If you want to buy body armor plates , then you should definitely study this issue in advance, because the plate is what separates you from the incoming projectile and saves your life. And it is plate vests that are ideal for individual use, because, unlike Kevlar, they can be used several times in a row and are quite cheap. Yes, they are much heavier, literally, and restrict movement, however, you are unlikely to have to walk in them every day if you live in civilian life!
In total, there are two types of plate body armor, steel and ceramic. Disputes about which of them are better, and how the advantages of one look bright on the shortcomings of the other, have not subsided for many decades. However, here we will consider specifically ceramic plates, due to their ease of use, greater lightness, and, accordingly, the mobility of the person who wears them. Yes, the price can bite, but good things are always expensive!
The main advantages of ceramic vests:
Complete protection against all types of bullets! Modern technologies allow ceramic body armor to withstand several armor-piercing bullets, let alone pistols, and traumatic weapons!
They are very light! Such plates are still far from Kevlar, and are still felt, however, from them you will not feel like a medieval knight wrapped in armor, as with steel ones.
They are tight! The profile of such plates is extremely ergonomic, and restricts movement much less than a simple rectangular steel profile.
They last almost forever! Until the first hits, of course, but even after that, in the absence of significant damage, they have no service life restrictions.
They do not sink, and this is very important if you have to cross a river in such a vest, for example!
But they also have very significant disadvantages:
Large, at times, the cost of one plate in comparison with steel. Yes, you get the best quality, but you also pay a lot. However, if life is at stake, then it is worth forking out a little.
Ceramic is not a very strong material, and to be more precise, it is brittle. Falling from a sufficient height onto hard surfaces, of course, it will not shatter into pieces, but using it after this can be very dangerous!
They are quite thick, which makes it impossible to wear such armor plates, not only under clothes, but even in camouflage, and sometimes this is a significant minus.