Body armor

[Maine-iac]

Cross posted from the skiing forum, but ideas are ideas and the more the better!

After a recent cliff hucking experience that left me with a plate and 11 screws in my shoulder I feel it is about time to look into some external aid. So the question is what are people using for armor? I'm interested in hearing about knee pads, spine protection, and helmets and any others I might be missing.

It seems like POC has a specific line up for explorers like me: Link

Giro seems to lack a little on their upper end protection design wise; or am I wrong?

Thanks for the help and ideas! Only 8-12 weeks before I'm back in action.

[billcoe]

have not tried these yet:

 

 

 

I had a jump hucking experience as a youth that almost kneecapped both knees. I slowed down and quit jumping off stuff.

[Dane]

yep...pain is generally natures way of telling you get better or slow down

 

I like the old idea of "rack, sack and shirt on you back."

 

Armor I like to save for frags and incoming rounds.

 

But I'd never intentionally step on imagination and armor is certainly looking at another step to the edge.

[billcoe]

Well, me too, but when I see those kids screaming downhill on Mt bikes, you'd hope they have something on them to hold the pieces in during a fall, I sure would want something. Bet the Mt bike world has something for this application.

[pdk]

Bill is right - knock yourself out with this stuff (or don't, as that's the point I guess)...

 

https://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/index.php?category=275

 

 

[Dane]

My point was only that even if I can't imagine using armor I can imagine the need and the resulting possibilities.

[davidk]

I had a high-speed mountain bike accident a couple years ago (off a jump, of course) that left me with out of climbing shape for half a summer. I was wearing some of the best armor available, including knee/shin guards (Fox brand), beefy full-coverage upper body suit (Rockgardn brand), full face helmet (Giro Remedy, carbon fiber), and goggles. While the armor certainly saved a lot of skin and the helmet definitely saved my life, I still had the cracked ribs and severely bruised hip coming to me due to the nature of the fall.

 

Point is, armor doesn't prevent bad injuries. It does do an outstanding job of warding off scrapes, cuts, and bruises. Helmets save lives, so buy the best.

 

Want a surefire way to prevent bad injuries? Well, let's just say I gave up extreme mountain biking after my accident. I now try adamantly to minimize "the sudden stop" associated with my falls.

[davidk]

One thing to consider: There is a relatively new product that has now become ubiquitous in the motocross and downhill mountain bike world. The "Leatt Brace" is a neck brace which, in conjunction with a full-face mountain bike or motocross helmet, can dramatically reduce the potential for neck and spinal injuries. My younger bro races downhill bikes, and never does a run without his (and most savvy downhillers use them now, from amateurs to world cup pros).

 

An important thing to note is the Leatt Brace must be worn with an appropriate full-face helmet. (if worn without a helmet, it actually dramatically increases the risk of breaking your neck - think fulcrum effect) So you have to buy two expensive pieces of protection, but the system can be priceless.

[Maine-iac]

PDK thanks for the site; thats what I was looking for.

davidk sorry you felt like you had to give up mountain biking. I'm sure the armor you had on prevented many more injuries as it displaced much of the impact forces around your entire body. I'm not about to stop skiing or jumping off things. My specific fall was just a weird accident not caused by how hard I was going at that particular time just bad luck. Who knows what would have happened if I had on some protective gear but having the gear will help lessen further injuries; and that's why i'm looking for some.