July 09, 2025
LOF (Line of Fire) Defense Systems, headquartered in Edmonton Alberta, Canada, specializes in developing lightweight body armor systems designed for real-world performance. Its gear is built with enhanced durability, offering plate carrier platforms and duty belt systems that improve both comfort and survivability.
Every product created is backed by a lifetime warranty and crafted to meet the highest standards. From advanced tactical equipment to detailed custom patches, the company’s focus is on reliability and function for professionals on the front lines.
LOF Defense Systems’ mission is to address the real challenges faced by law enforcement, military personnel, and K9 handlers. Through rigorous research, material selection, and manufacturing processes, it ensures every piece of gear performs under pressure. With extensive testing and quality control, LOF Defense Systems deliver solutions designed to protect and serve those who depend on them.
Darren Schulte, LOF Defense Systems CEO, was kind to share some time with us and answer a few questions about the company and how it has grown.
LOF Defense Systems has an interesting background. Please tell us how it came about.
The journey began in grade nine with a science fair project. I was living on a farm in northern Alberta and wanted to join the military, so I wasn’t taking school seriously. I was failing and had to get an A on a science fair project or risk being held back.
Realizing I needed to finish grade 10 to join the military, I took the project seriously. I chose the “innovation” category and built a load-bearing tactical vest, inspired by my interest in military gear. I ended up winning the school fair and getting an A.
That win took me to Provincials, where I placed first in engineering, and then to Nationals on Canada’s east coast. It was overwhelming—my simple handwritten presentation board was surrounded by advanced, almost corporate-level projects. Some kids were building cancer cures and sending signals into space. I felt out of place—until a group of soldiers saw my display and started asking questions.
They liked what I was doing and challenged me to create something better than the body armor they were using. That sparked a years’-long project. I went back to Nationals two more times, but by grade 12, my vest was so advanced the government got involved. Because I was unknowingly producing controlled military-grade gear, I was barred from competing further.
Instead, the National Research Council and Canadian Police Research Association offered to fund a prototype. I worked with engineers for over a year and created a market-ready version.
At 18, I had no business experience, but I surrounded myself with the right people. When asked if I wanted to sell the tech, go to school, or start a business—I chose business. 
In 2008, we incorporated under the brand name Line of Fire, Inc. and made our first sale to a local tactical team. Over the next eight years, we were manufacturing a wide range of tactical gear—plate carriers, pack systems, dog vests, collars, chest rigs—for military trainers, and steadily growing the business by mainly supporting tactical police units in Canada.
In 2016, we rebranded to LOF Defense Systems and started running the company as a family business. We stopped producing hard body armor and shifted to soft armor, vehicle armor, and advanced textile solutions—including K9 protection.
How did you come across Dimension-Polyant’s X-Pac® fabrics?
We were doing a research and development project for a laser cut Molle system, ready to pull the trigger on one of our suppliers for the soft body armor side of things. Thank goodness we didn’t because this company discontinued the material. We would have spent lots of money getting all this fabric and would have been left with nothing at the end of it.
So, my brother and I started another R&D project where we tried laminating two layers of regular nylon together – and laminating two layers of ripstop nylon together to form a durable fabric. The failure rate for both was almost immediate. We had given some samples of products made with these materials to some of our K9 units and in two weeks the feedback came back saying the material was wrecked, broken and stretched.
We started doing some research on sail cloth technology because we were aware that this material did not stretch. This is when we came across Dimension-Polyant and it’s X-Pac® fabrics. We were instantly impressed that it was available in all the MultiCam® colors and IR (Infrared) compliant.
We reached out to the company, and they sent us some sample yardage. We developed a few products to give to a couple of K9 units and it performed perfectly. They loved it. We have been using X-Pac® fabrics ever since.
Is there an example you can share how X-Pac® fabrics provided LOF with a solution to a specific problem?
We needed a fabric with a MultiCam® pattern both front and back, which was not available. So, we started another R&D project on how to bond two layers of X-Pac® X50 Tactical fabric in MultiCam® together. We had reached out to a company in the U.S. that created a custom adhesive for us that was 100% waterproof, good for saltwater and freshwater. We bond the two layers of the X-Pac® X50 together in house and now make all our laser cut Molle products out of it. The performance is superior. The two layers of X-Pac® X50 laminated together is damn near indestructible.
As we worked with the fabric more, our design team and I were coming up with new ways of how to avoid in-seaming – meaning if you take two pieces of fabric, you want to create a nice outside seam. Using X-Pac®, we figured out a way we could avoid in-seaming. Our R&D process of making new products with X-Pac® fabric has kind of run on its own in a great way.
Do you manufacture all your products on the premises?
Everything is made in-house here. We don’t offshore anything, even our hang tags and labels are made on our own laser cutter. We do not rely on global supply chains other than just the raw materials themselves. And we will always do that.
We adopted what’s called the Toyota production system, the Japanese way of manufacturing that Toyota implemented back in the 1950s. It’s called lean manufacturing, and it is the best thing that we’ve ever done.
We follow a one-piece flow model based on this system where we process materials one at a time rather than stockpiling raw inputs, which helps maintain near-perfect quality. It also keeps work varied and engaging for employees, reducing repetition and preventing burnout.
Do you attend any trade shows?
We go to the Blue Line K9 Conference and the HITS K9 Conference – one of the largest K9 conferences in the United States. We also go to CYNO Ops K9 show in Europe. Lots of dogs and we love it!
What is LOF Defense Systems’ sales distribution channel?
We sell to civilians via our website, however body armor laws vary by province in Canada. Most of our business is with law enforcement and military. Individual officers often buy items like pouches or belts online, but larger orders are usually sole-sourced. We don’t bid on contracts because procurement processes often have predetermined outcomes. We’re typically approached directly to outfit entire departments or specialized military units.
Do you have anything new on the horizon that you’d like to share?
We’re expanding our manufacturing line quite significantly. We’re getting two to three more Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines this year, which could mean a facility expansion of anywhere between 15 to 18,000 square feet. And I believe we will be hiring new employees on the CNC side of things.
We’ve also got many new products we’ll be introducing. This all on top of updating our website where we need to make every one of our LOF Defense products for photography and edit the content. So, it’s kind of a lot!
Thanks so much to Darren for his time and insightful conversation! For more information on LOF Defense Systems, please visit https://www.lofdefence.ca.