Riot control suit products (soft bulletproof vests) are made of woven or laminated fibers that absorb the impact of projectiles such as sharp knives or bullets, reducing or preventing them from penetrating armor-piercing personnel. These vests are sometimes reinforced with metal or ceramic plates or inserts (hard armor vests). Hard vests are mainly used for troops, police tactical units and hostage rescue teams, while soft vests are mainly used for police officers, VIPs, security guards and bodyguards.

Riot control suit products consist of multiple layers of high-strength fibers that capture and twist bullets in a mushroom-like fashion. As a result, the kinetic energy of the bullet spreads over a wider area of the vest fibers. Some layers may be pierced, but as the bullet deforms, the energy is absorbed by increasingly larger fibers. Although bulletproof vests prevent bullet penetration, the vest and user still absorb the impact of the bullet, causing blunt force injuries, as indicated by the unique numbers on the back.