Impact-resistant chest protector

An apparel system configured to be worn on a torso of a wearer, the apparel system comprising:

• an apparel including an area configured to cover at least a left pectoral region of the wearer when the apparel is worn, the apparel comprising a pocket formed in the area of the apparel configured to cover the left pectoral region including a location of an apical impulse of the wearer;
• a rigid plate configured to be received within the pocket of the apparel at a location configured to cover the left pectoral region including the location of the apical impulse of the wearer when the apparel is worn, the rigid plate having a contour configured to correspond to the left pectoral region of the wearer;
• and
• wherein the apparel system lacks any additional pocket other than the pocket and further lacks any additional rigid plate other than the rigid plate.

An apparel system configured to be worn on a torso of a wearer, the apparel system comprising:

• an apparel including an area configured to cover at least a left pectoral region and a left side of the torso of the wearer when the apparel is worn, the apparel comprising first and second pockets formed in the area of the apparel configured to cover the left pectoral region including a location of an apical impulse of the wearer and the left side of the torso of the wearer;
• a rigid plate configured to be received within the first pocket of the apparel at a location configured to cover the left pectoral region including the location of the apical impulse of the wearer when the apparel is worn, the rigid plate having a contour configured to correspond to the left pectoral region of the wearer;
• a second rigid plate configured to be received within the second pocket of the apparel at a second location configured to cover the left side of the torso of the wearer when the apparel is worn;
• and
• wherein the apparel system lacks any additional pocket other than the first and second pockets and further lacks any additional rigid plate other than the rigid plate and the second rigid plate.