Since medieval times, armor has protected warriors from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune—at a heavy price. A full suit of armor weighed approximately 60 pounds. Today’s soldiers don’t have it much better, carrying an average of 90 pounds of gear. Conventional modern-day body armor is heavy, in part because fabrics are coated with chemical-resistant, water-repellent, and fire-retardant substances that add weight and block breathability and flexibility.

Anything that lightens the load is an advantage, and the G Tech Vest, developed jointly by P2i, Oxfordshire, U.K., and Global Armour, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, fits the bill. The G Tech Vest uses Global Armour’s proprietary lightweight armor material and a lighter fabric exterior, and P2i’s liquid-repellent nanotechnology coating reduces weight and preserves the fabric’s natural airflow and drape. The coating lasts as long as the garment because of direct molecular bonds to the fabric surface.

SOURCE P2i