Practical and Affordable Body Armor Storage Option
Hello all. Hope everyone is doing well. One huge problem we come across every week is the storage, maintenance, and upkeep of the most important piece of LE gear you have: Body Armor. We have seen it all. Most recently was rolled up and stored in the bottom of one guys locker. Not good. The maintenance of the armor is just as important as anything and there are strict guidelines to adhere to in the process. One issue of debate that we keep coming across is storage. Can I hang it? Does it have to be flat? I don’t have room in my locker! So on and so forth.
Well, for the first time in my career I have come across a very practical solution for taking care of your gear. A product called the “Flack Vest Hangar” from Russ Innovations. This is a product designed by Law Enforcement, for Law Enforcement. It is a pretty cool solution to keeping your Body Armor (BA) in good shape, dry, and stored properly. You can take a look over at the products website for some pictures and information on it. This item is extremely useful for those of you within the cutter community because I know that you suffer from a lack of personal storage. Well, this BA Hanger will fit right in your locker and keep your BA flat and in top shape.
Here is some technical information from the maker:
SUPPORT – Our “Flak Vest Hanger”TM allows your Body Armor to be hung when space doesn’t permit it to be laying flat. It promotes the wear ability and longevity of your carrier and ballistic panels. In short, no longer will your elastic straps stretch beyond their memory point. No longer will the ballistic panels bunch and create folds or creases that don’t come out and rub against your body from improper drying methods. Now you can protect the Body Armor which helps protect you.
IMPROPER FIT – folds/creases in the ballistic panels are one of the main reasons that officers stop wearing their Body Armor.
IMPROPER CARE – is another reason that officers stop wearing their Body Armor which causes them to purchase additional carriers or go on the street unprotected.
CARING FOR THE HANGER – The only care that is required to maintain the “Flak Vest Hanger”TM for daily use is to not abuse it or use it for purposes other than its designed purpose.
CLEANING – Remove the Body Armor from the “Flak Vest Hanger“TM Using a damp cloth with mild soap, wipe the entire hanger on both sides and all its parts. You may also place the hanger under running water and wash with mild soap. Dry the entire hanger with a dry cloth or allow it to air dry before placing your body armor back on the hanger. “DO NOT USE BLEACH OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING BLEACH” as they can affect the ballistic material of your Body Armor.
CONTAMINATION RESISTANT – one of the last things that anyone wants is for their Body Armor to absorb sweat and odors. This product resists penetration and contamination from body oils and salt’s etc, so unpleasant odor’s will not soak into the hanger itself and then transfer the accumulated dampness or odors into the ballistic panels or carrier. This product is fully adjustable to all sizes of Soft Body Armor. It allows any user to properly hang and store the Body Armor as it dries all while keeping its shape for a more comfortable fit.
BREATHABLE – multiple breather ports allows moisture vapors to whisk away from your Body Armor and carrier thereby promoting an improved evaporation rate. This will help your Body Armor dry all while making it more comfortable to wear.
One other issue, and I’m sure that many of you have had to deal with this, is sweat. We all know that BA is the most annoying, warm, and uncomfortable thing to wear in the summer time, especially down in the Caribbean. There’s no getting around it…you just soak right through it. I have seen a lot of LE teams just leave their armor panels out in the sun to dry out the moisture. Well, did you know that would void the warranty for several manufacturers? Not many people do. UV rays are a big NO-NO for your BA. One of the big advantages to this BA Hangar is the cut outs to allow for air flow, circulation, and drying. You come back from a boarding, place the teams BA on one of these hangars, then stand them in a room or p-way to let them dry. When there good, close the hangar and stick it in you locker. Done. This product is only $69.95 and comes with a 25 year warranty and a 90 day money back guarantee.
I have used this product personally. It is solid. It is convinent. It is worth it for you or your LE program. I’m not going to endorse some product that doesn’t work. Try it out, i’m sure you will be impressed. For more information of the Flak-Vest Hangar sure to check out the Russ Innovations website and take a look at some of the pictures. I guarantee some of you will see some BA similar to yours. Shame on you! 
Check back later this week for more information of the care and upkeep of Body Armor.
Filed Under: Gear • Officer Safety
