G-Form MX Spike Chest & Back Protector review

The MX Spike chest and back pad is rated for all levels of push-biking and can even be used for motocross if you fancy.

• Brand: G-Form
• Product: MX Spike Chest & Back Protector
• Price: £219.99
• From: Oxford Products
• Tested by: Aran Francis

Features: ventilated RE ZRO chest and back pad is flexible and removable, CE 1621-2 Level 2 back, CE 1621-3 Level 1 chest, full-length front locking zip with reinforced seams, moisture wicking fabric, side elastic straps provide customisation and integrated elastics to secure neck brace.

Since a nasty crash took me off the bike for a short while last year, I now wear body armour (at least back protection) on every ride. Perhaps, at times, my reasoning for this intrudes into the superstitious. Rocking full chest and back plates for a quiet spin over the moors with my father is possibly OTT. Nevertheless, practically living in body armour means that comfort is the absolute priority for me.

Thankfully, G-Form’s MX MTB Spike ticks the comfort box easily. The shirt-with-pads design means that there is always a fabric barrier between skin and anything that might cause an itch. This integrated shirt does mean that the Spike is quite hot and sweaty on warmer rides (remember them?). Therefore it is reassuring that the pads are easily removable and as a result simple to wash.

Between the pads and the rider there is another layer of moisture wicking fabric which absorbs sweat whilst improving comfort by cushioning the pads against the back and chest. Again these fabric inners can be removed to be washed separately as and when required.

One issue I have noticed with similarly designed body armor ie. integrated into a vest or shirt, is that the adjustment is often poor, if there is any adjustment on offer at all. Loose armour doesn’t feel the most secure, and it also increases chafe. Not only that it can make temperature management worse as the pads come away from the body and you get that horrible feeling of your back contacting a cold sweaty surface when you move. G-Form here has done a good job at addressing this with two elastic straps on either side wrapping around the torso onto the chest. These straps can be tightened or loosened easily with buckles, fitting securely and not coming loose through the day.

As for the impact protection side of things. the MX MTB Spike uses the brand’s ‘RE ZRO’ padding. This purple D30-ish stuff is designed to be flexible, sustainable (biodegradable and recyclable) and lightweight. Hmm… whilst I wouldn’t say it’s too heavy, the Spike is definitely not a lightweight piece of body armour.

The RE ZRO pads are certified at level 2 back and level 1 chest protection according to EN 1621 standards. The coverage is pretty good too, the back plate isn’t too narrow and the chest isn’t too long, allowing a good balance between protection and freedom of movement.

The RE ZRO pads have a good amount of bend in them, this combined with the adjustable fit and strategically placed extra padding across the top of the shoulders ensures an overall incredibly comfortable and secure fit.

If I was being extra picky – after all, the price tag is over £200 – the back protection could benefit from extending a little further down the back, as the rear pad does leave some parts of the lower back exposed.

The MX MTB Spike is on the more costly side of things, coming in around £220, however I think the price shows in the quality of the kit. There are also thoughtful extras such as elastic ties on the shoulders to secure a neck brace if you wanted.

I found it quite hard to find points of criticism for the MX MTB Spike. Although it may seem trivial, the lack of pockets was a hindrance, often I find a pocket in body armour is really helpful, although I can see the potential pitfalls of landing on a multitool etc. Neverthelesss, on multiple occasions last season I found myself relying on the pockets of my previous back protector (Alpinestars Paragon). With lots of trousers now coming without pockets (a problem in its own right) I can see this lack of storage frustrating me on a race weekend.

Overall

The G-Form MX MTB spike is an excellent product. Yep, it’s costly but the comfort and secure fit of the Spike is leagues above anything else that I have used. It does retain heat, which becomes much less welcome in the summer months – and it is a touch on the heavy side (all sizes are over 1,000g) – but for gravity-focussed, high-penalty riding, the trade off for protection and security is easily worth it.