Leatt 5.5 Body Protector: Should You Ride With Body Armor?
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- Adventure Starts With You.
It has been on my mind for a couple of years now and I finally am going to try it out. Body armor instead of an integrated jacket to cool down and be ready for anything on my next trip. Let me know if you ride with body armor and what your trade offs are over a regular jacket.
Leatt 5.5 Body Protector: amzn.to/3k12vAR
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Love the soundtrack with thr Leatt glamor shots. My kind of jam.
I am glad to hear it. Choices like that often polarize folks pretty well but I can only really make the things I think would work best. I appreciate the view and feedback.
Avoid having to wash this by wearing winter thermals under it. Slides on and off really easily too.
I came at this from a totally different direction but you’re 100% right. I don’t even do the winter thermals but just the Klim base layers and it makes a dramatic difference. Thanks for the tip.
Exact information which i wanted thank you.
I made the switch from rmatv battle born to Mosko Moto wearable armor and their jackets and pants. Best move ever. I wear an REI wick away long sleeve base and then armor over it. That eliminates rubbing against skin. The entire system worn in well. When we rode the COBDR last summer it was awesome. Very breathable and water proof. When rain arrived I just sat on my bike while everyone else in my party had to dismount and put on rain gear. Happened many times. Overall a great system with a lot of flexibility.
I have looked at the Mosko gear as a potential but I struggle with that massive price tag with Klim gear already in the closet. I might just have to bite the bullet because I have been super happy with every other Mosko offering. Thank you so much for the feedback.
Looking forward to update. I am considering this change / option for my July 21 Colorado continental divide ride. I also believe (as noted below) that I would still carry the Klim Dakar jacket for running around on the road (less integrated aromor).
Update will be forthcoming for sure but right now, with just a couple of rides, this seems like a really nice change of pace. I might bring my jacket as well just to mitigate any issues with the rain or slide protection at 80mph. We shall see what is ultimately decided but the early reports are promising.
I second the Dakar over a modular armor solution (whether strap-on or an armored shirt) when on pavement. It’s been a great solution for me.
Just ordered my Leatt 6.5 body armor and chest protector. Can’t wait
Oh I’d love to know what you think. I ordered my 5.5 about a month before they upgraded.
@@BeGoneForGood I love it so far. To me the advantage is that the chest protector and the other armor can be separated. If I want to only use the chest protector I have that as an option. The body armor for shoulders and elbows is great and has a built in kidney belt too which I LOVE. It can be worn under your jersey and then the chest protector can be worn over the jersey. The kidney belt is also detachable too and can be worn on its own. I like how the 6.5 is modular and can be used all together or in separate pieces. Protection wise it’s no better than the 5.5. The primary advantage of the 6.5 is its modularity.
@@thepatternforms859 doesn't the back piece annoy you? I tried that one and that lower back piece jutted into my lower back and it was really uncomfortable I also noticed it forced the upper part up off my shoulders because it kept getting caught on my pants. ...This 5.5 one doesn't have that which is why I prefer it.
Enjoyed your video and I just put an order in for the Leatt 5.5 which I will wear underneath my partially armoured high viz motorcycle jacket,I also have the Leatt knee pads (which I wear over my MC Jeans) and Leatt hip armour which is worn underneath.I'm purely a street rider(Ninja650)and an airbag vest(probably Helite) will be my final layer of protection in the near future to be worn over the jacket and the 5.5 (I also have Alpine Stars Vegan Motorcycle Boots which offer great ankle protection, Alpine Stars back protector,Icon Stormhawk Vegan Gloves,and Shoei RF 1400 helmet.
This is exactly what i need to know about right now
It is getting into those hot months fast, isn't it? I am thinking it is about time for me to do a one-year review and my thoughts on riding in just armor. For most of this past year, I stayed in the armor and probably only put on the jacket a few times when it got REALLY cold. Stay tuned and I will get you some more info on the long-term viability of the armor option.
Good video. I live in Arizona so I have been thinking about something like this as a cooler option. That being said, I would never consider this as a multi-day gear. This will be hot when you stop to take pictures or video. It will be
Like encasing you torso in plastic. With airflow it’s good, standing still probably not. I have ridden with guys who use this type of armor and it’s always for day use. No chance of weather just riding when you know it’s going to be hot and dry the entire day. So you described the trade offs very well but for me it’s made for out and back days when I know it’s just going to be hot.
I agree with you that this might have its own set of issues but I am curious to see if I can find a better option. I might just bring the jacket along as well just in case. ;-)
Hey Chad, I’ve been thinking about this video so I came back for an update. Looks like from other comments that this is working out. I’m looking at his option myself. I live in Phoenix, so have both ends of the temp scale. I have a desert ride in Tucson coming up this month and then plan to do the AZ BDR sometime next year. I like the idea of separating the armor from the jacket to give more options and combinations. If it’s hot you can ride with just the body armor or a light jersey, but if it’s cold or wet you can throw another jacket over this. You could even pull the bulky armor out of your Klim jacket and layer it over the Leatt just for the warmth, or for the slide protection on the road. Seems like you have more comfort and flexibility this way. Also seems like it would be a little more comfortable (and stay cleaner) with a base layer underneath.
Do you agree? Would you buy something different than the Leatt if you were starting this process again? Looks like Alpinestars has some interesting offerings in this area. If you come out to Az let me know.
100%. All of those factors are exactly why I’ve been super happy with the change. Honestly the only “downside” I’ve come across so far is getting into and out of the armor takes a bit longer than with a jacket alone. The strange thing is that now when I do grocery visits and such, because this is so comfortable, I just stay in it while doing my shopping. It has become my only way to travel all summer. As we move into winter cold here, I’ll probably go back to the jacket just for coverage and ease but the armor is certainly worth a solid look. I live the leatt and probably wouldn’t change anything other than going for the 6.5 instead.
I had the Leatt 4.5 body armor and I felt way safer wearing it than my Icon Raider jacket. Main reason I got my suit was for those 90°-100° Kansas summer days on backroads for 150-200 mile weekend rides. I’m all for a suit in the summer and if I’m doing a weekend 2 day ride I’d take a jacket possibly depending on weather forecast.
This is probably the perfect mix I will use for my rides as well.
Hi, I'm sorry to bother you, I wanted to ask you a question, which armour do you see better.
Forcefield EX-K or Leatt 5.5 /6.5
I'm thinking of buying one of the 3. What would be your advice for enduro riding on an AJP PR7.
THANK YOU
I haven't specifically worn the Forcefield but near as I can tell from what I have seen, it is basically similar to the Leatt stuff but without the undershirt included with the armor. Now I have been SUPER happy with my Leatt 5.5 since I started wearing it last spring but it looks like any of these options would be really solid. I think once you decide if you want the inner shirt included permanently with the armor. If I were going to go with the Leatt, I would do the 6.5 because it has more modularity than the 5.5 because it allows you to piece it out as needed for training days or full riding days. The Forcefield would probably work just as well but the one downside is that it doesn't include built-in functionality with a complimentary neck brace the way the Leatt's do. If you have any other questions, please let me know.
This would be great to have when traveling and renting bikes on location.
That is true too. Easier to pack for sure and then I don't have to worry about what I am wearing on the outside. Thank you so much for the view and feedback.
I took the integrated armor out of my Klim Carlsbad jacket and wear that over my Leatt armor. Get good armor and excellent slide protection. For off road or long trips, that’s what I wear.
That seems like what I am most likely to do for road riding. I will probably remove the jacket when I get to slower, off-road type stuff. If that system works then I might look for something a little easier to use in these circumstances as the Klim stuff is still pretty heavy. Thank you so much for the view and feedback.
How hard is it to put a jacket over this armor?
@@thehoelzels6316 I've never had an issue as long as you take out the integrated armour like I did. The Leatt is snug and flexible so its like you bulked up and thus no different than your regular shoulders etc if they were that big.
@@thehoelzels6316 As long as the jacket isn't SUPER tight, getting it on over the armor shouldn't be an issue. The armor is big but it isn't adventure jacket big. I have a Klim jacket and a RevIt jacket and both would fit easily over the armor.
I would probably grab a Klim Dakar jacket for running around on the road. You can unzip the sleeves for the dirt if you want. It would help with the possible cold and the protection bit.
That is a great suggestion. I might check for this first summer to see how much extra I need but that option could come in handy for the Central America trip in 2023.
Late seconded. Good stuff.
Thanks for this! In the market for body protection and looking at the 5.5 vs the hybrid. How has the experience of wearing your Klim/Revit riding jackets (sans integrated armour) over the Leatt 5.5 been. I ride an ATAS in India and heat management is key!
Also, do u wear the 5.5 directly on your skin or over a base layer?
So, I haven't ridden with the jacket on and the armor off. The closest I have come is a three hour stretch where I left the armor in the jacket so I could take advantage of the waterproof nature of the GoreTex. It seemed easier to ride with everything on and it didn't really feel bad at all. I expected it to be tight and uncomfortable but it wasn't. It was bulky for sure but not bad at all, so I imagine it would be even nicer with the armor out.
I always wear a base layer but sometimes opt for long sleeve versus short sleeve. I think if I am planning on doing a full day of riding in the armor I would opt to go long sleeve so the mesh doesn't rub all day. It just seems a bit more comfortable.
This summer, I will likely be wearing it a lot more for our big Bourbon Run trip so stay tuned for a more expanded review at that time. Thank you so much for watching and checking in.
@@BeGoneForGood thanks for the reply! So your Klim jacket (along with integrated armour) fit over ur 5.5?! Wow! I have a Revit Off track and I doubt that I would manage that :)
It wasn't super comfy but it worked for the short ride to keep me dry. I will be trying other set ups as we get into summer so I can really refine my jacket/armor system for the big ride.
Not sure how you made out in the end, but my journey has been similar, but for somewhat different reasons. I started with trying various integrated jackets. I mostly use the Klim Marrakesh and Induction jackets in warm weather. I’m 100% driven by trying to stay cool enough and I’ve learned recently that dual-sporting involves slower riding, with more work, than street, so a jacket is really pretty horrible unless it’s cool out.
So I’ve tried a few armored shirts (Klim Tactical, Alpinestars Bionic, Fox Titan). They work well overall. I then go one step further than you (which maybe you’ve done since) - I have a Klim Dakar (highly recommended) that I wear on the “approach” rides (the pavement portions) in order to have at least a little more abrasion resistance. When the pavement ends, I strip that off and stow it, leaving a jersey with the armored shirt underneath. Nice and cool for the slow off-pavement work. If it’s super hot, I’ll leave the jersey off under the jacket on the approach/departure rides. Works well.
However, you bring up one possible weakness that by now you have probably proven: You will STINK UP that armored shirt on one hot sweaty ride. The materials that are used on most of them are the kind that really REALLY stink. Even I can’t take my own stink after a ride. So I have found I basically have to wash them after every single ride (wash them in a delicates laundry bag, BTW, on gentle). This is a PITA, not to mention would not be very convenient on a multi-day ride. I also find them somewhat difficult to remove when sweaty (Klim the worst, Fox the best).
So my final gear move for dual sporting or ADV is toward more traditional strap-on hard armor over a base layer. The base layer can hold all the stank, and is easily washed. On a trip, you carry multiple base layers. I also suspect this will be the coolest option of all. From wearing it over the jersey, or a short-sleeve base layer on the very hottest days (trading off against abrasion protection), to wearing it over a heavy long-sleeve base layer (and possibly a jacket over all that) when it’s cold.
A week ago I crashed my GSA on gravel when I was wearing just the Marrakesh, and now I have plenty of time to reflect and consider these options while my 3 broken ribs and separated shoulder heal! No abrasions anywhere, though :-). I have a new rule for myself: in a low friction environment a chest protector is REQUIRED.
Whoa...jeez, I hope you are alright and bounce back quickly. That sucks. Thank you so much for the feedback and yes, I have gone through many of the same considerations as you about the full-time armor set up. I have opted to basically forego the jacket altogether, even on speedier pavement portions of my ride. I know it isn't a great way to go and I am sacrificing protection but right now it is working for me. On our longer trip next year, I might change that up a bit but for this year and the WYBDR, it will be straight armor. I haven't run into the stink issue yet, though I have sweat a ton in this thing. I do always wear a base layer so maybe that has prevented much of the problem. In fact, my next video is all about my favorite choice for base layer...(that is what us pros in the biz call a teaser ;-)
This WYBDR trip will be the true test of this setup and how well it will work for my long term goals. We shall see but you have definitely given me an awful lot to consider.
@@BeGoneForGood Yeah, your base layer approach should filter out the worst BO from reaching the actual armor “shirt” material, so glad to hear that seems to be working. For my part, it sounds hot :-). I do think you chose very well with the Leatt. I tried it on and the fit and comfort of the shirt material was the best of all the ones that I’ve tried and own. Plus it is open in the armpits, so that probably helps with the BO, too. I just felt (and looked) like I was wearing a barrel, and wanted to go with something protective but a bit less bulky.
So, for my strap-on armor I have ordered the Alpinestars A10 + elbow guards. Pretty universally described as “cool wearing”. As said, the plan is to wear it over a jersey or other base layer, then Dakar jacket (or not) over it.
I didn’t cover lower body, but I either use integrated pants (like the Marrakesh), or Dakar/Mojave with armored tights (Bohn - really good stuff). Recently I added some Leatt Z-frame Knee Braces, so also have some armored Bohn shorts.
I’m currently watching your Klim Adv boot review. Too bad they didn’t fit comfortably. Maybe by now you’ve just gone MX boot (I concur with Bret on that topic, though I’m no expert). That is what I recommend. I found Alpinestars Tech 7s to be incredibly comfortable from the first time I put them on. However, walking in them (or any MX boot, I imagine) feels weird until you get them broken in a bit. MX boots are worth it though. Totally. You like Gaerne, just get some of those. They’re excellent.
Thanks for the well wishes. It’s been about a week and my pain is subsiding quite a bit and I’m finally able to sleep pretty well. I’m working on range of motion in my shoulder, and my ribs just need to mend completely, then it’s back out to do it again ;-). Crazy thing is this is my second ribcage injury of the year, and the first time I had on the Alpinestars Bionic armor and it was a low-speed crash, so go figure 🤷🏻♂️.
Here’s the vid of my recent crash, if you enjoy such things!
czcams.com/video/AuUFLxUEmg0/video.html
Thanks for the clip (subbed). I can't believe that and way to get it on video ;-)
I don't want to give away future vids but I did indeed go with the full MX boot with the Least 5.5 Enduros. You are not kidding about it being VERY weird walking around in them but I am hoping I will get used to it eventually. I am in deliberations now about exactly what pants I will be taking for our off road adventures but I am almost certain it will be my Klims with integrated armor. I don't really have a reasonable alternative without going WAY too casual for the route.
Get in touch with me via email and I will send out a BGFG Get Well package to you to ease your suffering.
chad@begoneforgood.com
I look forward to checking in as you get back on the bike and we can talk about the perfect armor system.
I ended up getting the non-mesh version of the armor so i dont have to worry about the sweat issue. I can wear a textile under it or use their enduro jacket over it.
I could DEFINITELY see the advantage of dropping the mesh element. It seems like the 6.5 tried to take that modularity into account.
which jaket do you guys wear on top of the leat5.5 - at the moment I have basic UFO Taiga .. but what about the winter / rain seasons?
So I have two that I go to depending on my goal for the ride. I have a Klim jacket that I have removed the armor from which is GoreTex, pretty heavy, and offers really solid slide protection. Then, if I don't need nearly as much protection I have a Klim rain layer which helps a little with the cold or wet but offers no slide protection. Between those two I am pretty well set for just about anything.
Awesome review, would this be any good for single track mountain biking? I run hot and want something to protect but not die from sweating. Haha
It would definitely protect you well but it may be a little overkill. The reason I chose this one was for a potential 50mph slide. The plastic is super robust but there are less heavy other options that I think might be better at airflow while still providing protection.
I look forward to seeing how the test riding goes. Can you report what, all in, the cost of the alternate gear is?
The armor is $282 at the link below and after that I already have a rash guard I can use for a base layer. I might look into specific motorcycle base layers from Klim, Mosko, MotoSkiveez, and others to see if one of those makes more sense. The cost on those can vary greatly but maybe another $50-100 is reasonable. Lastly, I am planning on using a jersey over the top which also varies quite a bit. I’d say $30-100 or so for some over shirt.
All in, I’d say $382-ish is pretty close.
amzn.to/3k8K6Cj
Pulling the trigger on this now and found your video!
How is the heat and to cool issues?
Since this video, I’ve been using this basically every time I’ve ridden and it has been so much better than I initially worried about. I did one training weekend where I wore this all day every day for three days while shooting. It was amazing. I felt so much freer. I was cool. I also rode home for six hours as tempts Dropped and never had an issue. I’d have something to throw over just in case but it has been a great system so far.
Try the Knox Urbane Pro MK 2. Very easy to take on and off, cool and great slide technology Thanks for the video
Thanks for the recommendation. I will have to look into other options as I determine if this wearable armor thing is a workable solution for me.
you are totally able to layer your gear over the top of your armour. Remove your jacket padding, try it over top. Long sleeve Heat Out Garment underneath on hot days helps with cooling as well. I live in Florida and use the Forcefield Body Armour. Long sleeve Heatout Undershirt underneath , Moto X Shirt on top makes for great combination.
I have considered pulling the armor out of my jacket and just using it over the top of my body armor. I am hoping to be able to get away without that added step but it really all comes down to my test runs when the weather heats up a little bit more. I have also thought about a few different options for base layers under the armor. Thank you for the recommendations.
@@BeGoneForGood no worries mate. Loving the videos. Ride safe
Thank you so much and you too.
Thanks for the video, I'm looking into the Leatt 5.5 Body Protector strictly for enduro\trail riding use. I have concerns about the base fabric and zipper on this product. Have you had any issues with tearing or the armor separating from the fabric? Has the zipper held up, has it ever not held closed or does it seem low quality(this is my biggest concern, no matter how good the armor is, if the zipper fails... the garment useless)?
Thank you
I haven't had any zipper issues but yes, you are right...if the zipper WERE to fail, the armor would be essentially useless. Like any piece of gear, I think with proper usage and maintenance you can ensure a long life. If you treat it poorly, it will treat you poorly. So far, I have been exceedingly happy with it.
@@BeGoneForGood 👍I did order this armor, it should be in next week. Thx for the info.
I’ve had it for about a year and a half, I love it, it breathes really well, but yes every time I zip it up I think damn they could have beefed the zipper up a bit, but I’ve never had any issues however I take my time to be sure I don’t cause it to fail. I’d recommend it
@@damien12309 Thx Damien, I did buy it back in Dec... I have no complaints about the product. Like you I take my time with the zipper and it works fine. A month ago my front tire blew out transiting on the asphalt and put me down hard... The Leatt 5.5 did an awesome job, I didn't get injured or road rash. Luckily it was cold and I had layers on and the 5.5 didn't get damaged either.
I ride in middle Tennessee and western Kentucky, this sounds like a pretty good idea in the summer. I have a nice textile jacket that is just too much in the summer so I end up with a light mesh jacket (one from Fly and a branded Triumph jacket) and the protection feels flimsy. I'm thinking that body armor and some practice hockey jerseys (cheap and lots of color options) are in my near future.
Awesome. I will be riding through your area this summer and it was EXACTLY this heat that I am preparing for with my set up.
I am new to your channel. I've watched multiple videos and very much enjoying them.
It's been 5 months how is the protective jacket working out?
Awesome. Welcome and thank you so much for checking us out and leaving feedback.
I have been considering an update for the armor but although I’ve had a lot of use, I haven’t taken out trip for the summer yet. As it seems that trip might just be put on hold, I guess it doesn’t hurt to let you know a little about how I’m feeling.
First off, so happy to have this as an option for certain situations. The first time I really had a chance to try it out was attending Brett Tkacs class a few months back. It is PERFECT for those type of days where you get into your gear and spend all day riding. I was on and off the bike over and over to capture shots and I never had to remove my armor. It made my shots so much easier to grab and jump back on. Game changer.
In the hot summer of NC, I have really appreciated the ability to let a LOT more air through. The only time I think this isn’t a great option is if you refuse to sacrifice some slide protection or if you are getting in and out of your few multiple times. This is a bit of a hassle to get into and out of and repeating three times a day would get a bit obnoxious.
I am looking forward to more practical usage over the next few months before it gets cold again. Then there will be a better more complete vid for everyone.
Hopefully this little taste will do until then.
@@BeGoneForGood thanks so much for the thorough feedback.
I'm 55 years old and do several thousand miles a year dual sporting. That's the same jacket I wear all the time. However if it's really hot out I do also have a fox Titan jacket I wear.
@@BeGoneForGood I have a 300 2-stroke bike, a KTM EXE 500, a KTM 690, and a KLR 650.
I recently got into a small accident on my cruiser thank god I had armor but I forgot to wear my boots and I fractured my leg and some ligament damage but thank god I’m healing you have no idea how important it is to wear armor, I have a flannel jacket with Al e armor inside and it saved my elbow and back I’m looking into more protection now
I’m sorry about the breakage but I’m glad you’re on the mend. Well stated, armor is vital to the type of riding we do.
So would you also wear this under a regular jacket with the armour removed? Interesting design on these. I’m a bit husky though not sure it would fit lol 😂
I have this body armor and it’s outstanding for offroad moto riding. There’s no way I’d want to go down on the highway in it. I have a Motoport Kevlar suit with their quadarmor. Owning both, the Motoport suit is sooooo comfortable. Tailor fit, no finer protection at any price. Amazing suit. Amazing protection. It is comfortable in heat and still gives ultimate protection. If I lost my Motoport, I’d buy another from them tomorrow.
Thank you so much for the feedback. I am strongly considering bringing my jacket along with me for any road issues but using this more for the slow, off-road sections. We shall see where the plan goes when I have to start using practicality over the theoretical.
@@BeGoneForGood I'm new to ADV and just got a great helmet, great boots, a decent jacket (warmer weather) mesh jacket (hot weather) but am wondering what body armor I need as...in the past in one extreme sport I've ended up breaking my wrist and surgery, shattering my shoulder and arm/surgery and also broken my back and collar bone too. So, I really need to protect myself at 55 yrs old and in business etc. I just ordered the Alpine stars armor...but wondering about wrist guards, knee braces...(I'm headed to ultra sound tomm as, I THINk I may have a LCL tear). All these injuries have been over the past 10 yrs, but after 2 yrs of therapy and $$ and time, I want to be protected and not sure what/how etc for ADV...moto camping, hopefully BDR stuff soon and ADV stuff across the border in Baja.
@@kee7678 Whoa...thank you so much for asking but I am not sure I have a great answer for you. At least, I don't think the answer I have is exactly what you are looking for but here goes...
I don't use wrist guards or knee braces so I wouldn't be any help for you. My suggestion, since it sounds like a fall of any kind might be rather dangerous, is to spend some of that money on training. I can't think of a better value for your dollar than to improve your ability to stay upright as opposed to getting the very best gear you can for a fall. Now, obviously, falls are a part of what we do but if you can improve your confidence and skill, the likelihood of a traumatic fall gets lower and lower. That would be my target if I were in your shoes.
Plus, when you are in a class like that, you can ask about protection and get all sorts of opinions, including from the pros.
Best of luck and thank you so much for watching.
@@BeGoneForGood Thanks, Yep agree and am training now and planning on more training later this year as well.
I ride with the Leatt chest, back, and shoulder protector either under a jersey or one of my Leatt shells, and it's perfect. I do have their elbow guards, which are separate, and their neck brace, but I didn't want to have a full body protector as the chest protector has the same coverage, but is super easy to get in and out of. Compared to my jackets, along with the lumbar protector, I feel much more protected on or off road. I will be buying the Alpinestars air-tech off road jacket, but it's 3x the price of the Leatt chest protector. Is the air bag worth it? My feeling is that safety should not be about cost, but if you don't have the $1,000 plus the cost of new canisters should you deploy the 2 onboard, the body or chest protectors really do the job as well.
I am very interesting in hearing about how cool - the airflow is. In FL it is always hot. I think the area where the armor is located will be Hot..
So, I rode in this setup from GA to NC last week and it wasn’t nearly as hot as FL but I was VERY happy with it. I can’t imagine the chest section is any warmer than a jacket would be but the arms and stomach were MUCH cooler. It is a sacrifice of slide protection for sure but it is FAR cooler than a jacket.
Great vid! Would like to see a follow up after some use
I will absolutely have some follow up coming but I can’t decide if I’ve had enough time in it just yet. I wore it for my entire training session a couple of weeks ago and it was perfect. I haven’t been in TRULY hot weather just yet but so far it is definitely the better way to go for my needs.
@@BeGoneForGood I love my Klim gear (Badlands Pro) but would like less bulk in summer and the heat is brutal !
Would you not be better with the traditional chest, back/shoulder that leatt do? It does not have the mesh fabric holding it together, so airflow would be better. It won't smell like this suit on review here, would be easier to put on and you could just pull a shirt over it or layer up when the rain and wind comes. Whats the view on this?
That might be better for airflow but this vest was a trade off between convenience and airflow. The difficulty with strapping on five different sets of armor elements including elbow pads seemed overly daunting. I opted to go this route and so far have been really happy with the results. We shall see how it goes in the future.
I’m kind of headed that direction myself, at least for dual sport rides, as I said in my too-long comment a few minutes ago.
Hey. I'm from London England. And thinking of ditching my leather jacket for this 5.5 body armour. Is it a good idea?
I have completely made the change over but it all sort of depends on your willingness to sacrifice the sliding/abrasion protection a jacket provides for the benefits of armor.
I am willing to make that trade off as the benefits outweigh the risks for me but I get how that may not be true for everyone.
I'm considering this body armor to wear under a basic non-padded leather jacket. It could then do double-duty as an dual-sport/ADV protector with other jerseys and coats when road rash wasn't a primary concern.
I went with the 6.5 due tobeing able to seperate them.
I purchased the 5.5 about two months before the announced the FAR superior 6.5. I will probably go that route when I buy the next set.
A lot of your cons would be alleviated by wearing a good non armor jacket ie: Mosco moto Basilisk jacket, and their layering system to be cool or warm.
The whole idea is not to be totally dependent on your jacket for protection.
Absolutely, but my goal was to get away without carrying that jacket as it is just one more thing to have around. Now as far as temps, it would be great to remain cooler when needed and have that protection rolled up on the seat behind me but if I didn't want to carry extra, a choice needs to be made.
Adventure Spec Supershirt might be a better option. It's also abrasion resistant
I took a look and I appreciate the recommendation. I am excited to see the short in person.
Good review and reasoning why you chose it. I’ll be interested to see how it works on the bike and your feedback after awhile. As I watched I kept thinking of all the days on the road where I have encountered a wide range of temperatures and a body armor system like this would definitely not be warm enough. Probably not the choice for me but I’m still interested to hear your thoughts. Ride safe...
I am absolutely worried about this same issue because we get up early (sometimes) to ride and even in the warm days, they start cold. It is going to be a pretty awesome guess and test experiment to see if this is workable at all.
What about summer time. To hot no? I guess you have to wear a mesh jacket or jersey for touring on road ect ?😊
No…not too hot at all. It is much cooler in the armor than any mesh jacket I’ve tried. I ride year round with just armor.
@@BeGoneForGood ok. I just worry if you go down the mesh won’t be enough to protect vs a hot Jacket. Off-road maybe the way to go as generally speeds are lower. Maybe give it a try thx.
what's holding you back tho from wearing a thin jersey over the body armor? half of your cons can be medigated by a semi breathable jersey.
Just when he started putting it on, I was like: -"I`m not getting that..."
Absolutely…it is not easy get into and out of the same way as a jacket but man, it breathes SO well in the heat. I also find I take it off a lot less on stops and breaks because it isn’t nearly as heavy as a jacket. There are definitely trade offs though.
It would be nice if you turned the lights on, way too dark to see the product!
It’s all part of the mystery. I can’t be giving everything away on the first video.
I've got the 5.5 in stormtrooper white. I'm British but live in Mongolia. I ride almost all off-road these days. My riding terrain is grassy mountains embedded with pointy rocks. Soft armour is not tested (by CE) for pointy, penetrative impacts and it stands to reason it won't perform well. A hard-shell garment makes sense for off-road, particularly in rocky terrain, forests etc where there are pointy hazards.
On road, it's also far better at impact abrasion for long slides than ANY textile. I test impact abrasion for research and textiles provide very little protection, whereas hard plastic does very well. Roughly 10-20x better. If I'm going to ride on road (quite rare these days), I'll throw on a leather jacket. In my tests, cowhide is still far and away the best at impacts and abrasion - except pointed impacts. The most protective garment on-road is leather with hard shells at the joints. By the way, soft protectors also resist impact abrasion far better than textiles. So if you slide on your textile jacket, it may wear through quickly but the armour will resist for up to 200 meters (never going to happen but it's nice to know).
The areas not covered by the hard plastic are low risk so I'm not convinced you'd end up covered in road rash. The plates are quite prominent and as long as you had abrasion resistant gloves, your exposed forearms would probably be shielded.
The only other body protector I considered was the Forcefield EX-K harness but it's just firm and not hard so I doubt it would protect against pointy rocks as well.
I ride all year around in the 5.5 and I don't get hot in it and I've also got very good at taking it on and off. I'll wear a shell under it when it gets colder and I suppose I could wear one over it if I needed to. It's always smart to have a waterproof / windproof shell along for the ride in any case.
Wow...that is VERY thorough. Thank you so much. I really wanted the white but it wasn't available when I purchased mine. It is good to know that protection is solid with my choice as I have basically only ridden in the armor since I bought it a couple of years ago. Thank you so much for the feedback.
Hell of an intro bruv
Thanks. I had a lot of fun doing it.
Sounds like you made an argument for a better summer jacket.
Very true. I have considered going with the Klim Induction but I don’t know how well that would do in shooting scenarios. We will see how this goes and whether my plan needs a rework.
He's suffering while putting it on and while wearing it! You can tell by watching him lol...
I wouldn't say suffering...I think that is just my face. Ha.
@@BeGoneForGood you have any mtb helmet , wrist guard reviews?
I don't have any reviews of that sort. I can't even imagine trying to ride in wrist guards.
Good review, consider having proper lighting next time. It looks like you are in a poorly lit basement, I cannot hardly see anything.
Thank you very much for watching and leaving feedback. I am in constant flux with my lighting setup and will take your critique into consideration for my next review.
I have to be honest, because of the way physics works (I am not a physicist and only have a basic understanding of this) I feel that an airbag is going to be superior to this. Air cushions simply absorb more impact, and CE1 armor will be fine for low speed spills when doing off road Adv riding.
I think this is probably true but I don't know if that helps my main concern which is to get cooler while I am riding and shooting. The updates on the airbags are really exciting for safety but I don't know how accessible it is for broad audiences just yet and especially ADV riders that fairly routinely "fall off" their bikes.
@@BeGoneForGood All good points - you won't wear it if its not comfortable.
Loose 2/3 rds of the special razzle dazzel hyping product. Looks like a great system if you wear their neck brace but if you don't that area is not as protected as It could be; given the high cost of their neck brace it makes it too costly. It would of been nice to see a comparison. Just some feedback - I enjoy your channel. Cheers
I appreciate the feedback very much. I have considered getting a neck brace at some point but for right now, this provides as much protection as my jacket to my neck. Hopefully as I do more off-road and training cycles, the neck brace will make more and more sense. It is a work in progress and this summer will be a huge step in the right direction to see if this is workable at all.
@@BeGoneForGood yes u don't know how it will be until you try it out; I am also trying out some protection layers under my jacket so I can take jacket off when off roading conditions are complimentary. Sorry if my tone was sharp, it's hard to talk via texting. Cheers from Canada
Absolutely not a problem at all. Tone is often difficult to read here but I don't take anything too seriously. I cannot wait to figure out if this option works for the warmer seasons.
amigo este tipo de armadura fue creada para enduro en terrenos embarrados. saludos
What's the meaning of 4.5 5.5 6.5 naming? Is it generation?
It’s just Leatt’s way of naming according to low-end vs high-end. The higher the number, the higher up in the product line. IMO all Leatt is pretty high-end, so even the low-numbered products are worth considering.
@@mike.thomas oh yeah, I saw a 2.5 and I thought it looked pretty well built.
OK I thought it was like 2.5 this year, 3.5 next year, like iphones.
Why not a mesh jacket?
I have a mesh jacket that I used to wear but I was hoping this would be even cooler than that...especially when I got off the bike. We shall see how it works out but I am hopeful.
@@BeGoneForGood
Provides more protection but the plastic parts stick to the body can not be ventilated like a mesh jacket
This is seeming like the likeliest outcome of my choice and soon a decision will have to be made as to what I am willing to sacrifice.
5
90+ percent of motorcycle deaths are car pulling out in front of motorcycle . in this scenerio you hit the car with your chest not head. So you should have both chest and head protection
So that would be a vote for the armor over the jacket right? I know some jackets have chest protection but almost all armor includes it.
First 2 minutes are a waste of my time!
But I am glad you took the time to leave feedback so I can adjust accordingly for your preferences in the future.
All commercials are so)
If this was a commercial, I should have gotten paid MUCH better.
Cumberbun ?????
It's a KIDNEY BELT.
Anybody who rides for any real amount of time KNOWS that......your review lost all merit due to this, obviously your knowledge is less than appealing. Sorry bud👎👎