(This article has been updated to reflect changes in prices, weights, and other data - May 2019)

Not all bulletproof backpack inserts are the same. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know when it comes to ballistic backpack inserts.

Are you looking for a bulletproof backpack insert? Whether you landed here because you’ve seen them in the news or you just decided to look for new ways to protect yourself or your kids, you probably have a lot of questions:

• What guns/ammunition will it stop?

• How much does it weigh?

• How much does it cost?

• Will it actually keep me/my child safe?

• And many more…

In this article, we’ll look at several bulletproof backpack inserts and share some details about each. We are not here to tell you to buy our backpack insert. It’s totally up to you to decide 1) whether you want or need to buy one and 2) which one is best for you/your child.

What are the different types, or levels, of bulletproof backpack protection? The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has been setting voluntary body armor standards since 1972. The NIJ standard is the only nationally accepted standard for the body armor worn by law enforcement and corrections officers, and its ballistic resistance standard classifies body armor by levels of ballistic performance. The chart below shows those classifications:

Most bulletproof backpacks are classified as Level IIIA, which means they will stop at least four rounds from most handguns. The majority of ballistic backpack inserts on the market fall into this classification; they are meant to protect against multiple rounds from 9mm, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum ammunition.

In our research, we found the following bulletproof backpack inserts at the Level IIIA (handgun) protection level:

So, what does a Level IIIA backpack insert really stop?

Here are a few videos testing various bulletproof inserts:

High-Powered Rifle Protection: A Completely Different Level of Backpack Insert

In many recent mass shootings, it’s not handguns that shooters are using, but rather high-powered rifles like the AK-47 and AR-15. In order for a backpack insert to stand up against this level of weapon, it must be classified by the NIJ as Level III, a major step up from the basic Level IIIA protection referenced above.

As a reminder, here is the chart that breaks down the NIJ classifications:

Because these high-powered rifles have the potential to do much more damage, the requirement of the number of rounds this level of insert stops increases to six shots. While the majority of bulletproof backpack inserts are rated for handgun protection (Level IIIA), there are a number of inserts that comply with the NIJ’s Level III requirements.

In our research, we found the following Level III-rated bulletproof backpack inserts:

Can a backpack insert stop a rifle? Can it stop shots from an AR-15?

Here are a few videos testing ShotStop’s rifle protection (Level III) bulletproof inserts:

Once you start talking about rifle protection for backpack inserts, the construction process and materials used to produce these inserts makes a big difference in weight, comfort, and cost. Because a primary feature of a bulletproof insert is to be thin enough to fit inconspicuously into a backpack or computer bag, there are only a couple of materials that provide rifle protection in the form of a bag/backpack insert – steel and polyethylene.

Steel Bulletproof Backpack Inserts

Steel backpack inserts can be very inexpensive, but because they’re steel, they are also very heavy – 8 to 10 lbs. depending on the size. They are also very thin, which is a positive, but 8+ lbs. in a child’s backpack or your computer bag or purse is quite a bit of extra weight.

Polyethylene Bulletproof Backpack Inserts

Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) is the latest advancement in ballistic material.

Polyethylene technology offers the best protection at the lowest weight. These polyethylene inserts provide the same level of protection as their steel competition, but at a fraction of the weight, as seen in the chart above.

What Do Bulletproof Backpack Inserts Cost?

As you can see from the chart below, bulletproof backpack inserts have quite a broad range of prices, depending on whether you’re considering a Level IIIA soft backpack insert or the thinnest Level III lightweight polyethylene insert for rifle protection. For Level IIIA, there’s not such a wide range in price, so it becomes a matter of evaluating weight and thickness. When looking at the various options we found while searching online, at the roughly 11” x 14” size, the weight and thickness don’t vary considerably either.

Backpack Insert - Hand Gun Protection (Level IIIA) Comparison by Price, Weight & Thickness

So, how do you choose the right handgun-rated backpack insert? We can’t answer that directly, but we have tried to give you as much detail as possible to help you make that decision. Evaluating some of the lesser-known facts about each plate and its manufacturer may become the most important things to think about:

• Did you check the Ballistic Lab Report? (did they even offer one?)

• Is the insert current with the latest NIJ standards? (current is NIJ 0106.01)

• Does the company appear to be legitimate? Credible? Trustworthy?

• Is any information difficult to find? (like they may be hiding something?)

• Can you pick up the phone and talk with a “real person” if you have questions?

   

Pricing for Rifle-Rated Backpack Inserts

The price range of rifle-rated inserts is very different from handgun protection. Clearly, steel Level III inserts will be the least expensive (under $100) and thinner polyethylene inserts will cost more. When it comes to buying Level III bulletproof inserts though, the price must be considered relative to the weight and thickness. And, in the case of rifle protection, weight and thickness do vary quite a bit more.

A steel insert may only cost $65, but at 8-10 lbs., is doubling or tripling the weight worth saving on the price? For placing in a student’s backpack, in particular, weight is a major consideration. We would NOT recommend going with a steel insert for this reason alone. The various polyethylene (poly) inserts that we found online range in price from $199 to $700; weight ranges from 3 lbs. to just over 5 lbs. (the sizes differ here, so keep that in mind – an 11” x 14” insert is obviously going to weight more than a 10”x12”); and thickness ranges somewhere between .7 inches and 1.1 inches.

Below is a comparison of the different Level III rifle-rated backpack inserts…

Backpack Insert - Rifle & Hand Gun Protection (Level III) Comparison by Price, Weight & Thickness

Traditionally, the thinner and lighter a poly insert is, the more expensive it is. At ShotStop®, we have developed a patented process and material called Duritium® that allows us to produce thinner and lighter inserts while keeping the costs much less than competitors – for example, a 10”x12” insert weighing 3.75 lbs. and 0.95” thick at $275 versus the DFNDR 9.5”x12.5”, 2.65 lbs., 0.7” insert at $600.

Made in the U.S.A. and the Berry Amendment

One other important thing to consider is WHERE the backpack insert is manufactured. “Made in the U.S.A.” doesn’t necessarily mean that a product is 100 percent made in the United States. Certain components could be manufactured in foreign countries and then final production takes place in the U.S. Products that are Berry Compliant, however, fall in line with the Berry Amendment (first introduced in 1941), which requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to give preference in procurement to domestically produced, manufactured, or home-grown products. Essentially Berry Compliance helps promote the purchase of U.S. goods over other foreign-made goods – and it also ensures that a product is 100 percent made in the U.S.A. Many ballistics companies that sell bulletproof backpack inserts are selling products that are wholly or partially made in China, where manufacturing standards are not nearly as stringent and consistent as in the United States. To ensure you’re getting a product that stands up to the rigorous standards you should expect from anything that is supposed to stop bullets, check to see if the company is Berry Amendment Compliant.

Do Bulletproof Backpack Inserts Really Keep Our Kids Safe?

So, the big question covering all the questions we’ve addressed so far is this: DOES A BULLETPROOF BACKPACK INSERT WORK? Will it protect my child or me?

The purpose of a bulletproof backpack insert is to keep your child safe in an active shooter situation. We can talk all day about the number of shots an insert is rated to stop, how thin or light it is, but if it is not available to the student or isn’t properly used, it won’t be good for anything.

Any backpack insert should be placed in the back of the bag; this also takes advantage of the added benefit of anything else in the bag being hit first, thus improving the effectiveness of the insert. As shown in the illustrations below, the backpack should be held in such a way that it covers the head and chest.

A question that comes up often is, “What if the kids can’t or don’t carry their backpack throughout the school?” This is a very good question. Different schools have different rules, but in some cases a child’s backpack may be in a locker, out of reach in an emergency situation. An option for this is to keep the ballistic insert nearby inside a desk or with a stack of books on the desk. For middle and high school students who may carry books outside a backpack from class to class, the insert can be included in that stack of books. Again, this is where thickness and weight become very important.

Keeping Our Kids and Ourselves Safe

By no means is a bulletproof backpack insert the ONLY solution to keeping our kids safe in school and ourselves safe at work or in public areas. There are many other ideas, products, systems, and education that will help keep our kids safer in school and make public areas safer. A backpack insert is a single measure that provides both protection and peace of mind and should be used in conjunction with open communication with your children, their school, and the administration of a school district.

WE OFTEN USE THE ANALOGY OF A FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Every public building in America is required to have one or more fire extinguishers on site. This is not a requirement because the government expects every building will have a fire, but it’s in place in case there is a fire, there’s a much better chance of saving lives when a fire extinguisher is available in the event a fire does happen. The same is true for the bulletproof backpack insert: we all hope it is never needed; if an active shooter situation DOES happen, however, there’s a much better chance of survival if the right protection is available.

We’ve shared a lot of information here, and hopefully you feel more educated about the options available when it comes to bulletproof backpack inserts. We saved our most important piece of advice for last: DO YOUR RESEARCH! Don’t get caught up in the fear of the moments following a mass shooting event, but rather explore your options and make the decision that works best for you and your family. We will do our best to keep the data in this article updated, but things change – prices, weights and other specifics may get updated. In fact, we know that the NIJ is in the process of launching a new standard, likely to go into effect by the end of 2019. So, don’t rely on just one source; do your research and let us know if we can help with anything.