Opinions about wearing back protectors. Pros/Cons? Recommendations?

tellupolvi

tellupolvi

New member
I've been now skiing park for multiple years without wearing a back protector and have not really felt I've ever needed one. Altought this season I've been pushing myself a bit more than usual and have been thinking if wearing one would actually benefit me safety wise. Please share your opinions / experiences!
 
I always use one. However i don't fall much on my back and you probably won't either so i would try to get one with protection in the sides aswell, some people find them uncomfortable and while you can definitely feel that its there it doesn't bother me much as long as it fits well.
 
I don't ski much park but I ski around a lot of rocks, so I've been wearing one pretty much every day on the hill for the past season and a half. Only downside IMO is that it can be kinda uncomfortable on the lift, but otherwise I don't notice it.
 
I wore won last season. It got the job done but it looked pretty bulky and stupid, but that is just my opinion. It was pretty effective; I took a few runs with out it crashed pretty hard and my ski hit my back and gave it a knot in my back for a few days. If I was wearing it I would of been fine. I had a shred protector and got it for 50 bucks. Probably would wear it again if it didn't look so bulky on me.
 
I have worn a Slytech back plate for 5 years. I only wear it when I am skiing big mountain and its saved my life (or at least my mobility) twice. One time I tomahawked through rocks and the back plate was torn to shreds along with my jacket, but I walked away. Another time I back checked super hard hit rocks and the rocks took a chunk out of the back plate, but again I walked away.

It's worth noting that I don't usually wear it in the backcountry, unless I am sledskiing or building a jump in a spot where I don't trust the landing to be debris-free. It feels weird to not wear it at this point for me.

I'd say it's worth buying and wearing if you're going hard on cliffs and backcountry booters, but I probably wouldn't wear it in the park unless I was competing and throwing dubs haha.
 
I've been wearing a back protector since I was 14 after someone on my team hit a lift tower and was paralyzed from the waist down. All the coaches at our hill made a really big push for everyone to wear back protectors after that.

After years of riding with one I rarely ride without it and feel pretty naked without it. It's about as uncomfortable as a helmet and 3 times as useful imo. It's more comfortable to take huge cliffs to your back, over rotate on backflips, tomahawk over rocks. They keep you warm. Not too much of a bother while touring.

10/10 highly recommend. Skiing is a dangerous sport, mitgage risk as much as possible.

In other news, there are a lot of used back protectors on eBay and sidelineswap for under $100. Slytech and poc are the ones I see the most. I like slytech.

**This post was edited on Nov 19th 2020 at 4:48:09pm
 
the poll results showing 2/3 does NOT wear it for park is just insane. Wipeing out on anything,where you hit your back it distributes the load, its just the difference between huge pain, and.. meeeh just shake it off. I got talking with some kids were 2 out of 3 were hurt and takeing their boots off after skiiing park, 1 of them said... do you think a back protector would help wipeing out on the rail? the 2 others were like.. naaah not sure "I heard it doesnt help".... I had a chat with them, and all 3 got back protectors.

I've wiped out on rails, boxes, jumps etc, and the difference is just huge, not to mention when skiiing fast in tight trees, going backwards into a tree with it on is just.. magical vs without, the distribution of load force, from a small point IS a thing. Its also super easy to demonstrate. have someone hit you in the back with a fist, with& without back protector. tell me how it feels.

I've wiped out skiiing fast with poor visibility, off a cliff (yeah I know) I tomahawed, did a full yardsale etc... I sat up in the snow, could hear some screaming from my friends freaking out, but kinda didnt understand it, regained my wits... stood up, walked around to try to find my skis etc.... 1 cracked helmet, backbrace was ok, I was ok... everyone was surprised. Luck didnt last though, broke my wrist skiiing trees shortly after ;)

Most wtf situation was standing next to a tree, outside the groomers, talking with a friend building a jump, when a guy just... lost it, going mach 0,5 (about as fast as a blue run will let you go, flew out and literally hit me in the back. I was both wearing a helmet, and a back protector. my ski suit even got fooked, and the back protector had 1 of the discs loosen :o I walked it off, he was sent to hospital.

I feel naked without it. Dont get the bulky argument? you cant tell I have one when Im skiiing. but hey, you could be wearing supertight race suits, it will show there. Maybe you will look slightly more buff on apres ski, girls love it.

I'm shocked/surprised over this thread, and the helmet thread, like I'm dumb, and I've done stupid shit, and still do, I've broken stuff 20 times, I cant really remember how many times I've replaced my teeth but iirc its 7-9? something, my back 2 times, (I used to be taller, not kidding) heck I used to be on a first name basis with the people at the ER. I've crashed during most action sports and done lots of regular sports, my body is for sure hurting and Im super stoked if I can do a legday without pain, or heck just walk stairs or ski... wearing a back brace when skiiing, is comparable to wearing knee protection when skating vert. Both my back injuries, were sustained without useing a back protector (so stupid)

**This post was edited on Nov 19th 2020 at 7:22:55pm
 
feels a bit weird sometimes especially when you break them in, you might get a wee bit sweaty but the pros definitely outweigh those cons. also impact shorts are a great idea and will save you from having sore and jacked up hips
 
I just don't hit rails anymore, but I do ski most inbounds days with a back protector because I ride the shuttle up to the hill, and my small pack that I carry food and shoes in has a built-in back protector. It's nice insurance, especially when I'm lining up big hucks.
 
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