How can I order? To order you can contact LOF Defence Systems Directly through the Contact Page on our website, by sending your contact information to our Facebook page, by calling 780-455-3335 or by contacting our dealer in your region.
Or you can place your order in our online store. Please be aware most orders are subject to lead times. If you have any questions about lead times please contact us before ordering.
Can I Become a Dealer or Distributor?
LOF is actively seeking dealers and distributors in the United States and Europe. If you own or work at a Tactical Store or Gun Store or Wholesale Distributor we'd like to talk to you. Please Contact us so we can discuss if your operation is a good fit to become an exclusive dealer of LOF gear.
Why doesn't Standard Issued SBA fit into LOF Defence Carriers? After supplying hundreds of vests to Law Enforcement officers across North America we discovered there were fundamental flaws in armour and vest design, cut and sizing that were the root cause of the difficulties officers were facing with their SBA and Vests.
Our armour and vest designs resolve these issues.
If you have SBA from another manufacture we can make custom vests to fit your current SBA.
What are the issues with common SBA Vests? The main problems we have heard from LE officers are: poor fitting armour/carriers, lack of side armour overlap leaving the torso exposed, armour panels creating bunching and discomfort where it meets the duty belt, riding of the carrier system around the ears and neck when sitting, and restricting the ability to reach the arms forward causing issues with driving and effectively using a sidearm.
How did LOF address the issues with SBA Vests? To address the sizing issues, we increased our sizes to 26 standard sizes with additional special sizing for unique body types. We also created a Cummerbund system that allows the waistband to be angled up, down, forward and back so the operator can customize the way the carrier hugs his/her unique body type.
To address the issue of exposed sides we elongated the flanks of our armour panels to ensure a minimum 2" overlap, front over back to prevent a threat from finding its way inside the carrier.
For better protection and comfort, we incorporated a tapered front panel for optimal abdomen coverage and a shorter back panel to give more room for equipment on the duty belt and to prevent the carrier from riding up when in a seated position. For better mobility, we re-engineered the armour shape by providing a 'shooters cut' to give the officer better range of motion when firing a weapon, apprehending a suspect, and driving a vehicle.
What is Outlast Thermal Management Technology and will my vest have it? Outlast Thermal Management Technology is a thermal management fabric that is included in all of our soft body armour vests. As it absorbs body heat it cools down and holds at a constant temperature. This greatly increases operator comfort and reduces sweating in hot climates and high stress situations.
What is ACS Technology? ACS Technology stands for Adaptive Component Systems. It is a design methodology that results in features that can be repaired or replaced by the operator with no technical expertise. A carrier with ACS Technology is a system where all or most of the critical components likely to wear out such as, padding in the shoulders, loop Velcro components like the mission flap and Cummerbund are removable and can be replaced by the operator. This can greatly increase the lifespan of the vest and reduce the frequency of expensive repairs or vest replacement.
Why are LOF Vests more expensive? Our commitment to long lasting quality tactical gear that solves operational problems demands we build our products using the highest quality American and Canadian Made materials. It also means we manufacture each item to order in our Edmonton facility enabling us to have full control over manufacturing quality. We use more time-consuming construction methods that create a better-quality design, and longer lasting products.
What do I need to order armour? Each Province and State has different rules about who can purchase armour. If you have the proper credentials for your jurisdiction you can purchase armour.
How do I know my vest will fit properly? When you place your order, you will need to fill out our measuring form. Use a flexible measuring tape, and have someone assist you to be sure you get all the measurements correct. This is a critical step to making sure your vest fits correctly.
How has LOF Defence Systems LOWERED Prices for its customers? If you have been following our company for the last several years you will have noticed that prices have come down and some have gone up. Due to the Canadian Dollar and increasing shipping charges, our material costs have risen significantly. This has affected the pricing in some areas, however we have worked very hard to create new vest designs that are more economical to manufacture to decrease costs for Law Enforcement Customers.
We created the New SBA pattern for two reasons. First, we wanted a pattern that solved many of the problems with existing armour and carrier designs. Second, we needed to design a new soft armour carrier platform that did not require as much fabric, buckles or time-consuming construction. The precursor to the SENTINEL was the S-TAC which was $900.00 CAD just for the external carrier. The SENTINEL is the replacement for the S-TAC and is only $489.00 CAD, almost half what the S-TAC cost while still maintaining our high-quality standards. ACS Technology further reduces lifetime costs by introducing repairable features and components.
We will continue to strive to create longer lasting products that solve problems as well as introduce new features and technologies that reduce the cost of ownership and replacement over time.
Why are Custom Patterned Vests more expensive than vests following LOF's Standard Pattern? Since we do not have a data base of armour sizes from other manufacturers in-conjunction with inconsistent shapes of the same size, we need to custom pattern vests to fit other manufactures armour. The process involves tracing the armour panels and transferring the pattern to a digital file. The digital file needs to be optimized so the lines are symmetrical and plotted appropriately. The pattern then needs to be expanded for seam allowance, and all pattern accessories, cut lines, markings, and components need to be manually added and adjusted to the proper points based on the custom dimensions of each vest. This entire process is very time consuming and tedious to ensure that the vest will fit the armour correctly, function properly, and is critically important to prevent returns, poor fit and disappointment.
How do I order a Custom PATROLLER to fit my issued SBA? Since we do not have a database of sizes from other armour manufacturers we will need you to remove your armour from your carrier and trace the internal armour panels (not the protective layer that houses the Kevlar panels) and send us the traced pattern. You can also courier us your panels and we can trace them ourselves and courier them back to you. The third option is to visit our location and we can trace your panels on site. We will also need you to fill out and send us a sizing/measuring form. On you trace patterns please write your name, chest and stomach circumferences and the size and manufacture of your panels.
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