How Riot Gear Technology Is Changing
Crowd control situations call for officer protection against multiple threats. In years past, heavy and bulky riot suits caused mobility problems and were hot and uncomfortable, which affected an officer’s stamina. The result? Officer protection became a liability.
Haven Gear saw this gap in personal defense technology for law enforcement. We work directly with departments to build riot suits and kits that match specific operational needs. Your officers deserve a riot suit, their most significant asset, not a liability.
Recognizing the Limits of Legacy Riot Gear
Traditional riot gear mostly had one focus: impact protection. This singular focus ignored other critical factors—for example, officer endurance and mobility. Old-school gear also didn’t have the technology to account for heat exhaustion.
Departments ended up with cumbersome gear. This limited an officer’s ability to make quick moves and even pursue suspects. However, these outdated suits also played a huge role in how quickly officers became exhausted. Combine all of these problems, and you’ve got a perfect storm of issues that can impair judgment in high-stress scenarios.
The reality is, a change was needed. And Haven Gear is here to meet the challenge head-on.
Material Science Innovation in Officer Armor
Modern riot gear uses advanced materials, such as molded polypropylene panels, like those in the Haven Gear Patrol riot suit. The polypropylene can withstand blunt force and is also stab-resistant. Just as necessary, all of Haven Gear’s suits meet stringent standards for flame resistance.
Modern polymers are explicitly engineered to absorb and distribute impact force. What does this mean for your team? There’s a decreased risk of injuries that can happen because of both thrown projectiles and physical confrontations. Your officers benefit from this higher level of protection, without the bulkiness of materials used in prior years.
Another benefit: Officers’ armor is both strong and flexible. Panels can be shaped to conform to the body for better natural coverage. This science is the solid foundation of safer riot suits.
The Impact of Protective Materials That Are Stronger and Lighter
Weight will directly impact your team’s effectiveness. A heavy suit is guaranteed to drain an officer’s energy over the course of a long shift. Fatigue can slow reaction times, and managing a dynamic situation is harder when you’re exhausted.
Modern suits are ultra-light. For example, the Haven Gear Patrol suit weighs just 10 pounds but still provides full-body protection. But it’s not just about being able to move with more agility. Lighter gear also puts less physical strain on an officer’s body, which means less risk of injury.
Integrated Tech for Maximum Officer Safety
Modern riot suits aren’t just about passive armor. They’re actually platforms for technology. Designed to work with everything else your officers carry. This combination is an integrated system for safety.
The Haven Gear Enforcer suit is made with full-coverage MOLLE. With this, officers can customize where they place their equipment. The suit is also body camera-ready. Documenting what’s going on is easier than ever, built into their suits.
Their equipment is easy to get to and 100% secure. With this level of integration, you can rest assured that your officers’ gear works perfectly together.
Intelligent Systems: Cooling, Hydration, and Communication
Heat is a very real threat to officers wearing riot gear. Overheating can lead to dehydration and possibly heatstroke. Smart systems are now built into suits to eliminate this threat.
Haven Gear suits can be equipped with the cooling and hydration systems your team needs to stay comfortable and hydrated. The cooling system uses reusable ice packs that are easy to attach to the suit’s interior. A frozen pack will keep your officers comfortable for four hours.
The hydration system, which has a tube for officers to drink from, is on the back of the suit. Together, these systems help keep your officers focused so they can be fully present in harsh conditions.
Full Range of Motion: A Tactical Advantage
In a crowd control situation, being able to move freely is a tactical necessity. They’re at a considerable disadvantage if someone can’t bend or run. Legacy riot gear was notoriously restrictive in this regard.
Modern suits like the Enforcer and Patrol have flexible panels that allow for a full range of motion. This advantage allows them to respond faster and achieve better tactical positioning.
Prepare Your Team for Any Situation
Your officers are already facing unpredictable threats, and their gear shouldn’t be one of them. At Haven Gear, we’ve worked hard to solve the problems we heard from law enforcement. With our gear, your team has everything they need to manage precarious situations and safely return home to their families.