Body Protection

[Jezzer]

Some advice please guys.
After a small off at QECP at the weekend, I have decided i need to invest in some body protection. I was wearing a good Helmet and undoubtedly saved me knocking my head. I was wearing padded shorts and, once again saved me from a sorer hip and leg. Forgot my shin and knee pads so resulted in some grazes but fine, lesson learnt. Camlebak prevented any Back injury and i only ended up with a broken wrist, more because i fell awkwardly. As i am getting no younger, i thought i should get some shoulder/chest/back protection. I know this wouldn't have prevented the wrist injury
What do people wear etc?

 

[Brendog78]

When I'm going hard like racing DH,

For the wrist All Sport Dynamics OH2, then leatt body armor, neck brace and knee shin pads. Troy Lee padded shorts full face helmet and goggles, gloves, long gersy and pants.

For normal riding I still wear the wrist brace, some light weight fox knee pads pro frame helmet shorts and jersy and gloves.

On the E bike I could probably wear more protection, it's just getting that balance right, there is always risk no matter what you have on.

 

[Trail-Niels]

I use (apart from my MIPS equipped helmet) an EVOC Enduro Shirt with SAS Tec shoulder protection, and soft chest protection. As Backpack, an EVOC FR Enduro with back protection. For knees and elbows I use POC VPD Air protectors. I should perhaps use more torso protection since i’ve bent my ribs on a couple of occasions - and finally fullfinger gloves with protection on the upper side.

 

[Jamsxr]

I’m using Race Face Flank leg protectors, comfortable and well made.

Alpinestars Bionic Jacket for bike parks, again, comfortable and well made.

 

[Mikerb]

Leatt armoured T and shorts, super comfy and don't get you hot. Gloves and knee pads..sometimes shin pads both by G Form.....self supporting non bulky and no straps. Giro helmet and 100% clear goggles. I would say all my protection is trail/enduro rather than downhill or rocky terrain but then I ride mostly in forest so crash landing tend to be fairly mild unless you hit a tree! I have learnt in other action sports I do/have done to turn and crunch up if I crash but its not something you can learn overnight I guess because it has to become instinctive. It does stop you putting an arm out though if you can learn it and it is that action that leads to broken wrists and collarbones. Quick recovery mate.

 

[Zimmerframe]

A selection of oils and creams so I slide over and past things with no resistance ..

Smiths forefront II, wanted something with a crumple zone after a very bad concussion crash - though safe to say normal helmet saved me from a fractured skull.

Sam hill knee pads, well tested (I'm a moron), comfortable - though for the first few weeks they'd take 2 minutes to "settle". Then you don't know they're on. If I was buying again I'd also consider the g-form pro-x knee shin/pads for the extra bit of shin protection, though I've not re-opened my two month old shin scars since wearing the sam hills.

Following lessons learnt from two more accidents - broken rib (tree) and fractured pelvis (viciously assaulted from behind by angry e-bike after a fast and messy otb) :

No brand chinese armoured shorts as I wasn't sure how I'd get on with comfort/heat/restrictivity and so on .. actually been faultless.

Cheapo Fox copy from amazon - black upper body armour (which seems to sell for between £25 and £200 for the same thing). Matches the chinese shorts, though the armour I had to order a size up. Once adjusted I don't actually know I have it on amazingly, obviously it's warmer than no armour and I ditch it for really long less technical rides, but again bought a cheap one to try to see how I'd get on with wearing armour and it's been faultless. Like the knee pads and the shorts, has been extensively tested as I've slammed myself into various trees, rocks and cartwheeled down hills I shouldn't have been riding. (as mentioned - moron).

I probably should consider some form of wrist brace too ....

 

[Trail-Niels]

I probably should consider some form of wrist brace too ....

For wrist support I can recommend Troy Lee Designs WS 5205 Wrist Support, they are comfortable and not too bulky. They helped me supporting my left wrist, when I got back on the bike after a broken wrist last year.

 

[33red]

I am 61 with no fear for my bones but aware healing is slower. For years i have been using a helmet. 3 years ago i started Fatbike and mountainbike. My protection is R2R. I have the attitude that i love to ride so i ride to ride the next day, avoid damages to my bike and myself. A year ago i added knee pads used for volleyball and they came handy a few times. I like to feel the sun and the wind so those are my 3 protections. I try to do my over the bars on snow or dirt, not rocks. Early this season on a new bike i felt riding slow but for 3 weeks i had a sore hand. I also broke a toe just from putting a foot down abruptly, i guess my foot moved forward in my 5-10 and hit the shoe. Now i lace tighter. About 7 weeks later still swolen but it was never painful just colorfull.

 

[Jezzer]

For wrist support I can recommend Troy Lee Designs WS 5205 Wrist Support, they are comfortable and not too bulky. They helped me supporting my left wrist, when I got back on the bike after a broken wrist last year.

thanks. thats great.

 

[Bean]

Troy Lee knee protectors, though these creep to shin guards after 10mins in saddle. Ion Sleeve elbow protectors and Specialized helmet.
The armoured shorts and shirts look interesting, might do a cheap set and try too. As I get more confident in trails I try will look at a full helmet.

 

[Mikerb]

Be aware that what you pay for in any form of armour is type of padding used. In the cheaper armour it is merely a foam padding....that might prevent grazing but will do little to absorb impact. Most especially for "soft" armour...ie without solid plastic plates it is best to ensure you get high impact eps. It has various names such as D40 and some brands have their own name for it. As an example the cheap chinese imports that are identical in design to the Fox armour do not have the same quality padding. In short you get what you pay for. I use Leatt which is a brand primarilly focused on MX.

 

[Dax]

As an example the cheap chinese imports that are identical in design to the Fox armour do not have the same quality padding.

@Doomanic can confirm this, he bought both to compare.

 

[Zimmerframe]

I can confirm .. my cheap chinese one is only foam padding and not "impact reactive foam", though it does also have hard plastic sections, so a combination of the two seems to work well - certainly better than nothing and it in no way inhibits my random flailing around when on and off the bike.

I quite fancied something like the Knox ones or one of the many others with the reactive foam (soft normally, hard when impacted) but at the time I couldn't find any which actually offered the protection to all the torso/arm areas I wanted and was hesitant due to heat/comfort so tried the cheap one to get a feel for things.

I did buy a pair of Fox attack gloves with D30 reactive knuckle armour. Had high hopes until I tested it with a punch and discovered it was about as effective as a piece of cotton wool. I'm careful now and use my head to protect my hands ...

 

[steve_sordy]

What sort of protection depends upon what sort of riding you want to do. If you are a doing DH all the time then you need to armour up as detailed in previous posts. But if not then you don't need that level of protection. In addition to my Bell Super trail helmet, I have knee and shin guards by Troy Lee Designs and elbow guards too. My Camelbak MULE protects my back, my gloves protect my hands and my Shimano AM42 protect my feet! I once went OTB on Jacobs Ladder and survived without a scratch. I also wear Sealskinz mid length socks all year round (so that my boots still fit in the summer!) They meet the knee/shin guards, apart from when they settle down by an inch.

That lot protects me from brambles,, nettles and gorse - the usual hazard. Most importantly, they provide confidence that even if/when I come off on loose gravel, broken trees and shrubbery that I will be OK. Yes, they are not as good against sharp pointed rocks as plastic-faced armour with D30 foam padding. But I don't come up against that very often. I have ridden DH with this gear and I survived several offs. But then I'm not a full-on DH rider (not even a half-on DH rider) so I wasn't going at 40mph in harm's way. Choose your protection to suit what you ride.

 

[Mikerb]

Each to their own but I cannot agree that you only need armour for downhill. The downhill armour is more comprehensive often including spine protectors and neck braces etc. The armour that only involves a series of d30 pads is neither cumbersome or hot and can help reduce the risk of severe bruising and broken bones.....and I know plenty of guys who have suffered injury just doing woodland trails. My Leatt dbx shorts and short sleeve top help protect most of the vulnerable areas....thigh and hip, shoulder/upper arm, and chest.

 

[HIGHL4NDER]

I'm just in the market for new stuff myself. I went to put on my Giro open face helm last week and the inside disintegrated in my hand! I realised it was 13yrs old... maybe needs changed! When I looked at my kit after that I realised my full face is a decade old as well! Currently looking at a 2 in 1 helm, the Bell SuperDH and some new endura mt500 lite 2019 knee pads. anyone used either?

The worst injuries I have ever witnessed (excluding at pro race events) were bizarrely all on red routes! guy with his face all smashed up at the foot of spooky wood in Glentress, one being stretchered off AE forests Omega man finish with a back injury, even sen a guy with a bit of his carbon bars sticking out of his shoulder after hitting a tree!

You cant mitigate all the risk, but your armour level should, in my opinion, reflect your confidence and ability as well as the grade of the run. If you can do DH runs easily then feel free to dress down for a red. If red/black are you pushing your limits, armour up!

I'd need Iron Man's armour to do DH stuff!

 

[MarkH]

For normal riding I use soft fox knee n elbow pads, Bell Super FF. Swop the soft fox knee pads for hard fox pads and add TLD armour for uplift days. Cracked ribs twice before using the TLDs but both times on fairly innocuous trails that I still probably wouldn't wear the TLDs for - realise I should be wearing the armour more often. So far so good.
Doing Ard Rock in a week or so and will definitely have the TLDs on for that.

 

[Trail-Niels]

Currently looking at a 2 in 1 helm, the Bell SuperDH and some new endura mt500 lite 2019 knee pads. anyone used either?

I use a Bell Super 2R MIPS (the predecessor of the SuperDH), I usually use it as an open face helmet, but when riding enduro trails, or bike park I attach the chin bar. The fit is perfect for me. A mate is using a Giro Switchblade, which is similar.

 

[R120]

I would say invest in good armour and protection, as the good stuff that fits well doesn't get in the way of your riding or rub, or become annoying to ride in.

A fall with consequences can happen on any trail, and some of the supposedly gnarlier runs at trail centres are actually safer than more chilled natural trails, as they are kept maintained and groomed, with run off areas, whereas natural trails can change from day to day, and you can easily come across felled trees or eroded parts of track that will throw you off the bike.

 

[33red]

Injuries happen on the last run. You might say this is obvious, an injury ends my day.
35 years ago i was a ski patroller and that saying meant be on the slopes we will need you. This is not the time after 3pm to take a brake. People get tired they get injured. Stats were overwhelming most of accidents do happen when we are tired. So i allways finished my day on an easy sloope or now a beginner trail. I also avoid starting with an expert. I also take a quick bite frequently to keep my energy up.

 

[Pukmeister]

I just bought a Demon Flex Force Pro armoured vest for my snowboarding which is also CE approved as suitable for mountain biking. It was originally £148 but absolute snow are having a summer clear out so £101.28 plus as ex-forces I get a further 10% off with them, so £95.61 inc vat and postage. Its good with a large back protector, shoulder and elbow pads plus rib protection. The armour is SAS-TEC which is a soft foam that hardens instantly under impact (similar to D30).

QECP is my local track, might bump into you there sometime Jezzer, hope the wrist is soon mended and you are back out riding.

 

[steve_sordy]

.................

You cant mitigate all the risk, but your armour level should, in my opinion, reflect your confidence and ability as well as the grade of the run. If you can do DH runs easily then feel free to dress down for a red. If red/black are you pushing your limits, armour up!

...............

I agree with that! I needed body protection most when I was a beginner. But apart from a helmet I wouldn't wear any at all as I didn't want to look like I had "all the gear and no idea". Yep, crazy I know but such is the power of a slogan! Now I wear it because I need it (still) and I couldn't give a monkey's what anyone else thinks.

 

[Zimmerframe]

"all the gear and no idea".

We need a new slogan ... "Got no gear, soon be a smear"

 

[Mikerb]

Firstly I dont care what others think about what I wear but second there is no difference in my appearance when I am wearing my Leatt padded shorts and top so they are just part of the clothing I wear on the bike.

 

[R120]

The Least stuff is IMO the best when it comes to comfortable torso and leg armour - I have their back protector vest, which is a serious bit of kit, but you dont notice it when riding and its hard to tell you have it on.

 

[Jezzer]

I just bought a Demon Flex Force Pro armoured vest for my snowboarding which is also CE approved as suitable for mountain biking. It was originally £148 but absolute snow are having a summer clear out so £101.28 plus as ex-forces I get a further 10% off with them, so £95.61 inc vat and postage. Its good with a large back protector, shoulder and elbow pads plus rib protection. The armour is SAS-TEC which is a soft foam that hardens instantly under impact (similar to D30).

QECP is my local track, might bump into you there sometime Jezzer, hope the wrist is soon mended and you are back out riding.

Thanks that looks great! I have Hospital tomorrow so will what damage I have done. Still feel like I have been hit by a small bus! The joys of getting a bit older!

 

[Jezzer]

Firstly I dont care what others think about what I wear but second there is no difference in my appearance when I am wearing my Leatt padded shorts and top so they are just part of the clothing I wear on the bike.

I’m not a racing snake anyway so a bit more padding isn’t going to make much difference and i don’t care how I look. I need to be safe now!

 

[JoeBlow]

I wear a Bell Super DH. I was a little self conscious about wearing it full face but decided I'm being silly and illogical in my thinking, so next time I go out I will wear it. I also wear Dakine Slayer Knee pads all the time after coming off on a very benign bit of trail simply because I was not paying attention. I forget I'm wearing them. I also wear ankle protectors after breaking an ankle last year rock climbing my ankle feels vulnerable. Next purchase will be a pair of elbow pads. Can anyone recommend something? Not many shops have a lot of choice when it comes to trying out.

Al

 

[jonpress]

Anyone got any suggestions on armour for someone who’s not got a washboard stomach. Just tried the Leatt airfit lite and the fit was questionable to say the least.

 

[Dax]

Try fox?