The Stab-proof covert vest Herkules Elite is the advanced evolution of the proven Herkules Professional and is designed for users with the highest demands in wearing comfort, climate management and material performance. It combines identical certified protection performance with a significantly optimized material base for noticeably improved comfort in daily operations.

Like all vests in the Herkules family, the Elite is designed as a lightweight, flexible, covert vest. Its close-fitting design, high freedom of movement, and low weight make it ideal for extended wear in professional environments such as law enforcement, public authorities and security services.

The key difference compared to the Professional series lies in its significantly improved moisture and heat management. Through a patent-pending process, the protection panels of the Elite series achieve substantially increased breathability. Heat and moisture buildup are effectively reduced, significantly enhancing wearing comfort, particularly during physical activity or high ambient temperatures. This advantage becomes especially noticeable during prolonged operations.

Another major enhancement is the redesigned textile base structure of the protection panels. While the Professional series uses staple-fiber aramid fabric, the Elite series utilizes high-strength Cordura®-like filament yarns. These provide greater structural stability, improved long-term durability under mechanical stress and optimized air and moisture permeability.

The protection plates – a multi-layer carbon fiber–epoxy resin laminate – correspond to the proven construction of the Professional series. The protection panels consist of a multi-layer high-performance composite permanently bonded to the textile carrier material. This construction ensures high energy absorption under stab impact and provides reliable protection against knives, needles, screwdrivers and other pointed objects, as well as against blunt force impacts such as punches or kicks.

Flexibility, dimensional stability and moisture resistance are fully maintained. The outer carrier is made of 100% polyester and features a breathable spacer fabric construction.

Depending on size, the Herkules Elite weighs between approximately 1.8 kg and 3.0 kg. The protection coverage of front and back ranges from approximately 0.25 m² to 0.44 m² and can be extended to approximately 0.49 m² with optional side protection, providing comprehensive protection of the chest, abdomen, flanks and back.

The protection panels are removable, allowing the outer carrier to be machine washed for hygienic and long-term use. The panels are manufactured in Remscheid – Made in Germany – and represent consistent quality and reproducible protective performance.

Features & benefits

• Certified stab protection according to VPAM KDIW 2004 – Level K1
• Identical protection performance to the Professional series with significantly enhanced wearing comfort
• Patent-pending process for substantially improved breathability
• Textile base made of high-strength Cordura®-like filament yarns
• High-performance protection panels made of carbon fiber–epoxy resin laminate
• Protection against knives, screwdrivers and other pointed tools
• Additional protection against blunt force impact
• Lightweight, flexible, and breathable for high wearing comfort
• Large-area protection coverage of chest, abdomen, flanks, and back
• Integrated chest and utility pockets with cable routing for equipment
• Optional side protection to extend the protective area

Modular system

The Stab-proof covert vest Herkules Elite is designed as part of a modular carrier system. The protection panels can be installed in different carrier platforms, including the Herkules covert vest for discreet wear, the Orion high-visibility stab-proof vest for maximum visibility and the Thor tactical vest as a robust tactical option with additional equipment storage.

With just one set of protection panels, users can flexibly switch between different wearing configurations. This enables optimal adaptation to various operational scenarios while reducing procurement costs and increasing operational flexibility.