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Should You Use Chest & Back Protection When Riding Your Motorcycle?

On a motorcycle, torso protection is just as important as wearing a helmet. We discuss armored vests that surround & protect the vital organs in your chest and back area.
Should You Use Chest & Back Protection When Riding Your Motorcycle?

If you consider it unthinkable to ride your motorcycle without a helmet, odds are you appreciate the value of playing it smart by protecting yourself against the worst scenarios that can happen. The helmet you have fits well, provides good ventilation to keep you alert, and is made from modern materials that disburse crash energy well - about as good as it gets, right?

Not quite. Even with the best helmet money can buy, you're still not fully protected. There's another area of the body that's as important to protect as your head, and that's the torso. Why? Consider the numerous vital organs located in your chest and abdominal areas, then think about how difficult survival becomes should any of them become compromised by trauma in a crash. And let's not forget that a damaged spinal column can create paralysis and other neurological dysfunctions that negatively affect many of your vital organs.

Fortunately, proper torso protection reduces the likelihood of drastic injuries. Just as a helmet protects your head and brain from injury, chest and back protection vests provide a similar hard shell barrier for your midsection bones and vital organs in the event of a crash. And while you're riding, the vests provide a comfortable and effective shield against flying rocks and other debris. So we say in no uncertain terms that the only correct answer to the question, "Should I consider using chest and back protection when riding my motorcycle?" is a resounding "Yes!"

Fact is, the vests we offer do such an effective job protecting your bones, skin, and organs on a motorcycle, they've earned the right to be called "armored vests" - which we will refer to them as from this point on. If you don't believe they can make a difference, observe some of the high-speed wipeouts visible on the internet from organized racing events. Riders that take spills on a closed track (where there's room to slide without hitting anything else) wearing armored vests tend to survive the initial fall and slide afterward without a sprain in most cases. While they can thank a number of beefed-up riding gear items for protecting them, it's armored vests and helmets that delivered the protection that made the biggest difference.

In this article, we take a look at armored vests that surround and protect both sides of your torso as well as more compact ones that cover just one side.

About Armored Vests

Armored vests are typically made from molded ABS plastic, Kevlar, or other hard shell materials which are extremely difficult to break or penetrate. Similar to your motorcycle helmet, layers underneath the hard exterior shell typically consist of impact-absorbing foam along with additional padding for comfort. Interior layers are shaped for maximum protection of rib, spinal column, lower back, and pelvic areas.

"Armored vests" include sections that protect both the front and back of your torso. And as their names indicate, "Chest protectors" and "back protectors" focus on protection for one side (we've got subsections for each style). Depending on specific product application, fitted shoulder protection pieces may or may not be available for any of these styles.

EVS Sports Revo 4 Roost Protector
The EVS Sports Revo 4 Roost Protector is typical of the narrower, slimmer fit that roost protectors include.

In each of our subsections, you'll see "roost" deflectors. These are narrower than traditional armored vests, and are a good choice if you prefer a trimmer design that's easier to wear underneath other clothes. Because roost deflectors tend to be less restrictive than full vests, they allow a greater range of arm flexibility and overall body movement. Roost protectors typically do not include shoulder protection pieces that full armored vests do.

Flexibility

To reduce the naturally restrictive tendencies of rigid armor pieces, some vests may be designed so that various pieces can shift position and flex without compromising protection. You may want to consider this if the type of riding you do involves more physical movement, such as off-roading.

Protective Armor Vests Equipped With Pivot Bolt
Protective armor vests may be equipped with a pivot bolt in the center. This bolt allows an upper protection piece to move independently from side panels as the rider leans left or right - maximizing comfort without reducing protection.

For example, frontal chest sections may be equipped with a pivot bolt in the center. This bolt allows upper and lower panels to move independently of one another as the rider leans left or right - maximizing comfort without reducing protection. Some vests feature rear shields that consist of a number of independently-hinged sections which flex with the rider as he or she leans from side to side. Designs such as this are typically described as having "articulating spinal protection".

Rear Armored Vest
Rear armored vests such as this one are often designed with "articulating" spinal protection. This means the rear is made up of a group of independently-hinged sections that flex with the rider so that natural body movements are not restricted.

Other Features

Adjustable Straps
Adjustable straps located in shoulder, back, and waist areas allow the rider to customize the fit for maximum comfort and protection.

As you might imagine, a chest protector vest must be sized correctly or it can't do what it's designed to. Additionally, all areas of the vest must be snugged tight against your body to ensure it stays in place without shifting or coming loose. To this end, all vests are equipped with adjustable straps located in shoulder, back, and waist areas. These are easy to reach and use, allowing you to adjust fitment to your own personal preferences.

Armor Vests Equipped With Ventilation Ducts
Many protective armor vests are equipped with ventilation ducts such as these which direct moving air underneath the vest for breathability. These can cool the body significantly on hot rides.

While body armor pieces are designed to be as lightweight as possible, they can still trap heat close to the body in warm weather. To solve this issue, vests are often equipped with ventilation ducts that direct a flow of outside air underneath the vest to create maximum breathability. Look for built-in airflow vents if you're more prone to the summer sweats.

Some armor vests include integrated storage pockets located beneath a removable panel in the front or back. Among the many benefits of extra pockets, their close proximity to your head makes them the perfect spot to tuck a smartphone if you've got a Bluetooth-linked helmet or earpiece. Some storage pouches are even designed to double as hydration packs that provide hands-free liquid refreshment while you ride.

Certifications

Armored vests designed for racing or higher speed use may feature a "CE" certification. This signifies a piece of motorcycle riding gear meets European reinforced apparel certification rules required for street riding in Europe. In the United States, CE-rated apparel is only required on racetracks (CE level 1 in most cases, while some higher-speed courses may require CE2-rated gear).

Armored Vest Designed For Racing

CE certified vests are usually made of Kevlar, a trademark name for a composite woven material developed by DuPont that's extremely hard and lightweight. Kevlar is used to construct bulletproof vests - so you can rest assured that motorcycle armor made with it offers the highest possible level of protection against impact fragmentation and abrasion shredding under harsh conditions.

Armored Vests We Offer

Armored Vests Selection

Front And Rear Protection

In our armored vests section, you'll find vests equipped with both front and rear protective sections - many of which are available with integrated guards for shoulder and even elbow areas. While most armored vests have thick, hard shells designed for hard knocks, we've also got a few that fall under the category of "slim fit" soft shells. These offer some protection without the bulkiness of a standard hard shell vest.

For younger kids, the Answer Racing PeeWee Roost Deflector and EVS Sports F1 Youth Chest Protection are just several of the choices available in small sizes to accommodate riders below the age of 10.

For adults that appreciate the ability to enjoy liquid refreshment while riding, we've got several choices of vests with built-in liquid containers. First, the EVS Sports Street Vest roost features a smaller, integrated hump on the back section that can be used as a hydration pack - or for storage. Additionally, Fly Racing's Stingray Ready-To-Ride Guard is a roost guard with a larger, removable front hydration pouch that can handle up to 70 ounces for long rides. Or, take a look at our hydration packs.

EVS Sports Street Vest /  Fly Racing Stingray Ready-To-Ride Guard
The EVS Sports Street Vest (left two pictures) features a storage hump on the back section which can be used as a liquid hydration pack, and the Fly Racing Stingray Ready-To-Ride Guard (right) features a removable 70-ounch hydration pouch.

The EVS Sports SV1 Race Vest is designed for racing applications in snow with an ignition kill tether attachment, and features shoulder and rear tail sections that are removable. It even includes a built-in "avalanche rescue system" chip that allows rescue teams to pinpoint the vest's location. And if you plan on wearing a neck brace, the Atlas Brace Defender Armor vest is just one of many we offer with shoulder straps designed to accommodate such braces.

One-Sided Protection

Sometimes, a chest protector (front only) or a back protector (rear only) is all you want or need. Most chest protectors also include some kind of shield for the back area - though it may be reduced in overall thickness. But if you prefer a chest protector with a completely open back, check out the EVS Sports Revo 4 Roost Deflector.

Chest Protectors With Backside Protection
Although most chest protectors have some protection on their backside, some (such as the one shown here) do not.
Dainese Manis D1 Back Protection
The Dainese Manis D1 Back Protection.

We've also got a range of back protectors without any front panel. For best value, we've got the Dainese urethane BAP D1 Back Protector and EVS Sports Sport Back Protector. Want beefed-up protection? The Dainese Manis D1 Back Protection and Wave Air Back Protection feature Kevlar construction designed to withstand higher levels of shock and resist abrasion damage should you hit the pavement at racing speeds. In fact, the D1 and Air Back models are certified to CE2 racing standards.

Point 65 Waist Belt
The Point 65 Waist Belt.

And for those who want to beef up protection around the lower back area, there's the Point 65 adjustable Waist Belt. Suffer from back pain while riding? The waist belt can help - just tighten it for extra comfort and support. And if you prefer a full-length back protector without any shoulder straps at all, check out the Dainese Manis 55-T Back Protection.

Slim Fit

Fly Racing Pullover Vest
The Fly Racing Pullover Vest.

If you prefer a thinner, lighter-weight vest that's easier to wear as an underlayer, the sleeveless EVS Sports Comp Vest features articulating panels that follow your natural body movements to protect the spine. Fly Racing's Pullover Vest consists strictly of flexible foam padding front and rear, and the Speed & Strength War Path Armored Vest features a flexible foam frame.

Atlas Brace Charger Base Layer
The Atlas Brace Charger Base Layer.

We've also got snug-fitting base layer garments made from breathable, perforated combinations of spandex, nylon, and die-cut foam sections that add worthwhile layers of impact cushioning and abrasion protection.

Body Armor / Protection Products Selection

In our website, you'll also find other protective riding gear items such as jackets, elbow/wrist protection, knee/ankle protection, armored jackets, armored pants, neck braces, and much more. Please feel free to continue your education on motorcycle gear by looking through other articles on our website regarding helmet styles, materials, certifications, accessories, riding gear clothes, and more. And if you have any questions, we'll be happy to answer your calls seven days a week!

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