Full body armor - Page 4 - Snowboarding Forum

sabatoa · 01-21-2013, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poutanen

I am by NO means a professional... But here's my advice anyway!

I bought upper body armor this year from a company called Demon. FlexForce X D30 The jacket I got is very similar to that one, MSRP was $140 and I paid $100 or so with a store discount.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the armor you found, I'm just not sure I'd want to spend $335 on just the upper.

I've heard great things about the lower armor, haven't heard anything about shin/knee pads or anything.

As far as my experience with the upper body armor, it's been great! For the first day or so it felt weird, felt like I couldn't flex my upper body as well. I must have got over that because I feel better than ever now. I've had a couple falls backwards on my back, and the spin protector held me off the snow while I skidded down until I got my board back under me. I also had a weird accident where my elbow jammed into my rib cage and it knocked the wind out of me. I was pretty sore but able to keep boarding for the rest of my trip (another three days) it could have been much worse without it.

I do find the armor keeps me much warmer than I used to be. I have a microfiber base layer underneath, and recently I've been too hot on the slopes. I may start using the spring jacket for my mid winter stuff, and keep the winter jacket for -30 degree days. In full on spring weather I plan on just wearing the armor as my jacket.

I'm looking at this and wondering if it has the same spinal protection as this guy; DS 1120 Shield spine guard

If so, I'd throw down the money for that as soon as I could.

sabatoa · 01-21-2013, 04:37 PM

How did you break your back? It sounds like you and I are in the same boat, multiple broken vertebrae and reading your recovery it sounds like what I'm facing.

I'm glad to hear you're not in pain anymore. I'm just a week from my injury and I'm still in a lot of pain. I don't know yet how long I'm off work, I have a desk job so maybe I'll go back after two weeks. We'll see what doc says.

I'm going to follow your lead on this and get protection for next year too. It wouldn't have helped with my initial crash but any little thing to help next year, I'll take.

poutanen · 01-21-2013, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabatoa

I'm looking at this and wondering if it has the same spinal protection as this guy; DS 1120 Shield spine guard

If so, I'd throw down the money for that as soon as I could.

That link looks like it has more protection than the full upper I've got. Mine only has foam in the spine area as far as I know. Plastic on the shoulders, elbows, and thin plastic strips in the ribcage area.

The one you linked to has some lexan (polycarbonate) plates in it which should be able to take a beating.

I'm going to be getting lower body armor soon, as I've had some really nasty leg injuries this year. Nothing that's keeping me off the snow yet, but close.

**Donutz** · 01-21-2013, 04:48 PM

Since my wife's spill on boxing day, she's been talking about getting upper body armour. Gonna check out the catalogs when we get a chance. Sure as hell not going to find women's body armour locally!

NSI · 01-21-2013, 05:42 PM

There's a website called All Sport Protection. They have many different brands excellent prices and men and women specific fits. My husband and I have ordered from them, mostly the Demon brand and have no complaints what so ever.

Sent from my iPhone using Verticalsports.com App

tokyo_dom · 03-19-2013, 12:22 AM

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, but just started looking at spine protectors (actually wanted to find a neck brace, but not sure if the motocross ones will work with snowboard helmets)
I am a 34yr old looking to get into bigger jumps without ending up in a wheelchair

Allsports is having a sale on Demon stuff at the moment so i am looking to get one of the spine protectors through them. Trying to decide between these 3 but appreciate feedback if anyone has it:

DS 1650 Flex Force PRO Top, this is the cheapest, and its a full upper protector. Doesnt seem to go into detail about the back protection abilities though)

DS 1120 Shield spine guard, this is the one Sabatoa linked to above. Solid looking back protection

But then there's
Spine X D3O, this d3o protection seems to be a little more expensive. Is it as good in protecting the spine? Is it a hard shell?

Lastly, how would these tie in with a pair of azzpadz, and does anyone know if there are neck braces that are worthwhile?

lonerider · 03-19-2013, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokyo_dom

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, but just started looking at spine protectors (actually wanted to find a neck brace, but not sure if the motocross ones will work with snowboard helmets)
I am a 34yr old looking to get into bigger jumps without ending up in a wheelchair

Allsports is having a sale on Demon stuff at the moment so i am looking to get one of the spine protectors through them. Trying to decide between these 3 but appreciate feedback if anyone has it:

Cheers! I don't remember what I wrote earlier in this thread... but a little background - My friends and I are all in our mid/late-30's now. Most of us were upper and lower body protection now. Here is a video of us riding from a few season ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokyo_dom

DS 1650 Flex Force PRO Top, this is the cheapest, and its a full upper protector. Doesnt seem to go into detail about the back protection abilities though)

I have worn an older version of this, back protection is decent, but not most you can get. Personally, I think it is plenty of protection with the ideal combination of all around padding, while still giving you decent mobility - I've taken our fair share of tumbles

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokyo_dom

DS 1120 Shield spine guard, this is the one Sabatoa linked to above. Solid looking back protection

I have also tried a version of this model. Interlocking plates offer the most spine protection, but I didn't like how it affected mobility. Personally, I think it is overkill.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokyo_dom

But then there's
Spine X D3O, this d3o protection seems to be a little more expensive. Is it as good in protecting the spine? Is it a hard shell?

I never seen it in person. The description mentioned a stealth viper thingie, which when I google that says it is not a hard shell - the d3o hardens on impact.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokyo_dom

Lastly, how would these tie in with a pair of azzpadz, and does anyone know if there are neck braces that are worthwhile?

The first two would work fine with an Azzpadz, which are what I use now, in the past I've used skeletool shorts, dainese pro hard shots, crashpads shorts, red impact shorts).

I've never used neck braces, but I think they will be too cumbersome to wear. That's not to say people don't get whiplash style neck injuries for which helmets don't provide any protection. The reality is that protection is only going to reduce the damage of an impact, you are still going to get knocked around a bit so riding with the correct "safety mindset" is most important. What this gear will give you is the ability to go to work on Monday without feeling like you've been worked over by an MMA fighter.

Hope that helps.

tokyo_dom · 03-19-2013, 03:09 AM

Awesome info, and thanks for taking the time to answer. Wicked video too btw. To be honest i think when i say i'd like to be getting bigger in the jumps i doubt i will go bigger than what you are jumping, and i would be absolutely stoked if i had as much steez as that!

I guess one thing that got me thinking about this stuff is this niggling desire to try a backflip (wildcat), or at the very least a tamedog, which, while still past my current ability, would be much less scary with neck/back protection. Feeling safer on the bigger jumps would be a bonus

And the unfortunate thing is that i cant try any of these on in the shops here (they have generic brands, but i havent seen azzpadz or Demon stuff). And even the generic stuff is more expensive than the prices i am seeing in the US.

So is the flex force pro top basically just like padding for your back? does it have any hard shell protection in there? Anything that would save you lets say falling back onto the knuckle that bends your back? Not that i have ever had this happen, but just in case i guess...

lonerider · 03-19-2013, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokyo_dom

I guess one thing that got me thinking about this stuff is this niggling desire to try a backflip (wildcat), or at the very least a tamedog, which, while still past my current ability, would be much less scary with neck/back protection. Feeling safer on the bigger jumps would be a bonus

And the unfortunate thing is that i cant try any of these on in the shops here (they have generic brands, but i havent seen azzpadz or Demon stuff). And even the generic stuff is more expensive than the prices i am seeing in the US.

So is the flex force pro top basically just like padding for your back? does it have any hard shell protection in there? Anything that would save you lets say falling back onto the knuckle that bends your back? Not that i have ever had this happen, but just in case i guess...

It does have some hard plastic shell protection, but it isn't super burly - it is mostly padding. To be honest, nothing is really going to "save your back" very much if you manage to taco onto the knuckle (just like helmets don't protect NFL/NHL players from all concussions).

Too bad you aren't in the States - I actually have an old version of the Flex Force Pro size Medium that I would sell you for $20 + shipping.

Anyways... for wildcats, pre-snow training is probably going to be your best "protection". Here is a video that an instructor I know (Chris Hargrave) made:

Here's me at the same training facility (admitted I didn't follow all the steps he suggested as I went before the video was made).

tokyo_dom · 03-19-2013, 04:24 AM

Yes that is a bummer about your old top, And double bummer that i dont live anywhere near a place that offers off-snow training with a foam pit! I would spend every summer weekend there if i could...

Mind you, i do hope to make it to Ryuo snow park, as they usually have a big air bag there (still managed to bruise my shoulder on an unintentional flip the first time i did it)

I think i will try out that generic back shell, see how it feels - and make my decision on the Demon one based on that. I realise it may not stop me breaking my back, but i would rather have more protection than i need, than less (So long as it doesnt cause too much discomfort)

01-21-2013, 04:37 PM	#32 (permalink)
sabatoa -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 1,491	How did you break your back? It sounds like you and I are in the same boat, multiple broken vertebrae and reading your recovery it sounds like what I'm facing. I'm glad to hear you're not in pain anymore. I'm just a week from my injury and I'm still in a lot of pain. I don't know yet how long I'm off work, I have a desk job so maybe I'll go back after two weeks. We'll see what doc says. I'm going to follow your lead on this and get protection for next year too. It wouldn't have helped with my initial crash but any little thing to help next year, I'll take. __________________ '12 NS Legacy 163 Days on snow 2012/2013 season: Boyne Highlands: 5 Boyne Mtn: 1 Shanty Creek: 1 Crystal Mountain: 1 Pine Knob: 1 Mt Holly: 4 Hawk Island: 1 Cannonsburg: 0 End of Season: 01/12/2013

01-21-2013, 04:48 PM	#34 (permalink)
Donutz Drunk with power...er beer. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 3,662 Blog Entries: 176	Since my wife's spill on boxing day, she's been talking about getting upper body armour. Gonna check out the catalogs when we get a chance. Sure as hell not going to find women's body armour locally! __________________ Illegitimi non carborundum Mountain Days: 30

01-21-2013, 05:42 PM	#35 (permalink)
NSI Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Northern Wisconsin Posts: 22	Full body armor There's a website called All Sport Protection. They have many different brands excellent prices and men and women specific fits. My husband and I have ordered from them, mostly the Demon brand and have no complaints what so ever. Sent from my iPhone using Verticalsports.com App

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03-19-2013, 12:22 AM	#36 (permalink)
tokyo_dom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 122	Sorry to bring this back from the dead, but just started looking at spine protectors (actually wanted to find a neck brace, but not sure if the motocross ones will work with snowboard helmets) I am a 34yr old looking to get into bigger jumps without ending up in a wheelchair Allsports is having a sale on Demon stuff at the moment so i am looking to get one of the spine protectors through them. Trying to decide between these 3 but appreciate feedback if anyone has it: DS 1650 Flex Force PRO Top, this is the cheapest, and its a full upper protector. Doesnt seem to go into detail about the back protection abilities though) DS 1120 Shield spine guard, this is the one Sabatoa linked to above. Solid looking back protection But then there's Spine X D3O, this d3o protection seems to be a little more expensive. Is it as good in protecting the spine? Is it a hard shell? Lastly, how would these tie in with a pair of azzpadz, and does anyone know if there are neck braces that are worthwhile?

03-19-2013, 03:09 AM	#38 (permalink)
tokyo_dom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 122	Awesome info, and thanks for taking the time to answer. Wicked video too btw. To be honest i think when i say i'd like to be getting bigger in the jumps i doubt i will go bigger than what you are jumping, and i would be absolutely stoked if i had as much steez as that! I guess one thing that got me thinking about this stuff is this niggling desire to try a backflip (wildcat), or at the very least a tamedog, which, while still past my current ability, would be much less scary with neck/back protection. Feeling safer on the bigger jumps would be a bonus And the unfortunate thing is that i cant try any of these on in the shops here (they have generic brands, but i havent seen azzpadz or Demon stuff). And even the generic stuff is more expensive than the prices i am seeing in the US. So is the flex force pro top basically just like padding for your back? does it have any hard shell protection in there? Anything that would save you lets say falling back onto the knuckle that bends your back? Not that i have ever had this happen, but just in case i guess...

03-19-2013, 04:24 AM	#40 (permalink)
tokyo_dom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 122	Yes that is a bummer about your old top, And double bummer that i dont live anywhere near a place that offers off-snow training with a foam pit! I would spend every summer weekend there if i could... Mind you, i do hope to make it to Ryuo snow park, as they usually have a big air bag there (still managed to bruise my shoulder on an unintentional flip the first time i did it) I think i will try out that generic back shell, see how it feels - and make my decision on the Demon one based on that. I realise it may not stop me breaking my back, but i would rather have more protection than i need, than less (So long as it doesnt cause too much discomfort)