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Need a new back protector and looking at all these D30 stuff. What's is everyone else using? POC stuff looks good but right up there on price.
Don't want one that's part of a bag.
661 Evo suit is brilliant.
Alpinestars do a vest that is a standalone protection with pockets and hydration
Have Bluegrass vest. It works and is comfy enough. Never really had to put it to the test, thankfully.
It basically replaced my evoc backpack as I was tired of having such a sweaty back.
Use the vest with a hip pack (bumbag!) and although warm its much better ......
Use the Race Face Ambush vest on occasion when doing shuttle or DH type rides with no backpack, reasonably lightweight and not that noticeable when riding.
Evoc FR Backpack for me, built-in back protection, and I’d be wearing a pack anyway.
I'm looking at something ... don't want to overspend but equally no point getting something completely ineffective.
Jnr has a Fox kids jacket he wear for uplift days... and has taken a fair beating and from the scratches saved me having a conversation with his mother (best case).
I've got knee and elbow protection but my shoulders are both wrecked... so I was toying with the idea of short sleeved... but not wanting to spend a fortune.
I've got a Scott D3O vest with back & shoulder pads. I like the flexibility of it as it can be worn without the back or shoulder protection as a vest with pockets for local rides without a pack. You can also carry a bladder in place of the back pad. It's not cheap @ £150 but the added use I'm getting out of it as a piece of ride wear when I'm not wearing it for protection is helping to dilute the price a little
I use a Troy Lee 7850 for most duties, it is a dual density foam for all pads, it would not stop a rock strike but it takes the edge off of most crashed.
I also have a POC VPD T shirt, the back protector on this would def stop a rock strike, it is bulkier and as it has hard shell shoulders and chest plates.
It cost me £100 secondhand in near mint condition so it wasn't too bitter a pill to swallow, for the life of me I don't know why they decided white was the best colour for it.
I had 661 armour quote a few years ago, it always seemed excessively hot to me.
I would def recommend the POC, I wish I was a good enough seamstress to sew my own personalised set up, I would reduce the bulk of the chest and shoulders and maybe address the positioning of the back protector a little.
I use a Troy Lee 7850 for most duties, it is a dual density foam for all pads, it would not stop a rock strike but it takes the edge off of most crashed.
Yeah, I'm hoping for something that is a bit less than hitting a rock at 40mph.... and mostly just to take the edge off and reduce or help me take the fall into a roll where I bounce off a few rocks/roots rather than hitting them directly.
Even on a good day my shoulders give me pain just getting out of bed.... so I'm always trying to over protect them in a crash... (even just riding rough trails they quickly feel battered and I have to keep clicking them back so they tend to be more on my mind)
Even though I'd never hurt my elbows in a crash for example I find wearing the Fox Launch ones just means I fall/bail differently (and I end up wearing them for stuff I hadn't thought I would because they are so comfy and not much hassle) and my thoughts were the shoulder protectors might also help in the same way ...
Both this and the long sleeve were under £90 last month so shop around.
I use separate elbow pads with my armour as I find it reduces the sweatyness having a break in the cloth
I probably use shoulder pads to deflect hits more often than not.
I don't really seek out rocky places to ride anymore tbh i'm more about doing jumps on nice flowy trails.
After asking a similar question last month I was recommended Knox and got the Action shirt:
https://www.planet-knox.com/product/knox-armoured-shirt-men/
I tried the 661 top but found the back protection to be too short on the back. The Knox wear fits well, and has a long back protector that covers most of my spine, but it still works well with a backpack.
I picked up a Race Face Flank Core shirt like this when they were on special offer somewhere.
https://www.raceface.com/products/details/flank-core-guards
Not the last word in protection but proper D30 shoulder and back protectors, same as in my motorcycle kit. I take the back protector out if I will be wearing a pack that has it's own. Comfy to wear all day though I have only worn it for uplift days
Cheers people, like the look of the POC vpd air plus but there's so many out on the market now.