New Product Highlight: RMA Launches Gen 2 Body Armor
RMA makes some of our favorite body armor. Now the company is refreshing its Level IV and RF3 lineup with new lightweight plates.
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Body armor can save your life but it’s not always affordable or easy to live with. Fortunately, advances in body armor technology and manufacturing are changing that for the better.
RMA Gen 2 body armor is here, and the changes are big.
The old 1155, 1165, and 1192 plates are going away. Second-generation 1155 and 1165 plates are taking their place. What does that mean? Let’s find out!
RMA Gen 2 1155 Specs & Features
Specs
- NIJ Rating: Level IV/RF3
- Material: Alumina oxide ceramic and polyethylene composite
- Cut: Shooter’s, SAPI
- Curve: Multi-curve
- Sizes: Medium
- Thickness: 0.9”
- Weight: 6.8 lbs (shooter’s), 7.7 lbs (SAPI)
- Country of Origin: USA
- MSRP: $249.99
Features
- Edge-to-edge strikeface
- 10-year warranty
- Free incident replacement
The new Gen 2 1155 combines alumina oxide ceramic and polyethylene composite to achieve ballistic protection that meets the NIJ standard for Level IV and RF3 ratings.
It’s available in size medium SAPI (9.5” x 12.5”) or shooter’s cut (9.5” x 11.5”), and all plates are multi-curve for a more comfortable fit.
The SAPI version is more than a pound lighter than the outgoing 1155, at 7.7 pounds. The shooter’s cut is almost a pound lighter than that: 6.8 pounds.
RMA lists an MSRP of $249.99, for the 1155 Gen 2 Level IV/RF3 plate, but introductory pricing is just $199.99.
RMA Gen 2 1165 Specs & Features
Specs
- NIJ Rating: Level IV
- Material: HyPure alumina oxide ceramic and Dyneema UHMWPE
- Cut: Shooter’s, SAPI
- Curve: Multi-curve
- Sizes: Medium (shooter’s, SAPI), XL (SAPI)
- Thickness: 0.7”
- Weight: 5.5 lbs (medium shooter’s cut)
- Country of Origin: USA
- MSRP: $299.99 to $349.99
Features
- Edge-to-edge strikeface
- 10-year warranty
- Free incident replacement
Want more performance? Step up to RMA’s 1165 Gen 2 body armor.
The 1165 takes weight savings to another level. The medium SAPI (9.5” x 12.5”) plate weighs 6.3 pounds and the shooter’s cut (9.5” x 11.5”) plate weighs 5.5 pounds. Both are just 0.7” thick.
If you’ve never spent all day running around in body armor, trust me – that kind of weight reduction will make all the difference in the world. Remember you’ll be wearing two plates, possibly with the addition of side plates.
RMA pulled this off by building second-gen 1165 plates from 99.7% HyPure alumina oxide ceramic and backing them with Dyneema UHMWPE.
RMA lists an MSRP of $299.99 to 349.99 for the 1165 Gen 2 Level IV plate.
The bottom line is that this body armor – either version – is lighter and more comfortable while offering excellent protection from rifle threats without the risk of spalling associated with heavier steel plates.
Hopefully you never need it to catch a bullet for you but if you do, RMA will replace the plate for free.
What do you think of the new RMA Gen 2 plates? Let us know below. For more great ballistic protection, check out our guide to the Best Body Armor!