I am getting a little older and dont heal so fast any more. I was looking at getting a jacket with chest and back protection. I am a 3X type of guy. What do you wear and how does it fit? Also I dont want to spend a fortune.

 

I bought a sixsixone defender 2.5 chest protector after an unfortunate accident the winter before last.I barrel rolled&endoed and pretty sure I cracked a few ribs.I'm about 6'0/200lbs and I got the large size.I think it was around $150.It fits ok I guess;I've never worn any other since I bought this one mail order.The only thing I dislike is the shoulder pads sorta ride up and makes it hard to turn my head w/ the helmet on to watch for people beside/behind me.It also doesn't have any kidney area protection.I've only worn it a few times;I don't think there's any break in time on something mostly plastic.It has lots of adjustment;but no instructions.I coulda sworn the advertisment said you could remove the shoulder pads but I don't see how.I may end up getting a core protector(semi soft under shirt style) later this summer.Hope this helps

 

Am with 3 Popos. I would love to know how folks weigh in on this. I admit I dont use a rooster or real chest protector at all. I have been thinking about what to get though. A few close calls with the handlebars jerking around. I will get something soon, so the best you can would be great...

 

The wife and I both wear racing styled chest protectors. We spent about $50.00 apiece I think..Did not put much stock in the protection they provide until I went over a near drop off the wrong way with my racing body armor in place. I landed hard front tires first almost rolling the quad over, I planted my right ribcage into the brake handle bracket with enough force to turn it sideways on the handle bar and planted my ribs into the right handle bar with enough force to bend the bar down over an inch. When it was all said and done when I got my wits about me again I drove away with bruised but no broken ribs. I now believe in body armor, I think mine is "Shift" but not sure it is black rubber coated plastic chest back and shoulders. Before the wife got her body armor we never gave it much thought because she just does not drive anywhere as fast as I do until she rolled her quad over turning around..Less than half a mile per hour the quad ended up on its side throwing her down hard in the sand. She tore her left shoulder and was out of action for three months, I truly believe that had she been wearing her body armor she would have walked away with maybe a bruise. She now wears her racing body armor without fail.

I hear mixed reviews on the jacket type body armor and not many of them are good..Like I stated we wear the Moto/offroad racing upper body armor and it works just fine and it is adjustable for clothing so the armor always stays on as the outer layer at all times.

I recommend to anyone no matter how fast you think your going to be moving out there to wear all the protection you can get your hands on because you never know when its your turn to be laying in the dirt wondering what just happened.

 

Awesome reply Sand Hog. Thanks, my mind is made up. Just a question, or for anyone, you use the type most like a football or hockey player? Plastics, like armor, NOT the pull over vest looking type right? If I'm doing this, I want a bruise instead of a break just like you described. Bent the handlebars? WOW! I do mostly tight trails with some fields, but I have had the bars jerk around when hitting an obstacle.

 

I had my new quad (the 450) less than a month when it happened.. It hurt like hell almost knocked myself out when I hit the bar. Try explaining to your wife the brand new 8k investment now has a bent handle bar from a really stupid move. after the wife asked if I was ok she laughed her A** off over my stupid move, then we went down to the bike shop the same day and got a new handle bar with the re-enforced (top support bar) Moto racing bar after that no more issues as I learned a deep respect for my quad one that could have cost me months in the hospital or worse.

As for the body armor you get what you pay for..go to a bike shop that sells off road and racing gear and buy from them..I highly advise like your helmet too spare no expense it may save your life. I use the plain Jane clam shell front and back with shoulder guards secured on each side with elastic straps and buckles at the waist, It breaths in the hot weather and leaves me with unlimited movement. Mine is a plastic core covered with rubber which is good because my quad throws rocks and I'm forever hitting myself with rocks from the front tires. The wifes is plain old clear yellow plastic and I'm pretty sure her's is "Shift" and hers handles the rocks that I throw at her during our rides.

One rule to remember when you off road ride its not if your going to roll the ATV over its a matter of when. Here in the desert everyone rolls the quad at least once during the riding year and its usually from doing something that looked like a good idea at the time.

Good luck looking for body armor its worth the money spent.