Wonder Hoodie’s ‘Bulletproof’ Clothing

Firearms have been the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. since 2020. Parents are understandably concerned and looking for ways to protect their kids.

Enter Wonder Hoodie.

Wonder Hoodie sells a variety of “bulletproof” apparel including a “kid’s bulletproof hoodie” that the company claims on its website is the first of its kind – “the only stand-alone product on the market to seamlessly and discreetly protect all the vital organs.”

“Light and discreet, this bulletproof hoodie will become a family favorite as it accompanies your child to and from home,” Wonder Hoodie boasts.

Meanwhile, a featured customer review promotes the peace of mind parents can expect to gain from their purchase of the $450 hoodie as they send their kids off to school:

Knowing my 5 year old son is much better protected means the world to me! I can rest easier even though I teach at the same school he will be at. …

Wonder Hoodie further touts that its apparel is “trusted by police and school districts across the country.”

However, a closer look at the purported ballistics certification behind Wonder Hoodie’s “bulletproof” clothing reveals the company may be firing blanks.

Wonder Hoodie’s clothing is not NIJ-certified

The company claims that its apparel, including the kid’s hoodie, contain panels in the torso and head that provide “NIJ-IIIA coverage,” which is a body armor rating by the National Institute of Justice for equipment that has been shown to stop .357 SIG and .44 Magnum ammunition fired from longer barreled handguns. The company also claims its clothing is “lab-certified to NIJ-IIIA specifications.”

While consumers might understand these certification claims to mean that the NIJ certified Wonder Hoodie’s clothing, it did not. In fact, the NIJ only tests body armor for law enforcement (and warns that any marketing that claims it tested or certified a company’s products is false).

Further, the touted NIJ protection level (IIIA) does not protect against ammunition from rifles (which are increasingly being used in mass shootings, including school shootings), meaning Wonder Hoodie’s clothing is not actually “bulletproof,” as the company advertises.

And if you’re not happy with the product for any reason once you receive it, Wonder Hoodie does not offer any refunds, a condition that the company does not disclose on its product pages or other marketing. Only in its return policy, which is linked at the very bottom of its website, does Wonder Hoodie state “All sales at wonderhoodie.com are final.”

Company responds

In response to a request for comment, Wonder Hoodie said it has “never advertised our products specifically for school shootings.” Regarding its use of the term “bulletproof” to describe clothing that does not protect against all types of ammunition, including rifle ammunition, Wonder Hoodie told TINA.org:

[W]e use “bulletproof” because it’s widely recognized and commonly used within the industry, though it’s interchangeable with “bullet-resistant.”

Putting aside whether that is how consumers actually interpret the term “bulletproof,” Wonder Hoodie also said that even though its clothing is “not yet officially NIJ-certified,” its products have been “rigorously tested to NIJ standards – the same standards required for certification.” However, to avoid the misimpression that its apparel has NIJ certification, the company said it would remove “NIJ” from product titles and descriptions, a marketing pledge it has followed through on (though the company continues to display the NIJ’s “IIIA” rating on its website – see before and after).

Wonder Hoodie did not respond to a question asking why the company’s no refunds return policy isn’t prominently disclosed on its website.

The bottom line

If you’re considering purchasing “bulletproof” clothing or accessories, it’s important to understand the level of protection these products actually offer, and whether and how they’ve been tested or certified.

According to the NIJ, while ballistic-resistant body armor has saved lives, there is no such thing as bulletproof armor. Remember this if you come across a hoodie, backpack, binder or any other school supply advertised as bulletproof. And if the company is using an NIJ rating to market its product, don’t forget that the NIJ doesn’t certify civilian products.

Find more of our coverage on weapons here.