SA police announce stab-proof vest trial

South Australian police say they will trial various stab-proof and ballistic vests ahead of a planned rollout to the rest of the force.

Assistant Commissioner Linda Fellows said the trial is about identifying the most appropriate products for diverse climate conditions.

"We're talking about a significant expenditure of public money here and it's the responsible thing to do to make sure we get the best value," she said.

"We may need, for example, one product for the APY Lands and the Far North, with the extreme heat. We may need a different product for general duties patrols in the metropolitan area."

The state opposition has criticised the trial, saying it's "pointless" and leaves officers at risk.

"We know stab-resistant vests and Tasers are necessary for all frontline officers," Labor leader Peter Malinauskas said in a statement.

"There's no need for a pointless trial to delay the roll out of these important protections."