What's the difference between The Maxx-Dri Vest 3.0 and 3.0 SL and which Maxx-Dri Vest is the best for me

So it has finally happened. You've finally hit your breaking point and are sick and tired of being hot, sweaty and miserable in your body armor. You've seen and/or heard about this Maxx-Dri Vest by 221B Tactical but, for one reason or another, you've held off on purchasing one. But now, you feel that with so many Police Officers and U.S. military soldiers using one, you're ready to give it a shot. Heck with over 12,000 five star reviews from the over 165,000 (and counting) highly satisfied daily users, what have you got to lose, right?

Now, let's not forget where these reviews are coming from...cops and soldiers; some of the TOUGHEST and most skeptical critics on Earth. That alone should tell you something about the effectiveness of The Maxx-Dri Vest. But in the end, it's you that must be 100% satisfied with the product and how you feel while wearing body armor on the job. So that brings us to the question at hand: which Maxx-Dri Vest for body armor cooling, comfort and ventilation is right for you?

For the sake of brevity, we are only going to discuss two of the three most popular Maxx-Dri Vests; The Maxx-Dri Vest 3.0 and 3.0 SL. Both vests have identical features: Velcro side straps for easy on/off. Velcro shoulder loops to pair up with your body armor. Our proprietary "Cool-Spine" dual chambered cooling technology. And non-slip grip strips on the back of the vest to keep your Maxx-Dri Vest snug and in place. But their difference is in the material used to construct the vests themselves.

The Maxx-Dri Vest 3.0 is constructed using our patented 8mm air mesh. The air flow holes in this vest are approximately 6mm in diameter. 

The Maxx-Dri Vest 3.0 SL is constructed using our patented 6mm air mesh. The air flow holes in this vest are approximately 2mm in diameter. 

What does this mean for you? Let's start with the differences in the profile of the two vests. As you might imagine, the 8mm vest (3.0) allows for more space and separation between your body armor and your base layer shirt than the 6mm vest (3.0 SL). More separation = More air flow. 

Now let's talk about the size of the air flow holes. Once again, as you might imagine, bigger holes = more airflow and smaller holes = less air flow. Pretty basic...no PhD required to figure that out. 

When looking at it on paper, one would think the answer to "which Maxx-Dri Vest works best or is best for me" would be elementary. However, there's more to consider than air flow when it comes to choosing the Maxx-Dri Vest that's right for you.

The one thing that many officers with closely tailored or snug fitting uniforms are concerned with is bulk. They don't want to add too much bulk beneath their uniform. For these police officers we recommend the Maxx-Dri Vest 3.0 SL. Despite not having the improved air flow and circulation of the 3.0 vest, you still have 100% more air flow beneath your body armor than having no air flow at all. This goes a long way for those working in really hot and humid climates and extremely cold climates as well.

The Maxx-Dri Vest 3.0 SL is also a great addition for those wearing external carriers, plate carriers or outer carrier shirts such as Blauer ArmorSkin. Thousands who wear such carriers have reported that because their armor is exposed to more ambient air, they feel the 6mm separation the Maxx-Dri Vest 3.0 SL provides is more than sufficient air flow for their comfort.

Additionally, as with concealed armor wearers, many who wear external or outer carriers report that the Maxx-Dri Vest actually makes their body armor vest fit better! And the cushioning properties it provides along the shoulders with it's 360° coverage also makes your body armor feel lighter on your body. This can be attributed to weight distribution properties the Maxx-Dri material provides. 

But then there are those of us who want the MAXXIMUM separation, cooling, ventilation and airflow...and want it now! Whether wearing concealed armor or outer carriers, there are those who simply hate being hot and sweaty and want the most airflow possible beneath their body armor. For these sheepdogs we recommend The Maxx-Dri Vest 3.0. 

These are typically officers that work in extremely hot climates and are not willing to settle when it comes to body armor ventilation and comfort. Their police uniforms are not super snug/fitted and they want the maximum level of comfort while wearing body armor.

So, as you can see, there are a handful of factors that go into making the decision of which Maxx-Dri Vest is best or right for you. The one thing that is undeniable though is that the police officer invented (right here in the USA) Maxx-Dri Vest for body armor ventilation, cooling and comfort is your answer to finally being cooler, drier, cleaner, fresher and more comfortable while wearing body armor. With over over 12,000 Five Star Reviews from the over 165,000 (and counting) highly satisfied daily users, rest assured that no matter which vest you choose, you'll be feeling better in your body armor than you've ever felt before.

Check out the video below to learn more...