chest protectors

[fc501]

I wasnt sure here to post this so, here goes. What do most prefer the chest protector that hang on your body or the upper torso type that you wear like a suit of armor? I am in the market for updating my riding gear but wasnt sure what to get.

I like the idea of the upper torso armor but am thinking during the hot summer month that might not be the way to go.

And also the thought of landing on my back the chest protector shell might be better.

Any ideas?

thanks

[Rugged]

rock garden is mesh. put it on under a well vented jersey, and you will get more airflow that you would just riding in a long sleve shirt.

Plus it looks cool as hell.

like this

[bajajoaquin]

I know I'm in the fringe minority on this, but I really don't see what kind of protection an average chest protector gives you. It focuses most of its protection in the chest. If you look at impact protection in other sports, there's not much focus placed there.

If you're going to hit the ground hard, I'd rather have integrated shoulder, elbow, and back protection, like provided in the gear Rugged posted. The armor fits snugly, so that you can be sure it will be in place when you actually hit the ground. They also have the advantage of having an integrated kidney belt.

I use one of the Troy Lee versions of that gear, and I really like it. It's not mesh, so it may be a bit warm for your criteria.

[wheelnut46]

I've had one similar to this for a couple years. Comfortable and it does the trick.

[weskc35k]

I use the most armour for the least inconvenience,

IE... If it shits me too much i don't wear it,even if i know i should do.

[COAL RUN]

Here is a link to the one I plan on buying my self for christmas. http://www.zacspeed.com/exotecrp3.shtml

Looks like good protection & comes with backpack & hydration system. It's avilable @ the TT store

[Rugged]

I know I'm in the fringe minority on this, but I really don't see what kind of protection an average chest protector gives you.

A regular "chest protector" isn't really meant to protect your chest from impacts. It's now, more commonly called a roost guard. It was meant, back in the day, to keep those fist and golfball sized rocks from the leader's rear tire from cracking your ribs or collarbones.

like you stated, the body armor suits stay in place, and the kidney belt is nice for you skinny folk. lol

[HawkGT]

I've cracked ribs while not wearing a chest protector. Handlebar hit my torso in a get-off. Not fun. I'm confident my chest protector would have had an excellent chance of preventing that. Not long ago I was riding with a friend who crashed in the desert by hitting a "hidden" fence. His chest protector had damage all over it. Also, people have died from cardiac arrest by taking a hard shot to the chest in just the right spot. Really not fun.

Chest protection may or may not be designed for crash protection. But either way, such protection CAN prevent or lessen injury in a crash.

[fc501]

some good info...like the Zacspeed with the water pack all included. But I was looking at the sixsixone with the short sleeve body vest armor.

What I found with the chest protectors is that with the Camel pak on top of the chest protector is gets a little to much of stuff on yourself.

That is why I was thinking of going the body armor route.

thanks for the replies, I will keep an open mind.

thanks

[Rugged]

I've cracked ribs while not wearing a chest protector. Handlebar hit my torso in a get-off. Not fun. I'm confident my chest protector would have had an excellent chance of preventing that. Not long ago I was riding with a friend who crashed in the desert by hitting a "hidden" fence. His chest protector had damage all over it. Also, people have died from cardiac arrest by taking a hard shot to the chest in just the right spot. Really not fun.

Chest protection may or may not be designed for crash protection. But either way, such protection CAN prevent or lessen injury in a crash.

can't ever make it worse, that's for sure.

[Suikerland]

I wear body armor (o'neal) like the first pic in the thread. Over that I wear a ventilated mx shirt with sleeves cut off, and over that I wear an Ogio Flight Vest (http://www.btosports.com/p/OG713101) with water, gear, tools etc.

Sometimes in very hot weather. No problem, as long as you're moving. The body armor is pretty well ventilated.

[jesusgatos]

I wear a RockGardn jacket and it's saved me from a few trips to the hospital...

[ChappyMX828]

I've been pretty happy with the Thor Impact Rig SE. I wear it for local Hare Scrambles and I wore it in the Baja 1000 this year. It offers good protection for your arms, has the removable back plate and has an integrated kidney belt. It has paid for itself in more than one crash in the rocks. ? I usually wear a chest protector for MX. Either one is better than nothing in my opinion.

[austins35]

this is what i wear. it isn't cheap but neither is trip to the ER.

check and see what the pro's wear in Europe. even the ones that don't get paid to wear the gear.

[dmvmechanics]

chest protectors are worth every penny that one time u crash.

[fc501]

austins35, nice darn picture but what is the name of it?

thanks

[Rman of 237]

I have a mesh riding jacket similar to the one in austin's pic only made by Alpinestars (Tech Series) that I use in the summer. Yes they are expensive at around $200.00. I use a Joe Rocket jacket in the winter but I'm not sure what model it is cause it doesn't say anything on the tag except the size.

For riding on the dirt I have a Fox roost protector that I'm holding in my hand right now and damned if I can find the model of it either. It also wasn't cheap.

When I was 17yrs old I was racing in the Texas Harescrambles Circuit Open Class on my '83 XR350 (which I still own:applause: ) when I got squirrely in a sandy rutted (yes, it was sandy and rutted) curve doing about 50mph and biffed hard. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital with broken ribs and a collapsed right lung!! I don't know whatever happened to that chest protector but it no doubt saved my life. It looked like someone took an axe to it and had a field day! It was a great conversation piece to say the least.