Back Protectors?

TheRealEvan.

TheRealEvan.

Member
Im going to Windells this summer and my parents told me not to do anything "crazy" an i told them that that defeats the whole purpose of going to Windells, so they offered to buy me a back protector, but i personally have no experience with anything like that. So if you could give me some information on back protectors like, which ones are the most comfortable, the cheapest, the lightest and just were to get one (online).
 
Get a d30 based one. Shit is so good. It's basically really soft and flexible, but hardens on impact. A lot of people use them for DH MTB, so they offer super protection, but are really comfortable too.
 
my mom bought me these hip pads cuz i always get bad bruises on my hips from rails and icy landings out east and pads help so if ur gunna b trying corks and dont wanna get to bruised up or even worse like break somethin then i guess id find something... hope it works and i guess its good that u arent buying
 
ya POC makes them.. they also make all sorts of body armour stuff i think... do whatever it takes to go big tho man.. if your parents are letting you go to windells thats cool so atleast do what they ask and stay safe haha
 
slytech makes really nice ones, i used to wear them when i raced. They are wayyyy more flexible than the POC ones, and more comfortable.
 
i have a RED one that my mom got me for skiercross

i don't really like it much, and my friend's POC is better for sure
 
I also have a RED one but I just let it hang a bit loose and I barely ever feel it. The only downside is that its a bit bulky and makes you look a bit like a humpback. Nevertheless I would definately recommend getting a back protector.
 
A backprotecter has saved me many times.

But have a sweet one so that might be hard for you get. I have heard poc makes a good one.
 
i have a scott vest-type backprotector and RED crashpants, both are really good imho...
in back protectors you have 2 types, the backpack type, basically two shoulder bands an a waist-strap, its looser, is less warm but doesn't feel that secure
then you have the vest type, basically a tight fitting vest with armored back, i prefer these, even tough they're a bit pricier...
about crashpants; right now you have plastic and impact foam typesPlastic ones have just hard plastic shells that can be removed and soft padding behind it.they work great but they are bulky and make your butt look fat :D
i have a pair of red total impact shorts (google it) they're very thin and don't bother at all, they have special gel cushions that work very well, maybe even better than the hard shell types....
 
i have a racer one and im looking to buying a new one.
a little story about back protectors: a friend and I were jumping a big air and in our second jump my friend tried a backflip on it and landed long and flat on his back (he did a backflip and a half to flat). he broke 2 vertebrates and had to be helicoptered down to the hospital. He was 2 mm from being paraplegic. my friend was wearing a back protector and the doctor told him that if he wouldnt have had it one he could have never walked again.
just saing
 
This might not really make sense but won't wearing a back protector make it a little harder to backflip and such? I've never worn one so I don't really know what the flex is like.
 
its not like a medievel armor, its lightweight and flexible, its a bit different but youll get used to it soon enough..... (no real problem doing any movement)
 
I haven't had one of these or tried them but Base Camp Packs makes backpacks with built in back protection. Seems like a sick idea if you are doing backcountry, but you probably don't want a whole backpack for skiing park. Here's the site link:http://www.basecamppacks.com/
 
I have heard of a jacket that is like a normal jacket but it hardens on impact I don't remember who makes it but the guy who had it was a Woodward caoch and he said that it helped him progress a ton and crashing didn't hurt that bad
 
Sounds like that d3o material. Google it. They put it in a normal beanie then whacked a guy on the head with a shovel and he didn't get hurt.
 
Dont get a POC. Scott and a few other companies make ones that are pretty good. I currently have a POC and it rides up bad, isnt flexible, and is annoying enough I dont even like wearing it. Even though I should most of the time. They really help even in the park..
 
Scott is legit, i can confirm that first hand, buddies of mine rock the dainese backprotectors, i think dainese is originally a motorcycle brand, they were one of the first brands to intrdouce backprotectors in the snowsport scene.... they say they're just fine....
 
I'm looking in to a new one. Anyone that has any thoughts on VPD vs plastic pads?! At first I was no way the VPD (3do as some might call it) can match the protection hardshell gives but it looks like the vpd ones are more comfortable and meet more strict safety regulations. (they are pricier as well)

I compiled a list of brands that make protective gear for skiers.

The best brands seem to be these:

http://www.slytechprotection.com/products/

http://www2.pocsports.com/products/products.asp?id=20-Ski

http://www.forcefieldperformance.com/

Some other brands:

http://www.icetools.de/icetools/fs1.htm

http://www.sweetprotection.com/#/snow/hardware/back-protector/grinder/

http://www.sixsixone.com/sixsixone_snow.aspx

https://www.redprotection.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Burton_US-Site/default

http://www.prorace.com/page2.html

I guess VPD is the way to go if you look at what most sites tell you....

 
I have a demon snow one. It was cheap, and has protection in other areas like kidney, etc. Its ok, you definitely know its there, it feels a little uncomfortable/ungainly, but maybe with more time I will get used to it.
 
i currently have the POC one and i like it a lot, but like it has been said it can be a little more restricting than others. I will probably try a slytech one next. either way they are a good idea. good luck
 
I own a POC receptor one and I like it a lot. It is very flexible, if tightened properly, and gives me more confidence when skiing park. POC products are always top notch, and these are no exception. I'm sure plenty of other companies (including scott) make great back protectors too, but I can verify that POC's product has been completely satisfactory. Definitely recommend one.
 
!!!!!!!!!!!

Slytech definitelyyyy makes the best back protectors. extremely comfortable, then help keep you warm when it's cold (yea you're going to hood, i was just adding that haha), their d3o and work incredibly well. mine has saved my back numerous times. i started wearing mine 2 years ago (for racing) and it takes a couple days to get used to but once you start skiing with it you don't want to ski without it. it absorbs shocks really well and Slytech is just a really good company. not that POC isn't but everyone i've talked to agrees that the slytech back protector is a lot more comfortable than the POC back protectors.

i love my Slytech, and i think you'll be happy with yours as well if you buy it.
 
i have a demon snow one as well:
http://www.demonsnow.com/site1/index.html

they are a lot cheaper than POC ones but as said ^ the full vest with chest and kidney protection is a little bulky. you can get used to it quickly though as far as movement. if you are wearing a normal baggy coat you can't see it but if you are rocking a hoodie you look like a hockey player with pads on.
 
above all don't let anyone give you shit about wearing it. protection is always better than none. also don't overdue it. after a point the protection will make your riding worse than better
 
i like my poc. it works fine for me. i can still do corks and all that with it on and it helps. it doesn't do anything for compression but for hitting trees and stuff it helps. i may upgrade tho cuz i'd like something that helps with the fractures in my spine. but yeah ride protected. i probably should have from the start. but hey live and learn. poc is good. i hear d30 based protectors are nice. as well as scott and others. spend 150 and you prolly can't go wrong. remember cheaping out on protection is wasted money.
 
Yeah, my parents are making me get a back protector for next season as well. I've looked at the SlyTech back protectors and I've heard good things about them so that's what we want to get, but which one is the right one? There are too many different kinds. +K to all that help.
 
what session are you going to? i just bought a poc one because i might have a slight crack on my spine and i dont want it to happen again also could this maybe help support or act some what like a brace when im riding?
 
Check out Forcefield, super flexible and comfortable, come in different sizes and levels of protection. It's soft but hardens on impact, so it wont crack or weaken like other hard types that use plastics
 
You'd be much better with a forcefield or slytech back protector than a d3o one, as the optimum temperature range for d3o to absorb shocks is really narrow, so its great for downhill MTB or summer skiing, but would suck in the depths of winter, even with your body temperature.
I use a POC ergo hardshell back protector, after using dianese for years, i really like the fit of the POC and you should be able to pick one up relatively easily online.
 
Go look at the poc vpd they make just a vest and one with shoulder and chest protection. It's like d3o but made for skiing
 
Just cause its made for skiing doesn't mean the d3o has been altered to preform better in cold conditions, someone above said that it has a small temperature window of effectiveness and the shock absorption declines from there. If the d3o has been changed and formulated for colder temps it would be great, but if not I'm sticking with the more trustworthy material of traditional back protectors. I have no doubt that technologies like d3o will be perfected soon enough.
 
Yeah I've read all your post guys and I'm a bit mistified...
I was looking for a christmass gift to ask for and saw thissounds quite good to have some back protection
But I mostly do rails and ride in the woods. I'm not a real good jumper(I don't flip but I don't say I'll never try)
It seems that those slytech protect only lower backwhile the Poc/Scott/fieldperformance seems quite rigidI'm not a big fan of thing that are against the free of motion(so most protective gear)
what about VDP and Dainese? are they nice? it seems they are a bit more flexibleBut I don`t wear tight clothing usually and I find those quite annoying usuallyLike underwear and all I always take em big. Otherwise I feel bad in em. I feel I'll need to have some tight fit so they protect my back am i right?

About the price I'm looking for a 100-200$ price range.
things I've looking into so-far
http://www2.pocsports.com/products/products.asp?id=20-Skihttp://www.scott-sports.com/gb_en/product/9906/50044/213532http://www.forcefieldperformance.com/product/sport-lite-2-back-protector/2346http://www.slytechprotection.com/products/slytech-2nd-skin/back-protector/http://www.dainese.com/wd_fr/multisport-winter/active-core.html?destinazione_uso=41&cat=75

 
BUMP! Looking into POC mostly, but any advice or experience helps.

I'm also looking to try em on in a store before I buy it, so does anyone know a store that sells them in Boulder or Summit County?
 
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