i dont think its a good idea even if i seen many very cool body armor
personaly i rather get a very thick whool cloth and leather jacket ( dificult to stab someone who wear whool and leather ) something liek this : http://usarmystyle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=444
more practical and less heavy
it cheap and will also keep you warm

Salvia, considering that handguns are relatively scarce in Canada, you'd be more likely to be shot by hunting rifles. The average body armour that are available, including those worn by patrol officers, couldn't stop a hunting rifle round or even heavier pistol round. Adding to this, the guy with the "tacticool" look will paint a target on his back without knowing it.

You both bring up an excellent point. I love the different points of view. Thank you

Gen III and IV body armor will stop hunting rounds, most common caliber handguns, and green-tips.
Some videos and info charts, from manufacturers:
http://www.bulletproofme.com/Body_Armor_Accessories_Rifle_Protection.shtml
http://www.ar500armor.com/armor-test-videos.html

Whether it's worth the investment is a personal choice, based on location, current climate, expected climate, and whether or not you're going to be participating in any policing activities in mop-up.
If you expect excessive ROL instead of WROL situations, no. For most shorter-term events I would say absolutely no. Gang activity, gun crime, bat-and-knife crime and how at-risk you expect to be from them or neighbors during a major problem would change how necessary and practical it is. After all, some cops wear good stuff they buy themselves or the departments buy routinely, some only when it's going to be a door-busting day, and some departments still don't require patrol cops to wear anything at all, here.

There are slim-enough fitting vests, when worn under the correct clothing, although you may look like Deputy Bubba after too much cornbread depending on the generation/thickness of the carrier system.

Some of us became accustomed to plate carriers for the ease and gear availability in the military and hang our gear on them still, although that's not everyday attire and won't be until we need to protect something, and at the point you're donning a chest carrier, blending in is no longer an issue.

It also depends on how advanced you are in preparations.
If you're not already at a year-plus, are one of only 2-4 able-bodied adults, couldn't withstand any and all of the natural disasters that have hit the country, the money can be spent elsewhere on things that WILL eventually get used, even without a disaster.

Just wondering your thoughts on body armour. I know when shit flies I'll be heading out, much like most of you will be heading out. I will be armed, and my wife and I will be prepared to defend ourselves. A quick search shows me there are places to buy body armour Canada which is somewhat surprising.

Absolutely it is. Buy lvl III armour plates they will withstand up to 7.62x39 (AK47 round). Got a plate carrier setup for myself and the wife :).

For all the reasons stated above already by MrsPrepwPets there are things you need to get before this but it awesome to have and could save your life one day.

I've worn body armour, for real, and it's heavy. Besides heavy, it's f@ckin' hot!!!! You hold in a lot of body heat wearing body armour. Which really wouldn't be an issue if you have an unlimited amount of water, but in a SHTF scenario, I doubt that's the case. We were going through roughly 10-12L a day. But also keep in mind the heat was in the 40's and 50's. And really all body armour does is keep the pieces together.

Like someone stated previously, body armour won't do squat against a hunting round. I'd rather be fast and mobile than slow and heavy. But it also matters if you're in shape or not. Just a little advise from someone who spent 9 years in the infantry and knows from experience.

You are right gunnerdog its heavy and in the right climate can be extremely hot. But you can be pretty agile while while wearing body armour including fast and mobile. All you need to do is to regularly practise wearing it and condition yourself to working and performing tasks while wearing it. Which is why we train soldiers on the obstacle course in the military. However if you buy it and store it away and only take it out to use in a shtf situation you will be in for a big surprise and it will not be practical. Practice, practice and practice...

I agree with the larger hunting rounds available today even my body armour will be inadequate. But most hunters I know do not store large amounts of ammo on hand. Its always surprising to me when heading out a hunter friend will go and buy one box of 20 rounds of 30-06 or 300 Win Mag. I am puzzled anyone would want that little ammo on hand. I keep at least 500 rounds for all my hunting rifles just in case there is a shortage. But I guess its not all hunters who are worried about shtf. So my point is that the larger caliber rifles may become redundant due to ammo shortage quickly into a shtf situation ?. Maybe the subject for another discussion.

I've worn body armour, for real, and it's heavy. Besides heavy, it's f@ckin' hot!!!! You hold in a lot of body heat wearing body armour. Which really wouldn't be an issue if you have an unlimited amount of water, but in a SHTF scenario, I doubt that's the case. We were going through roughly 10-12L a day. But also keep in mind the heat was in the 40's and 50's. And really all body armour does is keep the pieces together.

Like someone stated previously, body armour won't do squat against a hunting round. I'd rather be fast and mobile than slow and heavy. But it also matters if you're in shape or not. Just a little advise from someone who spent 9 years in the infantry and knows from experience.

Not too many places in the U.S. and Canada are hitting the 100+ and 120+ F weather we did in OIF/OEF, although 90's + 85+ humidity are pretty common in a big chunk of the Eastern half of the U.S.T
here was a second trip to Afghanistan's mountain where it was actually pretty pleasant, since it was routinely cold. The newer carrier systems aren't as nice for sitting and adjusting into a position that cradles your head for a nap as the old and newer flak vests, but the insulation was welcome.

While heavy, some of the heat and bulk from those vests and carriers comes from flak guards at the collar and groin that wouldn't apply to bullet stops and from the gear hanging off them.
Somehow the American jarheads managed to jump, dodge, roll, rise to maneuver, go through doors and the odd window, hop low walls and brush, get in and out of vehicles (even doors; even some of the idiot contractors), go from prone to rushing even on brush and shifting hills, climb higher walls (with and without a knee or knee-shoulder or double-hand boost), carry hit dogs and buddies and the odd child, and in some cases do it while taking pictures or video of what everybody else was doing.
As was stated, fitness level and conditioning make a difference in those cases.

Whether a vest or carrier is being optimized for gear or not will affect the weight of the load and the bulk of it - comes down to being part of the intent and common risks to weigh ahead of the purchase and while assigning priority to it.
If you're not worried about side ribs (lowered protection areas anyway, even with full mil kits), you can also sometimes order mesh sections that increase airflow for some types of vests if heat is a defining issue.

Vest or carrier usefulness, and which level or style to choose, really depends on what somebody is worried about happening. It makes a big difference in the weight of the vest, as well as the bulk in some cases, and it makes an enormous difference in pricing.
(Either the first or second link I posted above gives some pricing and size-weight ideas along with the repeated testability of the SAPI levels for plates alone.)

A lot of U.S. cop vests and some overseas civilian assignment gear don't focus on heavy-hitting hunting rounds because they're more likely to face the common NATO and AK calibers and handgun rounds than they are 7mm Mag or .30-06.
If somebody is mostly looking at a neighborhood without too many hunters, a less-bulky, less heavy vest that can handle really just the steel core 5.56 or FMJ or soft tip 7.62, or even one that only handles 9-10-40-45 well may be an affordable insurance policy, just as it has been for cops for ages.

E-SAPI Mil-spec will stop 1 .30-06 penetrator 100% reliable and a second shot to the plate either 50 or 60% of the time.

I have to go with those posting here who have eaten some dirt.
If you wear body armour it will protect you in the chance that someone takes a shot at you. But in order to get through a regular day AND do it wearing this stuff, you had better be in stellar physical condition, have an abundance of food, water and enthusiasm and hopefully be getting a big salary.
I do not believe that body armour is practical for prepping. The money, effort and ingenuity needed to acquire it and store it and have it ready if and when the time comes is better used for seeds, band aids, and a good pair of sunglasses than 80 lbs of hot, uncomfortable, unattractive clothing.

I have to go with those posting here who have eaten some dirt.
If you wear body armour it will protect you in the chance that someone takes a shot at you. But in order to get through a regular day AND do it wearing this stuff, you had better be in stellar physical condition, have an abundance of food, water and enthusiasm and hopefully be getting a big salary.
I do not believe that body armour is practical for prepping. The money, effort and ingenuity needed to acquire it and store it and have it ready if and when the time comes is better used for seeds, band aids, and a good pair of sunglasses than 80 lbs of hot, uncomfortable, unattractive clothing.

You would use it mission orientated and when necessitated by the situation. Not all day long working your crops, feeding your animals etc. There is NO need for stellar physical condition or an abundance of food and water beyond what you would require to function in an active setting. You need to condition yourself so its comfortable to wear and you are used to operating with it. Its easier than you think we make soldiers do it all the time :). Having said that I have been on missions where the only time of the day its off is when you sleep and we were still building bunkers, clearing houses and doing our foot and armor patrols. It just becomes second nature and you forget about it after a while. Similar to wearing a helmet. Initially when soldiers start out basic training we limit the time they wear a helmet and slowly increase it so the get used to it. Eventually they will work for long periods of time with it and never think twice before putting it back on. A Kevlar helmet can weigh between 1-2 kilo's which is not a weight you normally wear on your head hence the conditioning again.

As far as money, effort and ingenuity is concerned its only a click away on Ebay, costing you $ 160 to purchase which is not an fortune. Storing it is easy for me I just threw them on the floor in the reloading room after attaching my tactical gear on them and in between use.

I prep along the lines of maybe I may need it one day having had to wear it for "work" for a long period of my life previously. I know what it takes to make it sit right, condition myself to wearing it and enjoy wearing it and the feeling of security it provides me. However its not for all as this thread will testify and that's okay. Its up to the individual to judge where that fits in their prepping. There is no right or wrong with this. If you think you will be away from potential confrontation and or maybe do not consider firearms in a shtf situation then this is not practical for you. But if you think it could be useful then its a very easy item to prep and easy to make practical to use which should answer the OP question as to whether body armour is practical or not ?. It is if you do it right.

Another reminder to one's age because bullet proof vests weren't even invented yet when I was in the army , so I don't have any knowledge to share regarding this. But this does remind me of the fact that the military did issue MP's teeth protectives as standard equipment back in the 70's. We were trained to wear them and breath with them in place often while sparring, but no one mentioned how we were to apply this option in everyday practice.

- Do we walk into the bar with them already in your mouth and then talk slurred syllables as we question folks?

- or do we say "hold on", and hope they don't swing before you get them in place?

I only carried them a few times while on duty, and the only time they ever took a punch was when I was packing them in my breast pocket and someone punched me there during a free-for-all. It was also hard to tell folks how I acquired a bruised titty with a straight face.... 😆

In other words, I also can't see wearing such as a daily routine as quiteman mentioned, unless I'm really expecting trouble to come a knocking soon. Most folks here that hunt and go for the head shot anyways, they'd just sit and wait a spell until I did the same.... 😕 😎

You have to admire someone who really trusts a product enough to casually put their life on the line over it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jh6VxE53Js

I myself like this one its ment for advanced infantry lol

What about Kevlar? No it won;t stop a bullet, but you can get work out shirts from hockey with Kevlar sewed into it. Considering we have less guns then the US I think being ready for bladed weapons would make sense. Plus dual use, for hockey and prepping. 🙂