paca vs safariland vs aba

[release]

Once in a great while, the G gives us lowly 1811s choices. Well, this is one of those times and I would like to take full advantage of it:) Can anyone give their opinion on what body armor they think is the better of the three mentioned? My agency is also paying for a tactical carrier for the vest also, so feedback on the carriers would also be helpful. Thanks

[bigz]

Don't know if PACA has improved their vest in the last five years but the one I am getting ready to replace is horrible. It doesn't fit well based on how they are cut and is extremely heavy and uncomfortable. I've had an ABA vest in the past and thought it was a good vest for the money.

[kenoshacop]

My first vest when I started 10+ years ago was a PACA, and it was a piece of crap. My next vest was a Safariland Zero-G. Not a bad vest, but the carrier velcro straps were junk. My latest vest is an American Body Armor Extreme Z. So far it has been great, and I haven't had a single problem with the vest or carriers. It was a little pricey (about $1,000 for a levell IIIA) but for something I wear everyday for 4-5 years, it's well worth it.

-Kenoshacop

[LeeRoy]

Hey Kenosha. Isn't the Extreme Z a zylon hybrid vest? If so Armor Holdings will replace it.

I have a Zero G platinum which is a zylon vest. I don't like the vest or the velcro on the carrier.

Release,

Do you wear a vest regularly or is this just for searches and high risk arrests? If it's only for raids and the like you can get tactical vests from those companies that have better coverage than a concealable vest.

A bunch of our guys who had the recall ABA extreme zylon vest got them replaced with the non-zylon version of the ABA Extreme and seem happy with them.

[release]

Thanks for the input everyone...the work revolves around buy walk-bust then following up with warrant executions, that's why they give us the combo vest. Plain clothes work as well as identifiable raid gear. Obviously, I would like two vests, but the G is not going to go for it. Maybe when we pay off Katrina :)

[kenoshacop]

Hey Kenosha. Isn't the Extreme Z a zylon hybrid vest? If so Armor Holdings will replace it.

I bought the vest this spring, and made sure to ask about zylon and it's not. I don't have the vest here in front of me to tell you what is in it though. I could be wrong on the name too, it was either Extreme Z or ZX??? I'll double check and get back to you

[JI603]

i have a safariland zero G and I don't like the carrier either.

the velcro is managing to eat holes through my uniform shirts where the side tabs on the vest peel back a little from the felt part of the carrier.

:o

[modareguy]

I also agree with the opinions on Safariland carriers. They are not good, but at least they are leaps and bounds better than ABA. I'm currently wearing a Second Chance (not Zylon) and it is very comfortable. The carriers are well made too....