What are your thoughts on armor?

[Karson]

I'm possibly thinking about a gear upgrade at some point over the winter, but as I was removing the d3o from my Klim suit, I got to thinking about armor.

Do you prefer loose armor that's contained in pockets in your gear, or armor that's strapped to your body (pressure suit, compression shorts with armor, etc...) Or, do you use a mixed approach?

In my opinion, I can't help but wonder if I crash, will the loose armor like my d3o be in the right spot at the right time to protect my body from impact?

Armor is such a broad term, since we could be talking about abrasion protection (road rash), or impact protection, or both.

Although a little inconvenient, my Rockgardn pressure suit is pretty stout, and I'm thinking about ditching some/all of my jacket's d3o since in theory the Rockgardn offers superior impact and abrasion protection. Perhaps I got a bum run of d3o, but other than my back protector, the other pieces are harder than a rock. I'm under the impression it's supposed to harden upon impact, and if the definition of soft is what it is now, it's gonna hurt.

Another inconvenience of the pressure suit is that you look like an alien gladiator if I take my jacket off to grab a bite to eat or cool off.

Anyway, just thinking out loud...what are your thoughts on the armor you prefer, and why do you use it despite the above advantages/disadvantages I've described above.

 

[GSteve]

Living in Arkansas, ventilation is always a concern. I agree the D3O armor can be pretty stiff when cold, but how hot would a pressure suit be when worn under a Klim Badlands shell? There doesn't seem to be an outfit that checks all of the boxes, just another collection of compromises.

 

[tubebender]

As GSteve says, it's all a bunch of compromises.

Years ago I got tired of putting on all the hard protection and looked for another alternative. I wanted something that had all the armor in place. I looked at all that was available at the time and bought a Belstaff jacket. It was OK but did not vent well and was terrible in hot weather. I looked some more and thought that Rukka offered what I was looking for but damn, it was expensive.

One day I was riding with a group and one of the guys had Motoport gear. I asked him about it and found out that it was local to me so I went over there, got the tour, drank the Kool-aid, and bought the Kevlar Mesh jacket and then the pants 6 months later. I have been riding with the same gear for the last 7 years. I have ridden in most kinds of conditions, hit the ground and other objects, and never once felt I needed more. Yeah, it's not the most stylish, is rough to the touch and bulky, but they have served me well.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Armor - Yes


The question is really what shade of gray.


It comes down to how you quantify the risk that you are trying to mitigate. And then what tool you are using for that.


Obviously, a pressure suit is a higher level of protection. If I'm on a dirt bike, sure. If I were to go on a track, yes. So the direct answer to your question for me is that a pressure suit is beyond what I want for road riding. Unless maybe if I were going to do something exceptional or stupid and at that point thinking I need the pressure suit should be a clue to me that my head is in the wrong place. Obviously ymmv


There also are levels of what D30 can do for you. The D30 in my old FirstGear couldn't hold a candle to what is in my Klim.


As you said, any type of protection needs to be kept in the right place or it's just baggage. I'm pretty happy with how my Klim jacket fits ME and that the armor will stay where it's needed. But that one is extremely personal to how we fit out gear.

 

[Philistine]

Having come from dirt bikes I can tell you that under-body armor will give you the best protection, it just depends on how you want people at the bar looking at you when you stop for that beer in that little country town ::025::. I went for a ride yesterday, "off road" and wore all my MX gear it was much cooler than riding in my street gear and I felt a lot braver as well, I dont know how it would go sliding along the black top at 100kms :question:

 

[Karson]

As GSteve says, it's all a bunch of compromises.

Years ago I got tired of putting on all the hard protection and looked for another alternative. I wanted something that had all the armor in place.

Having to "gear up" is a one of the big inconveniences, along with Gsteve's comment about it being hotter in the summer.

The question is really what shade of gray.


It comes down to how you quantify the risk that you are trying to mitigate. And then what tool you are using for that.

Obviously, a pressure suit is a higher level of protection. If I'm on a dirt bike, sure. If I were to go on a track, yes. So the direct answer to your question for me is that a pressure suit is beyond what I want for road riding.

There also are levels of what D30 can do for you. The D30 in my old FirstGear couldn't hold a candle to what is in my Klim.

As you said, any type of protection needs to be kept in the right place or it's just baggage.

Does your shoulder and elbow d30 flex easily like your back pad? My back pad is great, but the shoulder and elbow could've just as well been produced by Rubbermaid. It's that hard in <70 degree weather.

Having come from dirt bikes I can tell you that under-body armor will give you the best protection, it just depends on how you want people at the bar looking at you when you stop for that beer in that little country town ::025::.

Yeah and it's not like the pressure suits are easily packed down to put in a side case, either. You're stuck wearing it.

Are there any companies that offer some sort of velcro strapping to hold the armored bits around your body? I'm thinking on the basis of a small, low profile velcro kidney belt for the back protector and maybe elastic loops for your arms to slide through...

 

[greg the pole]

my klim badlands does a good job of keeping it all in place,
especially if you use the belt built into the jacket.

I do have the underarmor type, but don't wear it with my klim stuff, rather with my older alpinestar jacket with all armor removed from it.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Does your shoulder and elbow d30 flex easily like your back pad? My back pad is great, but the shoulder and elbow could've just as well been produced by Rubbermaid. It's that hard in <70 degree weather.

fwiw, I've been wearing it into the low 30s (F).
I notice initially that it's stiff when cold, forget it for a bit, then realize it's conformed to me.

 

[racer1735]

When I'm riding strictly on the pavement (and in summer temps), I wear an Olympia vented one-piece suit with integrated armor.

When temps cool, or whenever I may ride on unpaved roads (think bounce, rather than slide), I wear a 661 pressure suit under a 3/4 adventure-style jacket (with armor removed) and a pair of armored overpants. I always wear mx style boots when on the Super Ten....they just give me more support and the feel of protection.

 

[TRUBRIT]

For my Colorado trip in July I used my Leatt ADV Body Protector under a Klim shirt, with a Travers jkt without the armor over that. As we were camping in a different spot every night I had to limit what I took. We were on road and off road. In the heat, the armor and shirt were great as it allowed great airflow. When it got cooler I slipped on the Traverse. I also had a Stow away jkt from Klim which I used over the shirt and armor when it rained but was not cold. My Buddy in his BMW jkt, even with all the vents, was feeling the heat.
This compromise worked well for me and I will do the same again next big trip. With the shirt over the Leatt you don't look so strange when taking a break around people. ;D

 

[kenbike]

I use a 8 year old Roadcrafter 1 pc suit with the slip in armor. My fits snug if when the Velcro is tightened up. I sure it would slide around some but lots of riders have gone down in the Roadcrafters and sent photos and have faired very well. I feel very safe with my set up and use it year round. Summer open up all of the zippers and it is fine. This time of year just zip up and in winter add a heated bib and a light jacket and even in the 20's I still ride when the roads are not covered with ice/snow.