Recommend me a back protector
 

Did a search, but couldn't find what I'm after.

I'm looking to get a back protector and would like advice/opinions/reviews on the following (or similar):-

Knox Aegis
Dainese Wave
Dainese Shield
Forcefield L2

They're all similar in price £80-£100 so really want some thoughts on quality/performance etc.

Cheers

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

forcefield ftw i've tried the lot and this has ticked all the right boxes i forget i'm wearing it after a while.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Forcefield L2

End Of.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Cheers for that, have you tried any others and what else other than comfort swayed it for you?

Thanks for the info :rolleyes:

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

i've tried dainese and alpinestar's both felt comfy but in the end forcefield won out due to the protection and review's i read at the time.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Cheers, I saw that Ride mag did a review, although haven't seen reviews of the others.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Another vote for the Forcefield L2.

Bought mine from here: http://www.sounddistribution.co.uk/p...recnumber=1549

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Bought my forcefield off one of the boys on here for a bargain price and its a great bit of kit. Thankfully i've not tested it for real and i dont intend too tbh ;)

The strap around the belly bit can get a bit hot and sweaty on very hot days but conversely will act like a mini kidney belt in winter i guess. The protector itself is nice and long and hugs the body really nicely imo. On a coldish ride home from Bands Hatch it kept me kinda warm under the leathers too, so its a win all round for me.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Yep Forcefield L2, most definitely. I've had mine since getting my SV and all seems well, even when I hit the deck with it on.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

+more for the forcefield.

Feels a bit stiff to begin with, but moulds itself to your body shape with body heat.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

don't really know much about the current protectors, but been using a knox for the last ten years. never had any issues with it, nice and comfy.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Looks like it's pretty much unanimous then!

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Forcefield - I had a Knox contour for a while and it was Ok, but it kept riding up at the neck - which isn't good!!

I also forget I'm wearing the forcefield after a while too.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

The forcefield looks a bit thin, does it really do the job? It's been done to death by ride and given top marks but so have their other kit which suggests to me that they're paying them off? Or it is just that good?!!

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Oh and anyone 6'1" by any chance? Medium or large as I'm right on the border of sizing!

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Never used it in anger, but it passes the higher level of the EN-1612 standards, so I recon it's ok

I'm 6'0.5" and went for a medium :)

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

i just got a Knox Ricochet, great piece of kit.. i found the neck cutout was the selling factor for me as the rest seemed to 'cut' into my neck.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/back-...-protector.htm

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

I have a Forcefield back protector and would definately recommend it.

Have you already ordered one?

when i got mine i also got one for my boyfriend. He tried it on, muttered something about him being indistructable and then put it back in it's box - where it still is. I keep meaning to stick it on Ebay but never get round to it, maybe i should post it on here instead

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

What size is it?

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

hi

Its a large, it's odd because there's only one size of protector for women but men have 3 sizes to choose from, i was worried that when they arrived mine wouldn't fit.

The first time i wore mine was a 200mile plus trip to scotland. After the first 5-10 mins i forgot i was wearing it and it molded to my shape nicely, it's very lightweight. I also like the extra layer it gives me as i feel the cold realy easily, although i haven't been to hot/uncomfy in it but i wear textiles not leathers so haven't tested that aspect.

i used the sizing chart on their main website, as thats were a bought them from, it's acurate as it does fit the BF perfectly- i just can't get him to wear it!

heres the link

http://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.co.u...orsoshorts.asp

R

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

They do a demo at shows where they put the L2 on a glass tabletop then drop 2" steel ball bearings on it from about 3 feet.

They use the same glass for the whole weekend of the show...

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

This was my concern, against the Knox and the Dainese, the Forcefield panels look thinner. I know that this doesn't necessarily mean less effective, but I'd love to see a head-to-head comparison of them all.

Pity there's no formal testing like the Sharp rating (even if people believe that is flawed, it's still a benchmark of some form).

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Spoke to Harper's race shop who advised that Knox are about the best and they actually have the CE testing equipment that is used by the other manufacturers for testing.

So they rate the protectors as follows:-

1) Knox - about the best you can get
2) Forcefield - good quality but not as good as Knox
3) Dainese - expensive tat derived from snowboarding protection

Just got a 7-plate (Medium) Knox off eBay, brand new for £50

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

I read somewhere that hard plastic plated protectors are actually less protective due to the sharp shards you can get if the plate cracks/smashes.

Which is why I went Forcefield, even though there were better (cooler) looking protectors.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Please, please, please do not guess at what size you need. Go to a shop and get properly measured for one. Anyone who says their back protector is digging into their neck would arguably be safer not wearing it - in a head-on impact, if your head jerked back you'd likely break your neck.

After being nagged by Planet Knox for not wearing a back protector, I finally gave in (well, actually I ordered one too many for my stock, and thought, "Why not have one for myself?"), and now I wear the Knox Kompakt:

http://www.knox-armour.co.uk/product...roduct=kompakt

It's very comfy, and with the venting in it, it's not been too hot under my summer jacket. My concern was that I would be too lazy (am always running late wherever I go), and not bother to put it on. But when leaving home at 6am last friday to investigate my shop burglary, I still put it on without thinking. After only two weeks, it now feels odd if I don't wear it.

The important thing is that it is the correct size and shape for me, and without trying different ones on, you can't know what you will find most comfortable.

The safest back protector in the world will not help you in a crash if you leave it at home because it's uncomfortable ;)

Jo

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

The advice regarding the Forcefield was that the plates are actually MORE rigid than the Knox and therefore less flexible and less likely to fit snugly.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Erm the forcfield doesnt have plates.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Test is above, flexible ones all come top, plated ones not so much

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Sincere apologies, what I meant to say was the advice given to me by Harpers was that the Knox was more flexible than the Forcefield L2. Presumably because the Knox has multiple plates, whereas the Forcefield is one unit?

Either way, I bought a Knox and hope I will be happy with it. One thing for sure is that it will be better than the slip in Knox pad I had in my textiles when I was knocked off and that did the job.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

+1 for the Forcefield.

Only issue is that it can get too hot, I confess in really hot weather (= Mediterranean) I undo the waist belt and find it much more bearable. Yes, I know..............

The Forcefield is marketed under a couple of other brand names, see Halvarssons for example.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Just a quick observation...

OP asked for recommendations, then after everyone said Forcefield, then ignored them and got a Knox at the recommendation of the Sales Person in the shop.

The point of this thread was...

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

Don't hurt yourself falling of your horse fella, it appears to be a long way up.

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

me got Knox ricochet for me and for mandy .. very happy with them..

Re: Recommend me a back protector
 

I've got a Knox as they are a better fit for the taller person. Fits well and is really comfy! Mate has a Forcefield and really rates it.