As a former Ranger, security contractor and a full-time law enforcement officer, I am not a stranger to wearing body armor for long periods of time. After 15 years of wearing body armor I was getting sick of skin rashes and vest odor. I decided to research options to help increase comfort, reduce moisture, and minimize vest odor. I found the perfect option with 221B Tactical Maxx-Dri Vest.
I received the Maxx-Dri vest in March of this year and immediately noticed how light weight and durable it felt. The Maxx-Dri vest is worn under a Point Blank Alpha Elite IIIA vest. The vest is barely noticeable when worn and secures to my outer vest with shoulder straps. This is the key factor that leads me to the Maxx-Dri vest. Other ventilation systems require you to attach the system to your carrier with zip ties or other attachment methods. The dual chamber design keeps the vest off your body and allows for air flow.
I will state for the record, that I am a guy that sweats in any environment and for no reason. Although my under shirt will still get wet from sweating, the Maxx-Dri vest and my body armor will continue to be dry. This has reduced the smell on my body armor, increased comfort during long shifts and also reduced skin rashes. During the spring and summer months I would have rashes constantly on my back. The Maxx-Dri vest has eliminated this because it allows for air flow and its anti-microbial/anti-fungal. The 3.0 version has side Velcro attachments to help get the perfect fit. The 3.0 version has the following design elements:
- Dual chambered design for increase cooling/ventilation
- Velcro side closures
- Stay put grip technology
- Triple reinforced stitching
- Lifetime warranty
- Velcro shoulder straps
- Anti-microbial / Anti-fungal
- Does not retain moisture
- NOTA member tested and recommended
The Maxx-Dri vest has a lot of positives and only one negative. As with any ventilation system it expands the vest outward. If you have fitted uniforms this could be an issue and may need to be resized to include the Maxx-dri vest. The vest is machine washable and easily maintained. The Maxx-Dri vest is a must have for anyone that is required to wear body armor.
Author – Brett Hannum served in Charlie Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion, with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, as a rifleman, 203 gunner, and SAW gunner. After leaving the military I worked as a private security contractor in Iraq. I am now a Law Enforcement officer with a state wide agency in Ohio. I am a certified instructor for private security and police academies in Ohio. I am a small business owner in firearms sales and training.