Product Image:
(note : The Alpinestars image looks like the chest is a lattice mesh similar to the back armour, it's not, it's a semi rigid 5mm thick piece of foam with a few holes drilled in it)
Product name: Alpinestars Paragon Pro Protector Vest
Price paid: €100
Score (out of 10): 6
Review: Part of Alpinestars "Paragon" line.
There seems to be the :
Paragon Vest (the old model) - just back protection - CE 1.
Paragon Plus Vest (the new model) - Back protection - CE 1.
Paragon Pro Vest - CE 1 back. CE 1 Chest and a couple of bits of foam up the side to stop tickles.
Paragon Pro long Sleeve Protection Jacket - As the pro vest with CE 1 shoulders and CE 1 Elbows.
This is the Pro Vest.
I've bought it to use as a protective base layer. It fit's really well, is cool, comfortable, none restrictive, very light weight.
The kidney belt attaches at the rear with Velcro, so you can move it up and down to where you want it, or remove it completely.
Obviously a lot of armour these days is "reactive" - d3o for instance and many others. These types of armour have no doubt saved many from injury, especially as they're flexible so they don't feel restrictive, therefore people will wear protection who otherwise wouldn't.
On the down side, they can be heavier and a lump of thick foam can be hot and sweaty. Whilst reactive, only the impacted area firms up, they don't magically turn all your armour into a hard protective shell on impact - so they don't spread impact forces very well. This is countered by using thicker reactive foam, so heavier and sweatier. It can also be improved by laminating it or mixing it with a harder outer shell or alternative armour type.
More companies are starting to use lattice or tube armours as they absorb shock and spread impact forces.
The Paragon Pro uses lattice armour. It's light weight and very breathable.
The chest panel nicely wraps around a reasonable portion of the ribs without feeling at all restrictive. As mentioned in my next post, it's main downfall is it's lack of protection despite somehow (bribe? testing defeat device...) supposedly passing the CE1 chest certification. The chest is basically just a thin plasticised memory foam panel offering considerably less protection than an uncertified tld7855. It also lacks in coverage area, only coming part way up the pectorals and leaving the entire upper chest and collar bone area unprotected. It flexes slowly and if you do the "punch test" it hurts considerably less punching the panel rather than no panel, but it's hard to imagine it passing CE1 or giving any real world protection from anything other than minor bruising.
The back is long, flexible but sturdy and comes down to the buttocks, unlike many of the back protectors at the moment which stop above the small of the back. The back protector lattice reduces in thickness/density towards it's edges but is ultimately quite a nice CE1 back protector.
The panels aren't removable. The instructions suggest hand washing only with soap and water. This isn't going to happen for me, so it's already been in the washing machine on a gentle cold wash and all is well.
So far, really pleased with it. You don't really know you have it on. it's incredibly none bulky. I've worn my TLD 7855 over the top and you wouldn't know you have this on underneath.
The only negative is that the panels aren't removable, so you can't upgrade them/change them - not easily anyway, or remove them for washing.
Another bonus, if you ever goto a fancy dress party as Freddie Mercury and you're worried things might get a bit raucous - this is the perfect costume.
(note : The Alpinestars image looks like the chest is a lattice mesh similar to the back armour, it's not, it's a semi rigid 5mm thick piece of foam with a few holes drilled in it)
Product name: Alpinestars Paragon Pro Protector Vest
Price paid: €100
Score (out of 10): 6
Review: Part of Alpinestars "Paragon" line.
There seems to be the :
Paragon Vest (the old model) - just back protection - CE 1.
Paragon Plus Vest (the new model) - Back protection - CE 1.
Paragon Pro Vest - CE 1 back. CE 1 Chest and a couple of bits of foam up the side to stop tickles.
Paragon Pro long Sleeve Protection Jacket - As the pro vest with CE 1 shoulders and CE 1 Elbows.
This is the Pro Vest.
I've bought it to use as a protective base layer. It fit's really well, is cool, comfortable, none restrictive, very light weight.
The kidney belt attaches at the rear with Velcro, so you can move it up and down to where you want it, or remove it completely.
Obviously a lot of armour these days is "reactive" - d3o for instance and many others. These types of armour have no doubt saved many from injury, especially as they're flexible so they don't feel restrictive, therefore people will wear protection who otherwise wouldn't.
On the down side, they can be heavier and a lump of thick foam can be hot and sweaty. Whilst reactive, only the impacted area firms up, they don't magically turn all your armour into a hard protective shell on impact - so they don't spread impact forces very well. This is countered by using thicker reactive foam, so heavier and sweatier. It can also be improved by laminating it or mixing it with a harder outer shell or alternative armour type.
More companies are starting to use lattice or tube armours as they absorb shock and spread impact forces.
The Paragon Pro uses lattice armour. It's light weight and very breathable.
The chest panel nicely wraps around a reasonable portion of the ribs without feeling at all restrictive. As mentioned in my next post, it's main downfall is it's lack of protection despite somehow (bribe? testing defeat device...) supposedly passing the CE1 chest certification. The chest is basically just a thin plasticised memory foam panel offering considerably less protection than an uncertified tld7855. It also lacks in coverage area, only coming part way up the pectorals and leaving the entire upper chest and collar bone area unprotected. It flexes slowly and if you do the "punch test" it hurts considerably less punching the panel rather than no panel, but it's hard to imagine it passing CE1 or giving any real world protection from anything other than minor bruising.
The back is long, flexible but sturdy and comes down to the buttocks, unlike many of the back protectors at the moment which stop above the small of the back. The back protector lattice reduces in thickness/density towards it's edges but is ultimately quite a nice CE1 back protector.
The panels aren't removable. The instructions suggest hand washing only with soap and water. This isn't going to happen for me, so it's already been in the washing machine on a gentle cold wash and all is well.
So far, really pleased with it. You don't really know you have it on. it's incredibly none bulky. I've worn my TLD 7855 over the top and you wouldn't know you have this on underneath.
The only negative is that the panels aren't removable, so you can't upgrade them/change them - not easily anyway, or remove them for washing.
Another bonus, if you ever goto a fancy dress party as Freddie Mercury and you're worried things might get a bit raucous - this is the perfect costume.
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