HESCO 3810 vs. Traditional Steel Plates: Which One Is Right for You?

Today’s operating environments carry real risk—especially for those who willingly go out in harm’s way to protect those who can’t protect themselves. That’s precisely why body armor has made a comeback over the past few decades and is now an integral part of the equipment of LEOs and military operators alike. 

However, traditional steel plates are not only heavy but also transfer substantial blunt-force trauma to the wearer. Apart from the 8 lbs. (on average) plate, the thick padding underneath it also weighs quite a lot. Without the padding, even if the plate stops the projectile, its sheer kinetic energy can cause severe, even fatal damage. The total setup (front and back plates plus the thick padding) can weigh north of 18–20 lbs. or so, effectively tiring the wearer. Moreover, the plate-and-padding combo is exceptionally hot and not recommended for temperate, humid climates. Finally, the steel plate cannot stop many full-power, high-velocity rounds.

HESCO 3810: A Lightweight Alternative to Steel

HESCO’s 3810 ballistic body plates are a lighter, better-performing alternative to steel. These ballistic inserts have been expressly designed to handle battlefield scenarios that require a combination of flexibility and maneuverability while providing strong protection against high-velocity rifle rounds.

These body protection plates are manufactured using today’s advanced materials and offer an excellent weight-to-protection ratio. In other words, they give you far greater protection as compared to steel, even as they offer you a much lighter and more flexible package. Their water-resistant coating ensures that they can handle some of the hottest and most humid environments without losing their efficacy or comfort.

The 3810 is built on HESCO’s 800 Series advanced composite platform. This modern construction is prized for being very light while remaining exceptionally strong—and, unlike steel, it is far less dense, which keeps the plate’s weight down. This means the plates are comfortable enough to wear for long duty hours without causing you discomfort.  

In fact, these ballistic inserts won’t impinge on your mobility in even highly fluid combat situations while simultaneously ensuring that you remain protected against a wide range of rifle threats. The 3810 carries an NIJ Level III+ certification, stopping rounds such as 5.56 M193 and M855/SS109, the 7.62×39 AK-47 family (M67 and M43), 7.62×51 M80 (.308), and 7.62×63 (.30-06 JSP).

The HESCO 3810 body armor protection plates are designed to help protect you in life-threatening situations, and they do that job well. That is why HESCO armor is trusted by professionals and agencies who operate in demanding environments around the world. HESCO takes this responsibility extremely seriously, and subjects every plate insert to multiple stringent quality control checks prior to its release to the customer.

If your work takes you into dangerous situations, it makes sense to opt for a proven, high-performing plate. Try these plates and check out the difference yourself!