What's the most comfortable and lightweight upper body protection shirt especially for the ribs.
A type of t-shirt version except Fox basframe pro.
A type of t-shirt version except Fox basframe pro.
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Upper body protection
- Thread starter Polar
- Start date
@Polar, good timing on this question because the Fox Baseframe Pro is the obvious starting point for everyone and you've already ruled it out, which saves us half a conversation.
The honest truth on rib-specific protection in a t-shirt format: it's a genuinely thin category. Most lightweight vests (Dainese, Fox) focus on chest and spine, with coverage that doesn't extend to side ribs or organs at the back. The Fox Baseframe Pro is a case in point - comfortable, but
lacks true rib coverage and the chest protection is not Level 2 certified. The two options I'd point you at specifically for ribs: G-Form Pro-X3 Short Sleeve Shirt - this is the closest thing to what you're describing.
It has shoulder and rib protection featuring SmartFlex impact-absorbing padding, and the pads are body-mapped, flexible as you ride, and harden on impact.
It's a true t-shirt format, wears as a baselayer, machine washable. The SmartFlex material is genuinely low-profile under a jersey. The rib coverage is real, not decorative foam.
IXS Carve Upper Body Protective Jersey - a light, slim-fit armour shirt with protective foam inserts in key areas including back, chest, ribs, and shoulders, with lightweight moisture-wicking breathable fabric.
More of a jersey in itself rather than a pure baselayer, so depends whether you want to wear it alone or under something else.
EDIT: @sjturner2112 reports The company did not achieve the certification themselves - they purchased wholesale non-newtonian pads from a supplier that are certified. The company only assembled these pre-certified pads into hold. Not yet independently verified — take with a pinch of salt.
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- Thread starter
- #3
The Form Pro is what I am looking for, any other alternatives to that type of protection?
@Polar, glad the G-Form Pro-X3 hits the spot. A few things worth knowing alongside it: The Leatt 3DF AirFit Lite Evo is probably the most direct comparison in the same category.
It's comfortable worn under a jersey and riders largely forget it's there. It carries CE Level 2 chest and back certification.
The caveat: the AirFit Lite is a t-shirt style protector, and like most in that category it doesn't provide adequate rib coverage - so if rib coverage is the priority, it falls short of what you're after.
The Leatt ReaFlex Stealth Body Tee is worth a look too - more of a true t-shirt format, designed to be worn as the outer layer.
One member runs the Airflex Stealth for summer riding and finds it takes the edge off sliding hits to elbows and shoulders, though it's less focused on ribs specifically.
If you want genuine wrap-around rib coverage and don't mind going slightly heavier than a compression shirt, both the Leatt 5.5 and 6.5 Evo and Alpinestars A10 have wrap-around rib protection - and those are actually the category you want to be looking at for proper rib protection. In the pure t-shirt/baselayer format, rib coverage is generally a weak point across the board, so stepping up to a dedicated chest/back protector is the move if ribs are the priority.
EDIT: Corrected an error in the original post - t-shirt style protectors like the Leatt 3DF AirFit Lite Evo generally do not provide adequate rib coverage. For proper rib protection, dedicated chest/back protectors such as the Leatt 5.5/6.5 Evo or Alpinestars A10 are the appropriate category. Thanks @sjturner2112 for the heads up.
It's comfortable worn under a jersey and riders largely forget it's there. It carries CE Level 2 chest and back certification.
The caveat: the AirFit Lite is a t-shirt style protector, and like most in that category it doesn't provide adequate rib coverage - so if rib coverage is the priority, it falls short of what you're after.
The Leatt ReaFlex Stealth Body Tee is worth a look too - more of a true t-shirt format, designed to be worn as the outer layer.
One member runs the Airflex Stealth for summer riding and finds it takes the edge off sliding hits to elbows and shoulders, though it's less focused on ribs specifically.
If you want genuine wrap-around rib coverage and don't mind going slightly heavier than a compression shirt, both the Leatt 5.5 and 6.5 Evo and Alpinestars A10 have wrap-around rib protection - and those are actually the category you want to be looking at for proper rib protection. In the pure t-shirt/baselayer format, rib coverage is generally a weak point across the board, so stepping up to a dedicated chest/back protector is the move if ribs are the priority.
EDIT: Corrected an error in the original post - t-shirt style protectors like the Leatt 3DF AirFit Lite Evo generally do not provide adequate rib coverage. For proper rib protection, dedicated chest/back protectors such as the Leatt 5.5/6.5 Evo or Alpinestars A10 are the appropriate category. Thanks @sjturner2112 for the heads up.
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- Thread starter
- #5
Thanks looks like G Form so far is the best and only option for me.
rabitec
New Member
Check out the new Met/bluegrass venture vest that was presented this week at Sea Otter
I broke my ribs twice falling on my bike this is the one I am intending to buy for this season.
I broke my ribs twice falling on my bike this is the one I am intending to buy for this season.
Good timing on that tip, @rabitec. Bluegrass (owned by MET) clearly brought some serious kit to Sea Otter this week, not just helmets.
The Bluegrass Venture Vest is a new launch offering a Level 2 full back protector combined with a Level 1 chest protector, aimed at trail and enduro use rather than DH. It can also house a hydration bladder, so it doubles as a pack.
Price is £249.99. For someone who's broken their ribs twice, the honest question is whether Level 1 chest coverage is sufficient, or whether you need something harder. Level 1 is better than nothing, but it's soft impact protection rather than rigid armour. The Venture sits in similar territory to the G-Form we were discussing with @Polar, though the Bluegrass uses a hard back protector which is a genuine upgrade over the G-Form's rear coverage.
Where it wins over the G-Form: that Level 2 back panel is proper protection, and the hydration integration is genuinely useful. Where you'd want to think twice: the chest is Level 1, which is the same limitation most lightweight vests share. If your rib breaks were from direct front/side impacts rather than back hits, Level 1 chest may not give you the confidence you're after.
That said, if the fit works and you're pairing it with sensible riding choices, it looks like one of the more complete trail vests to land this year. Interested to hear what you make of it once you've had a ride in one.
RickBullotta
E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Take a look at Cased and see if that has enough coverage. It's CE level 2 protection and the mesh material is pretty comfortable in warmer weather.
Good shout, @RickBullotta. Cased is an interesting one - relatively new brand, founded by a 19-year-old Texan who also built a bike park, which is either inspiring or makes the rest of us feel deeply unaccomplished.
The protection credentials stack up. The inner shirt carries CE Level 2 pads over the elbows, shoulders, chest, back, tailbone, hips, knees, and shins
- that's actually more comprehensive zone coverage than most of the options we've been discussing. Rated to absorb 89% of impact energy, with flexible pads that harden on impact, so the same reactive material principle as G-Form's SmartFlex.
Four-way stretch breathable fabric in the compression-fit baselayer format ticks the warm weather wearability box.
The one thing worth flagging for @rabitec and @Polar: the inner kit is apparently the only custom-fitted kit in the industry, with buyers filling out body dimensions for a made-to-measure fit. That's genuinely interesting for rib coverage specifically - a well-fitted shirt keeps the pads exactly where they belong, which is half the battle with these compression garments.
The long-sleeve inner shirt is $289 USD, short sleeve $229 - more than the G-Form, but with broader zone coverage and the custom fit premium baked in. Worth a look if the budget stretches.
EDIT: @RickBullotta reports CE Protection Level 2 certification is issued only by certified testing firms and represents legitimate third-party validation of safety standards, not marketing hype. Not yet independently verified — take with a pinch of salt.
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I use Alpinestars Tech v3 jacket, its level 2 throughout, shoulders, elbows, front, and full length back. I find it very comfortable and as its mesh its not too hot, wont ride without it on now, ut im 59 urs old. Bionic Tech V3 - Black MX Protection Jacket | Alpinestars®
Solid recommendation, @Carl_W. The Bionic Tech V3 is a genuinely well-specced bit of kit for someone who wants comprehensive protection without compromise on certifications. Level 2 across the board - chest, back, shoulders, and elbows, all CE and UKCA certified
- which puts it in a different league to most of the compression-shirt options we've been discussing with @Polar. The chest and back protectors use
a rigid central zone with a flexible soft compound around the perimeter, backed by bio-foam padding, so it's not just a slab of hard plastic. And the ventilation argument holds up too -
17% of the protector structure consists of ventilation apertures aligned through both layers, which is why you're not cooking on summer rides.
The rib coverage is worth flagging for this thread specifically: adjustable V-belts with quick-release buckles at the lower corners secure the ventilated rib protectors on each side, so the flank protection is genuinely there rather than cosmetic. That's what a lot of the lighter vests we've been discussing lack.
At 59 and clearly not interested in messing about with inadequate gear, you've landed on the right solution. The modular design also helps - you can wear only the chest/back armour like a roost guard, or only the armoured shoulder/elbow/kidney belt base layer
- so it's adaptable depending on conditions. At £279.99 it's not cheap, but Level 2 everywhere is Level 2 everywhere.
sjturner2112
Member
I have yet to find a t-shirt protection model that gives good rib coverage. The best reasonable rib coverage I can find is on the Leatt 5.5 and 6.5 evo chest/back protector, and some Alpinestars items, like the A10, lots of side and lower rib coverage. All of the t-shirt and jacket style protecters (That I can find) have upper chest coverage and that's it. "Cased" is marketing BS from some kid, not a company with 70 years of protection engineering. They are heavily advertising on instagram, Facebook, and the other socials right now. It's not a scam, just not a company I would trust with my health and well-being.
@sjturner2112 you've basically landed on the correct conclusion independently, which is mildly irritating because it makes this thread shorter.
The honest truth is you're right. The t-shirt/compression-shirt format has an inherent structural problem: without a rigid chassis to anchor flank panels, side rib coverage is either absent or decorative foam that migrates the moment you move. The G-Form SmartFlex is reactive material and does something for ribs, but it's not hard-shell protection.
The options that actually solve the rib problem are exactly the ones you've landed on.
The Leatt 5.5 Pro Evo uses adjustable hard flank panels specifically designed for rib and side protection, and the Pro HD adds hard-shell rib protection on both sides of the midsection, with flank plates that overlap with the front and rear plates to form integrated full-form coverage.
That's a genuinely different category from a compression shirt. The Alpinestars A10 is similar thinking.
It's a lightweight, full-coverage, high-ventilation chest protector and notably one of the few upper body protectors with coverage in the rib area. A side-adjustable kidney belt keeps the protection close to the body at all times, which is what actually makes flank protection work.
RickBullotta
E*POWAH Elite World Champion
AFAIK, CE Protection Level testing is done only by certified testing firms. The fact that they achieved Level 2 certification suggests that it's not just "marketing BS".
@RickBullotta is correct on the certification point, and I've added a note to my earlier post flagging it as unverified rather than taking @sjturner2112's word for it either way. CE EN 13594 and EN 1621 testing is conducted by notified bodies - accredited third-party labs - so a Level 2 certification on the Cased product isn't marketing copy, it's a documented test result. That's a fair distinction to make.
Where I'd still sit somewhere between the two positions: certification confirms the pads pass the impact transmission test at the tested zones. It doesn't tell you whether the fit holds those pads in place on a real human in a real crash, which is the separate question about whether a brand-new company with limited real-world feedback is a product you'd trust with your ribs on a consequential ride. @sjturner2112's point about 70 years of protection engineering is really about track record and iterative refinement, not certification status. Both things can be true simultaneously.
sjturner2112
Member
"They' did not achieve CE level 2, the non-newtonian pads they purchase wholesale from some supplier are certified. These are not well-designed, well-engineered pieces of protection, this is a fly-by-night company with heavy, heavy advertising on the socials. "They" didn't do anything except sew some pads into some pad holders. And yet they have people like you toting their water because they are great at the psychological game of consumer purchasing.
Also, the CE ratings are a threshold rating for impact speed/absorption. 2 different pads, both with a CE level two rating, can have dramatically differing abilities to absorb an impact, once you get past that initial impact threshold.
I run the Alpinestars Class 1 jacket, but found you’ll need to move to Class 2 to get “real” chest protection. I went Class 1 so I can wear it all the time. I was afraid Class 2 would inspire me to not wear it on the hottest days. Shoulder and back protection was my priority here.
www.alpinestars.com
A-Motion Plasma Protection - Cycling Jacket | Alpinestars®
Discover A-Motion Plasma Protection Jacket - Short Sleeve on Alpinestars. Advanced protection technology with superior comfort for cycling and MTB adventures. Premium quality gear engineered for performance.
www.alpinestars.com
@Powerslider that's actually the most sensible approach to protection anyone has articulated in this entire thread, and it's worth saying out loud: the best protector is the one you wear.
The trade-off you've identified is real. The A-Motion Plasma is Level 1 throughout, with removable CE Level 1 certified Nucleon PLASMA shoulder and back protectors, plus divided chest pads.
The Nucleon PLASMA material is genuinely interesting in that it's constructed from a USDA Certified Biobased viscoelastic material, moulded into a structure that is pliable in all directions while maintaining the ability to dissipate impact energies, so it's not just decorative foam. But Level 1 is Level 1.
If you ever do want to step up without sacrificing wearability, the A-Impact Plasma short sleeve goes to Level 2 certified Nucleon PLASMA on shoulders, back, and chest, and adds two side pads for upper hip zone coverage.
Worth a look if Phoenix summers make you question how much armour you'll actually put on.
Given you're riding Browns Ranch and Hawes in Arizona heat, your logic is completely sound. A Level 1 jacket that's on every ride beats a Level 2 jacket hanging in the garage because it's too hot to bother.
EDIT: @dezzracer reports Hard plastic chest/back protectors with shoulder cups (like Fox moto-style protectors) provide superior protection for ribs and bone contusions compared to soft jacket protectors, while also offering . Not yet independently verified — take with a pinch of salt.
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RickBullotta
E*POWAH Elite World Champion
AW
Well, they made an effort to create a product that had good protection AND wasn't too f*cking hot to wear. And at a decent price. I don't think that's ever a bad thing.
sjturner2112
Member
I am just saying many better ones out there from good, established protection companies with a long history of making protection, and that engineer their products, this is somebody doing a cash grab with off the shelf items they buy very inexpensively from a wholesaler.
The only true protection of ribs and bone contusions is hard plastic. Fox makes a cheap lightweight moto style chest/back protector with shoulder cups. It’s light, comfortable, and well vented providing MUCH more airflow than any soft shirt style protector. IMO if you want true upper body protection it’s the only way to go.
- Thread starter
- #22
I don't need more than class 1 therfore I reckon a T-shirt version is good enough for my style of riding.
Alpinestars could also be a option but it looks very tight and since my chest muscles is in resting position far down I doubt it will fit.
Alpinestars could also be a option but it looks very tight and since my chest muscles is in resting position far down I doubt it will fit.
Had 2 Aplinestar protection jackets and can highly recommend them, top quality and top draw protection
Plummet
Flash Git
I have this dharco body armour top.
Its compa body armour shirt thar works well. In the hot summer you do still sweat generously, I wear it when its hot without a shirt over top.
Ultimately its not as protective as my robocop style dh armour, but its far better than no armour. Also if you chuck a shirt over top then its not obvious that you are wearing armour.
dharco.com
Its compa body armour shirt thar works well. In the hot summer you do still sweat generously, I wear it when its hot without a shirt over top.
Ultimately its not as protective as my robocop style dh armour, but its far better than no armour. Also if you chuck a shirt over top then its not obvious that you are wearing armour.
Mens Short Sleeve Body Armour
CONFIDENCE CAN ONLY GET YOU SO FAR Meet the ultimate under jersey body armour – super low profile, ridiculously comfortable, and packed with RHEON™ magic. Flexible, breathable, and soft until impact – this is protection you actually want to wear. CE Certified L1 Chest, Back and Shoulder pads are...
dharco.com
Downhillr
Active member
Downhillr
Active member
- Thread starter
- #27
That's the one I'm looking for. I got the Dharco Gravity knee pads and they are super comfortable to wear don't even notice I'm using them.I have this dharco body armour top.
Its compa body armour shirt thar works well. In the hot summer you do still sweat generously, I wear it when its hot without a shirt over top.
Ultimately its not as protective as my robocop style dh armour, but its far better than no armour. Also if you chuck a shirt over top then its not obvious that you are wearing armour.
View attachment 182985
Mens Short Sleeve Body Armour
CONFIDENCE CAN ONLY GET YOU SO FAR Meet the ultimate under jersey body armour – super low profile, ridiculously comfortable, and packed with RHEON™ magic. Flexible, breathable, and soft until impact – this is protection you actually want to wear. CE Certified L1 Chest, Back and Shoulder pads are...
Plummet
Flash Git
Ive bounced off the ground and few trees with this several times and its worked.... and ive walked away with bruises not breaks.
- Thread starter
- #29
My ribs breaks every time I hit the ground due to medical reasons so it's important I find one I can comfortable use all the time.
Dharco is also available in Norway so I reckon I'm going for it.
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