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Alpinestars’s vest is well cut with a close fit and no awkward zip placement or sharp edges, but I felt the material is slightly ‘shinier’ and harder, and doesn’t feel quite as soft against skin as POC’s cushy fabric. CE Level 1 is rated to transmit a maximum force of 18kN, with no single value exceeding 24kN upon impact. The protective padding is called Sas-Tec and is flexible in all directions; we found it flexed well with the body when riding. Sas-Tec is an expanded polypropylene foam with visco-elastic properties, which means it’s soft and flexy while riding but hardens in response to impact to absorb forces and offer protection. The padding layer is quite thin and this protection vest only offers a Level 1 protection rating. A snug fit ensures less potential movement of pads and panels and also helps keep protection low profile for a sleeker look under clothing. Softer, floppier fabrics vs the tighter squeeze of a compression fit will be a personal choice. 3. Protection levels Body armour is less relevant if you are riding cross-country because you’re less likely to have the same high-impact crashes you see in enduro racing and downhill riding.
We also took into account each item’s impact protection rating, which is independently certified. What to look for in impact protection vests and body armour A tight fit will reduce the amount of movement from the pads, while making the body armour less obstructive to your movements. Most body armour is designed to sit below a mountain bike jersey, so the tighter it is the less obvious it will appear. Protection Reasons to buy: High protection rating, very comfortable, low profile look and fit, good breathabilityLeatt’s Body Tee AirFlex Stealth slimline top is light and comfy enough to wear all day, and the open mesh fabric means it doesn’t feel too hot on long climbs. Some body armour will have more pads than others to protect your ribs, kidneys, hips and coccyx. Weight All body armour sold in the EU is certified to Level 1 or Level 2, which indicates the amount of force the padding can absorb.
It has an off-set full-length zipper plus an elastic waistband which we found was effective in preventing the vest from riding up. The fit is comfortably snug, despite being described as a ‘compressive’ fit, so you don’t feel squeezed while wearing it. In action, the breathable fabric, close and slightly-compressive fit and offset zip design meant the vest stayed secure and twist-free, but because it’s a pull-on design, you can’t open the front to dump heat when things get too hot. The Ion Scrub Amp Protection Vest has a pull on design, lightweight feel, impressively breathable fabric and protective padding that follows the body’s contours. Wearing body armour can help minimise or even prevent injuries when crashing, helping you to keep riding instead of staying at home recovering. For the pads to be effective, they need to be held in place over the parts of your body they’re designed to protect.
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We found moisture-management to be great, as is ventilation, but it is also the heaviest vest we’ve tested and we could certainly feel that extra weight. Padding is constructed from D30 impact-hardening polymer along the spine panel and shoulder pads, which feels supple and flexible when riding but hardens to provide protection upon impact. It’s lightweight and comfortable, but be aware that it doesn’t offer the higher Level 2 protection that other body armour items here do.
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