Back protectors - in jacket or standalone?

[TiminYorkshire]

So having returned to biking I find myself wearing my old Knox back protector, the type with straps over the shoulders and an elasticted waist strap. It reaches all the way down to the top of my coccyx. It was great when I was wearing one piece leathers hurtling round the Nurburgring and other European tracks.

However it seems a bit clunky wearing with zip together textiles on a KTM SAR. I can get a D3O back protector that will slip into my Held jacket, how much of a safety factor will I be losing? And will the added comfort/decreased faff factor actually make my ride safer in a round about way? No doubt it will be a lot cooler on hot days.

What do people tend towards these days?

[outnumbered]

If you're ever tempted to not wear the Knox due to faff/comfort, then having one integrated into your jacket is definitely a good thing. My feeling is the integrated ones aren't quite as protective overall, but are definitely a lot more pleasant to use.

[TiminYorkshire]

If I got the integral jacket back protector I think I'd never wear a stand alone one with that jacket, due to the faff of getting the integral one in and out of its pocket, so it's almost a one time choice what to go with.

[GSA_fattie]

air bag jacket

come on leaps and bounds in the last year or so from when i had an original Astars tech 5 - might look at getting one again

at the moment - winter jacket with integrated back protector in jacket pocket; summer protective mesh jacket with various layers under and over the top

[Tonberry]

Air bag vest / jacket.

Alpinestars Tech Air 3 V2 in my case. Goes over my leather jacket and doesn't add much weight / heat in summer.

[CoolHands]

Is there any evidence any of them have ever prevented injury to the spine in non-race situations? I’m guessing not. Plenty of us have had accidents and it’s not usually the spine that gets injured unless you’re Barry Sheene crashing at 170mph

[gareth h]

CoolHands said:

Is there any evidence any of them have ever prevented injury to the spine in non-race situations? I m guessing not. Plenty of us have had accidents and it s not usually the spine that gets injured unless you re Barry Sheene crashing at 170mph

I got highsided at Cartegena, not going very quickly (embarrassingly), landed on the rumble strip and cracked my back protector, I’m not sure I’d be walking now if I’d not been wearing it.

[catso]

Interesting dilemma that I'm currently also facing.

I've been wearing a Dainese standalone protector that is long and so protects much of my back, however I've recently bought new leathers that are both a snugger fit and have a Knox back protector in a pocket in the jacket and whilst I can see the in-jacket one offers less protection, it is much easier to use, the full standalone protector is a faff to get on though fine once fitted.

It's only the lower back that is left unprotected with the integral protector and so maybe not a huge difference in risk but it is just so much easier to deal with...

[carinaman]

gareth h said:

I got highsided at Cartegena, not going very quickly (embarrassingly), landed on the rumble strip and cracked my back protector, I m not sure I d be walking now if I d not been wearing it.

Thanks for sharing.

[Sidecar Man]

Ermm I use a forcefield Stand alone one. Absolutely destroyed it in this crash.
Didn't break a thing. Just a "Little bruising" Middle bits and Abrasion rather than a split! They even sent me a new one. I'm in the back of here

[CoolHands]

Should have bought an arse-protector!

[CoreyDog]

CoolHands said:

Is there any evidence any of them have ever prevented injury to the spine in non-race situations? I m guessing not. Plenty of us have had accidents and it s not usually the spine that gets injured unless you re Barry Sheene crashing at 170mph

Fractured two vertebrae after an off on a country road 4 years ago and meeting a tree.

Sadly it can and does happen and can tell you it hurts like hell for months after.

I had a CE1 Back protector in my jacket, can’t say if a 2 would have made any difference or a Knox but I have a CE2 in my current jacket, better to have it and not need it etc etc.

[Obison]

Christ, thats mad, glad your still mobile and with us!

[gareth_r]

What about an armoured shirt that you can wear under any jacket?

[Freakuk]

CoolHands said:

Is there any evidence any of them have ever prevented injury to the spine in non-race situations? I m guessing not. Plenty of us have had accidents and it s not usually the spine that gets injured unless you re Barry Sheene crashing at 170mph

I got punted off on the road at low speed and into a wall, broke both legs and also ended up with 3 compressed spinal fractures, back protector did it's job I guess given how my legs ended up, the harsh reality is I could have been in a wheelchair if it wasn't for that.