True Bulletproof Vest Expire Date

[Rebelac7]

Just curious, I have several expired vest that were never worn and have laid flat for years. Anyone know any true testing besides shooting them ?

[J.C.]

No that is the only test and of course it damages them so even if they stopped your test bullet they probably wouldn't stop the next.

Bulletproofme.com has seems to have done a lot of testing and in general kevlar holds up past its date; that date is more of a back-stop then a true determination of its loss of effectiveness. Kevlar can deteriorate from usage and especially long exposure to heat, moisture etc. So body armor that is really used and worn regularly really should be discarded after that date and the manufacturer does not want to be liable after that date.

I have a point blank intercepter vest past its date but its in very good condition. I don't need to wear it for work and wouldn't in most SHTF scenarios anyway but I'd consider it better than nothing if I needed something.

[Pigsaw]

Kevlar vests have expiration date??

omg that sux

[jare-3]

Like J.C. said, kevlar fiber deteriorates over time from use, sweat, environmental factors. They are rated for 5 to 7 years of use, and then they are recommended to be replaced. They don't expire in the same way a jug of milk or a food item would. For example I shot up a level 3a that was cut off of me at the hospital when I injured my back last year (damn er nurse got happy with the shears...oh well at least she took the don't move the back injury guy route). It had a 1996 "expiration" date and is stopped .9mm, .40 S&W, and .45ACP. What I DID NOT check for was backface deformation, in other words, how far would the vest flex against a body when shot. That too may degrade over time.

FWIW, a few of my officers have purchased "reconditioned" vests that are past their "expiration" date from several reputable manufacturers. Another also got a reconditioned vest that was past its date from a company that grabs up used vests, reconditions them and donates them to officers that can't afford a vest.

Lastly, ballistic vests are judged in NIJ categories: IIA, II, IIIA, and so on (III and up is usually plate armor used by SWAT of military guys). The specifications and requirements of each level of protection changes periodically.

Now, let me put up the disclaimer of "I'm no expert and please do not take my word as gospel. But I have been wearing these things for quite a while and dug around for someof this info myself." Do your research, know what you want and what you are going to use it for. Of course, make sure its legal to own where you live. Also, try the search feature, there is at least one other thread with info from a man with way more experience on the matter than me.

[Crimson Phoenix]

Not to distract from the topic at hand, but how long would you consider a kevlar helmet to be reliable? I have an '86 manufacture PASGT helmet and wouldn't dare wear the thing to stop fragments or bullets and don't trust it beyond being a relic and hardhat at this point.

[jare-3]

Not to distract from the topic at hand, but how long would you consider a kevlar helmet to be reliable? I have an '86 manufacture PASGT helmet and wouldn't dare wear the thing to stop fragments or bullets and don't trust it beyond being a relic and hardhat at this point.

Why? Is it cracked, chipped, or otherwise damaged? Same premise as a vest, as long as its structurally in tact, it'll do its job. Check out the Box-O-Truth review on PASGT helmets.

[AgentBlack]

Just curious, I have several expired vest that were never worn and have laid flat for years. Anyone know any true testing besides shooting them ?

kevlar is a nylon fiber it does not evaporate or wear out from sitting. Take the date it was made and expiration date, what is the difference? The service life of the vest. meaning how long it could last under hard USE. If your's have never been worn and stored flat, they still have that service life in them from the time you start wearing them. The thing with kevlar fabric is the course crystalline nature of it. The fibers grind against one another when worn and moved around. These fibers actually cut each other when flexed back and forth. But stored flat and stationary this flexing has not happened so your still good. The only factor being how much moisture they have taken on. Were they stored in a damp basement or outside shed?
As for a hard laminate like a helmet, there is also no flex or rubbing of the fibers against one another. So unless the helmet was damaged to the point the surface coating was compromised they could be effective forever.

[Rebelac7]

Good Point Sir

Just curious, I have several expired vest that were never worn and have laid flat for years. Anyone know any true testing besides shooting them ?

kevlar is a nylon fiber it does not evaporate or wear out from sitting. Take the date it was made and expiration date, what is the difference? The service life of the vest. meaning how long it could last under hard USE. If your's have never been worn and stored flat, they still have that service life in them from the time you start wearing them. The thing with kevlar fabric is the course crystalline nature of it. The fibers grind against one another when worn and moved around. These fibers actually cut each other when flexed back and forth. But stored flat and stationary this flexing has not happened so your still good. The only factor being how much moisture they have taken on. Were they stored in a damp basement or outside shed?
As for a hard laminate like a helmet, there is also no flex or rubbing of the fibers against one another. So unless the helmet was damaged to the point the surface coating was compromised they could be effective forever.

[jare-3]

Just curious, I have several expired vest that were never worn and have laid flat for years. Anyone know any true testing besides shooting them ?

kevlar is a nylon fiber it does not evaporate or wear out from sitting. Take the date it was made and expiration date, what is the difference? The service life of the vest. meaning how long it could last under hard USE. If your's have never been worn and stored flat, they still have that service life in them from the time you start wearing them. The thing with kevlar fabric is the course crystalline nature of it. The fibers grind against one another when worn and moved around. These fibers actually cut each other when flexed back and forth. But stored flat and stationary this flexing has not happened so your still good. The only factor being how much moisture they have taken on. Were they stored in a damp basement or outside shed?
As for a hard laminate like a helmet, there is also no flex or rubbing of the fibers against one another. So unless the helmet was damaged to the point the surface coating was compromised they could be effective forever.

Well said on the vests and good point bringing up moisture. Yet another part of the NIJ standard that changed this year was moisture resistance. The vest I replaced the one that was cut off me with has a waterproof "baggie" for lack of a better term around the ballistic pannel. This is of course covered by the carrier and also helps to prevent that nasty smell of B.O. and actual sweat from 90 degree days from seeping into the kevlar. OP, google NIJ Ballistic Satandard. There will be plenty of good info.

As for the helmet, I went into the Marines in '98 and got out in 2002. Same helmet for the whole time. I really don't think I was the first to have that helmet either. like AgentBlack said, Structurally Sound = Good to go

[john917v]

Crimson Phoenix, your helmet may not work as well as it did during it's 'expected lifespan'. But, if shots/flak are raining down around me, you'd better believe I'd put it on (unless I had a newer one, in which case, I'm using the newer one) Same for body armor in general.

[Crimson Phoenix]

The kevlar helmet I've got has several rough spots on the outside where the paint has flaked off and in about three or four dime-sized or smaller spots the fibers have been damaged and are fuzzing out. It looks as though the helmet was stored upside down and pushed along a shelf or a concrete floor more than a few times. There's no damage on the inside and I recently installed a new SDS 3-point harness.

I'm going to have to repaint it anyway, but my Dad told me do not use cork or sawdust for the anti-glare texturing like the original coats because they'll retain moisture and bubble, further damaging the thing. Instead, he suggested I use coarse sand. He may be right on that, I'm not sure. He was out of the service by the mid-70s so they were still using M1 Steel Pots at the time.

[jare-3]

The kevlar helmet I've got has several rough spots on the outside where the paint has flaked off and in about three or four dime-sized or smaller spots the fibers have been damaged and are fuzzing out. It looks as though the helmet was stored upside down and pushed along a shelf or a concrete floor more than a few times. There's no damage on the inside and I recently installed a new SDS 3-point harness.

I'm going to have to repaint it anyway, but my Dad told me do not use cork or sawdust for the anti-glare texturing like the original coats because they'll retain moisture and bubble, further damaging the thing. Instead, he suggested I use coarse sand. He may be right on that, I'm not sure. He was out of the service by the mid-70s so they were still using M1 Steel Pots at the time.

Rust-Oleum makes a textured spraypaint that works tits. I used it on the grip of my Glock 19 after I did the reduction. I'm pretty sure I saw it in some earth tones when I was at the hardware store. Rough spots are different than structural damage. Same as ballistic vest, fraying at the edges of the pannels is different than a cut, slash, or hole in the damn thing!

[TacAir]

Ae the vests kevlar or Zylon (Xylon)? Zylon is not as 'good' as Kevlar. In fact, there was a big recall of the Zylon vests in 2004/2005. The recall forced Second Chance into bankrupcy, so it was no small matter.

That was a while back, but knowing what the vest is filled with is.... important.

[Crimson Phoenix]

Rust-Oleum makes a textured spraypaint that works tits. I used it on the grip of my Glock 19 after I did the reduction. I'm pretty sure I saw it in some earth tones when I was at the hardware store. Rough spots are different than structural damage. Same as ballistic vest, fraying at the edges of the pannels is different than a cut, slash, or hole in the damn thing!

This product? It's available in something close to olive drab, but their line of flat camouflage paints are not textured. Last time I remember working with this stuff was a shop project back in middle school and I want to say the texture was more coarse than what's on the k-pot. Then again, do I want something that looks perfect or something that works? lol

[jare-3]

Thats the stuff. The texture is actually not that coarse. If you want more or less grit, you can spray it on thinner or thicker. Thinner coats = coarser finish.

[raptor]

I am by no means a chemist or an ballistic product expert. This is opinion.

There are many things that cause a fabric to deteriorate. Chafing due to wear and movement. Sweat and oil from the human body. Dirt and grit getting between the fibers. Exposure to oxidizers (i.e. oxygen). All of these will accelerate the deterioration of a fabric.

If the vest have been stored clean, in a climate controlled area, in a container that does not expose it to anything except ambient air, I am willing to bet (with your life mind you) that they are still capable of performing up to the manufacturer's original specs.

If on the other hand you wore them every day for a year out in sandy, wind blown conditions, sweat like a pig in it and never cleaned it, then simply put them in the closet I would not be so optimistic.

That said a ballistic vest is the absolutely last ditch barrier to you and death. If you need to wear a ballistic vest, you need to wear one that you know meets specs.

On the flip side if all I had was a 10 year old vest. I would use it.


With regards to Kevlar helmets.

Again opinion based upon experience with fiberglass boats which use similar synthetic matting and sometimes kevlar for stress areas. Fiberglass boats have over the years been tested for tensile strength. As long as the matting was not cut or water logged, both of which are evident, 30+ year old fiberglass has been shown to perform as well as one year old fiberglass. I am willing to bet a kevlar helmet that remains undamaged is likely to have a life span similar to fiberglass boats.

[AKFTW]

The expiration dates on vests are mostly applying to Police usage, daily sweat and wear- a properly stored (cool, dark, and dry) vest should be good for a long time. I'm the expiration dates also probably have something to do with PD budgets too. Jor-El I'm sure has some good input on the subject.

[Cu Chulainn]

Just curious, I have several expired vest that were never worn and have laid flat for years. Anyone know any true testing besides shooting them ?

kevlar is a nylon fiber it does not evaporate or wear out from sitting. Take the date it was made and expiration date, what is the difference? The service life of the vest. meaning how long it could last under hard USE. If your's have never been worn and stored flat, they still have that service life in them from the time you start wearing them. The thing with kevlar fabric is the course crystalline nature of it. The fibers grind against one another when worn and moved around. These fibers actually cut each other when flexed back and forth. But stored flat and stationary this flexing has not happened so your still good. The only factor being how much moisture they have taken on. Were they stored in a damp basement or outside shed?
As for a hard laminate like a helmet, there is also no flex or rubbing of the fibers against one another. So unless the helmet was damaged to the point the surface coating was compromised they could be effective forever.

This is the right answer.

If there were rep points on this board, I'd give you one.


WEARING and USING vests degrades them. A hard laminate doesn't deteriorate, it just works until it's taken too many hits.

[WiLfOrD]

New here so this is my first post but, I have personally shot a expired vest and sample swatches that have been mailed to a friend of mine that was a LEO the vest was never used but expired and it held-up with out a problem to .38spec. and .357, the expired swatches blew apart in one shot with a .38spec, i am assuming that the swatches blew apart because they didn't have as much stitching to hold them together but i wouldnt trust my life to a xpired vest unless it was my last option, just my 2cents. i shot them at 25yards