| Image | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | WarBird’s SkyFlex IIIA Armor System | Check Price |
Body armor can be categorized at a high level between hard and soft armor. When you need maximum protection, you turn to hard body armor. When you need additional protection but maximum concealability, you turn to soft body armor.
Soft body armor is a staple for professionals such as police officers, private security personnel, and other first responders, but civilians can also benefit from it.
Over the last few years, we have seen mass looting and bare store shelves. During these times, you don’t want to stand out more than you need to.
These scenarios are prime examples of when soft body armor can be helpful even for private citizens. Stepping out to your local grocery store with a full plate carrier kit will protect you, but can also make you a target.
WarBird offers a complete line of soft body armor, and today, we’ll be looking at its top-of-the-line option, the SkyFlex Level IIIA Armor System. We’d like to give a huge shoutout to the kind team at WarBird for sending us this care package to check out!
My Time With The Armor
Since I don’t have a job that requires me to wear body armor, I had to get creative to test how comfortable the SkyFlex Armor System is when worn for extended periods or during strenuous activities.
Over the last few months, I’ve done all of the following while wearing my SkyFlex setup:
- Mini road trip (4.5 hours)
- Worked full days at the computer (7+ hours)
- Ran distances between 0.5 and 3 miles
- Went to the shooting range several times
- Went shopping with it under clothes to test its concealability
After a bit of playing with the eight-point adjustable hook-and-loop closure system, I could do all of the above with very little movement of the vest. It’s almost impossible not to have any up-and-down play when running, but it was comfortable enough to continue without issues.
Being 6’6”, I was skeptical about fitment, but the provided fit guide on WarBird’s website helped me find pretty darn close to the perfect size. I may have sized down one level on the width, but I’d much rather have more coverage than less. Overall though, it fits close to custom.
Of course, I had to hit the range with it, and I had no issues shooting pistols or rifles with it on. I haven’t had the opportunity to shoot the vest yet, but I have a feeling that will be coming soon, so I’ll update the article if/when that happens!
Wearing it in public felt strange since I do not usually wear any body armor out shopping, but with a hoodie or a light jacket, it virtually disappears. I can’t guarantee that nobody noticed, but I can guarantee that I didn’t notice anyone noticing…read that three times fast!
Where To Buy The SkyFlex Level IIA Armor System
Key Features
When it comes to body armor, the most critical component is how well it stops a threat. Not only do you need to understand what threats it can stop, you need to be confident that it will do so reliably. That’s where NIJ certification comes in and delivers peace of mind.
The SkyFlex armor panels are NIJ 0101.06 certified, which, in a nutshell, means they are rated to stop up to .357 SIG or .44 Mag. Many body armor manufacturers will be tricky and advertise their armor is NIJ “tested,” but it’s extremely important to verify that the armor is certified and not simply tested.
The protection component is covered thanks to the NIJ certification, and the comfort component is definitely covered thanks to WarBird. The SkyFlex is the thinnest and lightest option available from WarBird, coming in at only 0.21” thick and 0.86 pounds per square foot! These impressive specs equate to superior concealability and flexibility, both of which are extremely important.
To ensure your comfort and maneuverability are maximized, the vest and panels are available in several configurations with varying widths and lengths. If your vest doesn’t fit right and is uncomfortable, it drastically reduces your likelihood of wearing it. The whole point of having armor is to wear it!
The Ghost Hawk Carrier keeps the panels extremely secure thanks to the internal hook and loop suspension and a bottom zipper to ensure they can never fall out. Additionally, there is a trauma plate pocket in case you’d like to add extra protection.
Between the padded shoulders, bottom wear casing, and moisture-wicking liner, there isn’t much left to be desired from the carrier. A very thin and minimalistic admin pouch may have been nice, but you can use the trauma plate pocket in a pinch if you’d like.
Overall, the package provides the protection you need with the comfortability you want.
Armor Specifications
| Threat Level | Level IIIA |
| NIJ Certified? | Yes (NIJ 0101.06) |
| Material | Twaron / Dyneema |
| Thickness | 0.21 Inches |
| Weight | 0.86 psf |
| Warranty | 5 Years |
Pros & Cons
I’m happy to report that we found no cons compared to competitors. However, we did feel it was important to stress the cons of soft body armor in general, though. Note: these cons are to be expected from almost any soft armor.
- NIJ Certified – a must when it comes to body armor
- Lightweight, comfortable, and easy to maneuver with
- Conceals easily under a sweater or jacket
- Wide variety of sizes to fit any body shape
- Ballistic panels are made in the USA
- 5”x8” pocket for trauma plates
- Packaging is top-notch
- Lacks protection against rifle calibers
- Limited knife-resistance
- Recommended to replace every 5 years
Accessories
Side Kick Trauma Plate
Trauma plates are an affordable addition to your body armor setup, providing extra energy absorption and softening potential blows. WarBird’s Side Kick Trauma Plates are lightweight, waterproof, and can upgrade your Level II vest to Level IIIA in that particular location.
Alternatives
Hoss Level IIIA Body Armor System
If the SkyFlex is out of your budget and you don’t mind a bit more bulk to your setup, consider checking out the Hoss Body Armor System. It still delivers the same NIJ-certified protection but is not as thin or lightweight as the SkyFlex package.
Additionally, it’s made from Woven Aramid Fiber as opposed to the Woven Twaron Aramid Fiber & Dyneema combination that the SkyFlex is. If you’re OK with those differences, you can save a solid chunk of change by going with the Hoss setup.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, it’s always better to be over-protected than under. It’s also best to remain as inconspicuous as possible. WarBird has done a great job providing you with the tools to do both.
For times when your fully loaded plate carrier with spare mags, medical, and side plates is simply too cumbersome or attention-driving, the soft body armor offerings from WarBird are there to step in.
I’ll be sure to update this article if/when I wind up shooting one of these panels, but assuming for this article that they do stop what they are rated for, the SkyFlex Level IIIA Armor System seems to have the potential to be one of the new go-to models for professionals. I guess only time will tell, but I’m optimistic.
As always, stay safe, train hard, and have fun!
