answer is a t-shirt is everyday protection and a vest is maximum protection. Most of our customers end up with both. Start with the one you'll actually wear.