Product Image:
Product name: A-XOC CE2 Replacement back protector
Price paid: £40
Score (out of 10): 10
Review: The material used in this was originally developed by A-XOC's sister company D-NOV. They specialise in energy and noise absorbance products for the automotive and rail industries.
Initially A-XOC released a selection of 7mm thick CE2 limb armour panels - shoulders, hips, elbows, knees.
Some time later, they released the back protector. Available in two lengths, this is the large at 50cm long. Generally designed to be used as a replacement/upgrade for existing body armour.
The A-XOC impresses in two areas. Its effectiveness for it's thickness - 14mm and CE2 rated . Actually 30% more than CE2 at 7nm. For Comparison, the latest D30 BP4 back protector is 16mm thick and only CE1 rated. Secondly, it's breathability. The open tube structure lets huge amounts of air though to the back and around the tubes against the back.
The standard A-XOC is pictured at the top. The version I have is the "Held" version. Held use this is several of their motorcycle jackets. It differs from the standard A-XOC one in that it has an additional 2mm foam panel on the outside. I'm not sure if this is to give the protector more rigidity (they're quite floppy) or just to give a nicer/softer finish against the outside of their jackets. The foam means that some of the standard open holes are blocked, though I guess if you needed more air you could punch holes through.
The A-XOC retails at €75. If you look around, you can find the Held version for £40.
I mention the foam as possibly more rigidity as I have read several comments from people having to put some thread or zip ties at the top of the armour to stop it sliding down. This probably happens more in a looser fitting moto jacket. In the Racer Motion 2, it stays in place perfectly.
In comparison :
This is the "outside" On the left, the Held A-XOC in Large. On the right a D3O BP4 in Medium.
The insides :
Yes, all the squidgy (not that squidgy) tubes go against your back so the flatter outside can disperse impacts over a large area.
I was a bit concerned that it might feel like you were being permanently attacked by a giant jellyfish, but you can't actually feel anything.
The open tube structure means it's considerably cooler against the skin than the D3O pad. As much as I like the D3O pad and the Leatt pads for example, they trap a lot of moisture against you and cause you to sweat more than you want to.
If there's an interesting statistic, it's weight. I imagined the A-XOC would be lighter - as it looks like it's mainly an open structure, but it's actually heavier than the more "foamy" D3O pad. 420g against 333g.
Unlike D3O pads, the A-XOC can also be washed at upto 30c.
This being the "Held" version, with the extra 2mm foam pad, means that both armors are 16mm thick. The big difference being that the A-XOC/Held armour breaths better and is CE2 rather than CE1.
Both are very flexible and mould to your back. Both return to their existing shapes if you bend the hell out of them. The A-XOC/Held armour can actually be rolled or squished up quite small, so you could carry your armour in a very small bag if needed.
The A-XOC armour is made from polynorbornene. Unlike most of the other PU based armours, this shouldn't lose it's flexibility and reactivity after a few years.
Product name: A-XOC CE2 Replacement back protector
Price paid: £40
Score (out of 10): 10
Review: The material used in this was originally developed by A-XOC's sister company D-NOV. They specialise in energy and noise absorbance products for the automotive and rail industries.
Initially A-XOC released a selection of 7mm thick CE2 limb armour panels - shoulders, hips, elbows, knees.
Some time later, they released the back protector. Available in two lengths, this is the large at 50cm long. Generally designed to be used as a replacement/upgrade for existing body armour.
The A-XOC impresses in two areas. Its effectiveness for it's thickness - 14mm and CE2 rated . Actually 30% more than CE2 at 7nm. For Comparison, the latest D30 BP4 back protector is 16mm thick and only CE1 rated. Secondly, it's breathability. The open tube structure lets huge amounts of air though to the back and around the tubes against the back.
The standard A-XOC is pictured at the top. The version I have is the "Held" version. Held use this is several of their motorcycle jackets. It differs from the standard A-XOC one in that it has an additional 2mm foam panel on the outside. I'm not sure if this is to give the protector more rigidity (they're quite floppy) or just to give a nicer/softer finish against the outside of their jackets. The foam means that some of the standard open holes are blocked, though I guess if you needed more air you could punch holes through.
The A-XOC retails at €75. If you look around, you can find the Held version for £40.
I mention the foam as possibly more rigidity as I have read several comments from people having to put some thread or zip ties at the top of the armour to stop it sliding down. This probably happens more in a looser fitting moto jacket. In the Racer Motion 2, it stays in place perfectly.
In comparison :
This is the "outside" On the left, the Held A-XOC in Large. On the right a D3O BP4 in Medium.
The insides :
Yes, all the squidgy (not that squidgy) tubes go against your back so the flatter outside can disperse impacts over a large area.
I was a bit concerned that it might feel like you were being permanently attacked by a giant jellyfish, but you can't actually feel anything.
The open tube structure means it's considerably cooler against the skin than the D3O pad. As much as I like the D3O pad and the Leatt pads for example, they trap a lot of moisture against you and cause you to sweat more than you want to.
If there's an interesting statistic, it's weight. I imagined the A-XOC would be lighter - as it looks like it's mainly an open structure, but it's actually heavier than the more "foamy" D3O pad. 420g against 333g.
Unlike D3O pads, the A-XOC can also be washed at upto 30c.
This being the "Held" version, with the extra 2mm foam pad, means that both armors are 16mm thick. The big difference being that the A-XOC/Held armour breaths better and is CE2 rather than CE1.
Both are very flexible and mould to your back. Both return to their existing shapes if you bend the hell out of them. The A-XOC/Held armour can actually be rolled or squished up quite small, so you could carry your armour in a very small bag if needed.
The A-XOC armour is made from polynorbornene. Unlike most of the other PU based armours, this shouldn't lose it's flexibility and reactivity after a few years.
