Hey Everyone! I have a probably pretty controversial question. Are back protectors worth it?
Doing some research, it seems all the back projectors for biking (and for skiing) are all certified to an EN rating, EN1621-2, level 1. To pass this standard, the back protector needs to allow a maximum force of 18 kN through the back protector.
This seems fine and dandy, until you put those numbers in context.
According to a study I found, a force of 3.4-3.7 kN resulted in a 50% probability of a broken spine. It also takes 4kN to break the femur,
So, it seems like back protectors are pretty pointless. The certification they're rated for allows way more force to go into your body.
So, what is the point of these protectors? Are they actually helping anything?
Wikipedia link to the standard, Link to back study
by seeburglar
13 Comments
go for a chest protector like these ones from Leatt
I’ve landed on my back protector a couple of time and it’s saved me from being injured. I wouldn’t necessarily expect it to protect against spine injury, since I think many spine injuries are from compression or flexion, which is what the study you linked discusses, instead of a direct impact.
Why wouldn’t I wear it at the park? My Leatt doubles as chest armor, and has saved me from broken ribs at least three times. So I would say that’s worth it alone.
I wear a Fox Raceframe Impact chest/back protector when I ride DH. It is only level 1 rated, but I feel much better with how it’ll protect me from even basic low-speed crashes or a tree/rock/handlebar/peddle on something higher speed.
I OTB’d (slowly) two weeks ago and had a minor bruised rib that only hurt for a few days. I have a feeling it would have been a lot worse if I hadn’t been wearing the Raceframe.
I don’t think you understand the purpose of back protectors. They’re not like a leatt brace for your back. (Even though efficacy of leatt braces is questionable) They’re not really designed to stop the sort of spine injuries mentioned in the study.
They’re designed to help out if you go OTB onto a pointy rock. They’ll help with things like fractured ribs and maybe a vertebrae if you were to hit directly in the center.
My Leatt air fit lite t shirt and POC Coron Spin saved me big last weekend. Came off a jump sideways, did a tuck and roll. I have a bruise in the inverse shape of the Leatt back armor (no bruise where the armor is,) and a sore neck.
I wear it all the time at parks. No reason not to when you don’t even notice it. It’s saved me numerous times when landing on my back or ribs. Will it prevent all injuries? Probably not. But it sure as fuck will lower the impact.
Don’t forget about road rash either, that shit hurts
I’d much rather land on a rock with a back protector on at any speed.
/thread
Is this so you can watch movies while you ride?
I wear a backpack with a d3o pad in it if I want the protection. It’s not going to save you if you ride into a tree or something but it’s going to protect your skin and bones more than if you didn’t wear it
Your first assertion is wrong, as there are some that are level 2, and made from non-Newtonian d30-esque material. Many – including myself – won’t ride park without them, and they absolutely do work.
I wear a hard plastic moto chest/back protector. It 100% makes a huge difference.
It’s definitely better than not wearing one…but you do you