What does a cut-resistant T-shirt VBR-Gen2 protect against

Benefits of a casual cut-resistant dual face VBR-Gen2 T-shirt

Casual black cut-resistant Spectra T-shirt VBR-Gen2

“British research has shown that when attacked with a knife, cut-resistant clothing can severely reduce or even prevent up to 80% of the injury.”

British research has shown that in a real knife attack, cut-resistant clothing can severely reduce or even prevent up to 80% of the injury.

Important:

  • this refers to "can severely reduce", not "provide absolute protection"
  • this refers to "real knife attacks", not lab tests
  • the biggest gain is in:
    • less deep cuts
    • less tissue damage
    • less blood loss

➡️ It mainly applies to cutting, chopping, and oblique contact moments, which are common in chaotic situations like a knife attack. A stab wound in a real knife attack is not perpendicular to the body (T-shirt), causing the stab to lose its efficiency.

This is exactly where casual cut-resistant clothing proves its worth.

Not every knife is a "stabbing weapon"

Standardized S1 and P1B knife tip

For stab-resistant vests officially certified as KR1, very sharp knives are used to test the qualification. The American NIJ-0115.00 standard uses a very sharp S1 knife (Deluxe stab vest), and the British HOSDB standard uses the very sharp P1B knife (Pollux stab vest). When these very sharp knives are stabbed perpendicularly into the stab-resistant vest under ideal laboratory conditions, the thin and very sharp tip penetrates deep into the stab-resistant vest and then eventually stops according to the standards a few millimeters from the tip of the stab-resistant vest.

Standardized stab tests (P1B, S1, NIJ, VPAM) use:

  • narrow, symmetrical, very sharp tips
  • designed to cause maximum penetration
  • perpendicular, controlled stabbing motion

This is not representative of most knives used in a knife attack, against which a VBR-Gen2 does offer some form of protection:

  • kitchen knives (less sharp tip)
  • pocket knives (hinge point can break)
  • screwdrivers with rounded tips (not sharp)
  • improvised weapons

Most stabbing weapons used in a stabbing incident often have:

  • a wider tip
  • a cutting edge that makes contact first
  • less optimal penetration geometry
  • less sturdy construction

➡️ This means that in practice, during a knife attack, the cutting edge of the knife plays a more important role than the tip of the knife. This implies that a knife stab that is not perpendicular to the cut-resistant T-shirt primarily uses its cutting edge to inflict injury.

Summary in one technically correct representation

  • ✔️ A kitchen knife is not a sharp test knife P1B or S1
  • ✔️ Many knife injuries are cuts or sliding injuries from the knife
  • ✔️ Cut-resistant clothing can significantly reduce injury
  • ✔️ Full stab-resistant vests are uncomfortably unsuitable for daily use
  • ✔️ A Spectra shirt is a realistic middle ground, not a false sense of security

Where a dual-face Spectra shirt realistically helps

What it does do

  • cutting edge is slowed down or deflected
  • knife slips away faster
  • penetration is slower
  • wound depth and length are often limited

What it doesn't do

  • no guarantee against perpendicular, repeated, forceful stabbing
  • no replacement for 30+ layers of thick certified KR1 stab-resistant vest.

This type of dual face VBR-Gen2 T-shirt is designed as a comfortable intermediate solution:

  • more protection than regular clothing,
  • more protection than a single face cut-resistant T-shirt
  • but without the bulk and discomfort of a full stab vest.

The stab resistance is limited and depends on:

  • the tip shape of the knife,
  • the angle at which the knife hits the T-shirt
  • the force with which it is stabbed

VBR-Gen2 is not developed to replace a KR1 stab-resistant vest

In addition to the high stab-resistant protection against knives and sharp objects (KR1-SP1), a certified KR1-SP1 stab-resistant vest also has a number of side effects that ensure the stab-resistant vest is not always worn.

  • Not flexible, stiff and does not conform to the body
  • Straitjacket effect
  • Heavier weight +/- 2.5 kg
  • Very warm
  • Perspiration does not wick away
  • Not completely discreet
  • Not comfortable to wear for long periods

A VBR-Gen2 aims to provide realistic protection against a knife attack in casual cut-resistant clothing that can be worn comfortably and discreetly for a long time.

  • Very flexible and conforms to the body like other casual clothing
  • No straitjacket effect and hangs loosely like a casual T-shirt
  • Less heavy, weighs only +/- 500 grams
  • Significantly less warm, especially with some airflow
  • Perspiration wicks away through the Coolmax inner layer in contact with the skin
  • Completely discreet, looks like a casual T-shirt
  • Comfortable to wear for long periods

Black Undershirt V-neck T-shirt Dual Face Spectra -Coolmax VBR-Gen2

Grey Undershirt T-shirt Dual Cutyarn-Spectra-Coolmax VBR-Gen2

Under body armor shirt VBR-Gen2 with cut-resistant Dual Face Spectra-Coolmax sleeves

Boxer shorts VBR-Gen2 in cut-resistant Dual Face Cutyarn-Spectra-Coolmax

Black VBR-Gen2 combat pants with Dual-Face Spectra-Coolmax lining