Abstract: A protective vest system useful as a ballistics vest includes a front panel for overlying the chest region of a user, a front carrier containing the front panel, front strap-like elastically stretchable fastening means rigidly affixed to peripheral portions of the front panel and extending to the outside of the front carrier, a rear panel for overlying the back region of a user, a rear carrier containing the rear panel, and strap-like elastically stretchable rear fasteners rigidly affixed to peripheral portions of the rear panel and extending to the exterior of the rear carrier. Cooperating fasteners on the free end portions of the front and rear strap-like fasteners are attached to one another to rigidly secure the front and rear panels to the body of the user. Each panel includes multiple layers of a flexible and foldable impact-resistant material, such as a woven Kevlar fabric, overlying one another and contained within a flexible and foldable jacket.

Abstract: An inner garment for aiding evaporative cooling includes a first sheet containing a substantial portion of cotton. One face of the first sheet is worn next to the skin where it acts as a wick for perspiration. A second sheet in the form of a resilient, wrinkled, porous web is disposed against the other face of the first sheet to form an evaporative cooling space when an outer garment is worn over the inner garment. Preferably, a perforated third sheet of woven thermopolastic fibers is disposed over the outer face of the wrinkled web to protect the web and restrict loss of moisture primarily to the evaporative process.