Birthday Fairy brought me a Leatt Brace today. My wife is trying to keep me around and in working order for a little while longer. Norman
I wear one and think it's great. It's very comfortable and can't see why I'd ever ride without one. A week and a half ago, I hit a tree with my head and it definitely would've been worse if I hadn't been wearing it. I know people wonder how you can tell, but I know for sure it stopped my head from being knocked back further and I also know it wouldn't have been good if it had.
I rode yesterday with the brace. I wear under jersey body armor, the thoracic member needs to slide into the top of the back protector. This all seemed easy, until I tried to put my jersey on myself. I couldn't get it over the rear of the brace! I had to put the jersey over the brace and do a lot of squirming to get it all on. Took me a bit to get used to it, as I have a short neck. After a little riding I hardly knew it was there, but I think someone with an average to long neck would forget it was there. I'm glad to have it. Norman
gandalf, I'm curious what size brace you went with? I've been considering one for myself and I tried a medium on. It felt okay and you and I are roughly the same size frame. I also hit a tree with my head last weekend, something I did done once about 15 years ago. I was lucky I was tired and had slowed down.
I usually wear a chest protector, but also have Thor body armor. Either way, I put the brace on last and don't have any trouble. I don't use the straps though.
I have the medium brace. It seems weird to have something in a medium because just about everything dirt bike related seems to be small. I usually wear XL stuff so medium didn't seem right. However, I've found I can adjust it such that it feels perfect to way too loose and I think it could be made to fit most adults. For those that don't know, I'm about 6' 2" and 190 and I am very happy with it's fitment. Even if I gained 30 or 40 pounds I still think it would adjust enough to fit nicely. I'm out of town for the next few days, but when I get back, I can ask my 2 friends to try it out adjusted accordingly. One is 6' 1" and about 210 and the other is 5' 10" and about 235 and report back what they think. Also, if you're interested, you are welcome to give a try at the Tri-County DS if you like.
The fitment video I saw seemed to indicate the straps were just for using the brace alone with no chest protector.
Yeah, that's why I don't bother. My protector or armor does a pretty good job of keeping everything in place; I've done some testing
After seeing one of our fellow Husky riders get hurt bad a Glen Helen last year I have to voice my opinion on the straps. They should always be used. The straps are an important part of the brace as they help distribute the load over more area when you go down. I'm 6 ft 240 and have load tested mine several times now. . A lot of taller thinner guys can have a problem with the brace floating and spinning around from side to side. Especially in MX. IMO and from practical experience now, the straps help spread the load to help minimize the impact to your collarbone as well. The majority of injuries sustained while wearing a Leatt are to the collarbone. To much pressure on the chest in a frontal impact from the helmet going down into the brace. The straps help prevent this. Without them on, the brace continues to absorb more and more impact and rotation forward. With helmet, brace and strap compressed together and holding everywhere the brace works to it's fullest effect. So what if it takes a few more minutes to get ready. I have tested it firsthand now several times and while having a bruised chest and a bruised back from the strap line and teh brace itself, my collar bone has not broken. My shoulder /delts felt like crap from the impact but it absorbed well and spread the load all over. Norman - your wife made a very good decision in purchasing you a brace!
Wearing the straps makes sense. I would run them anyway as I usually don't wear a chest protector. Now I just need to figure out how to size one to fit me.
HuskyT, your point is well taken and I will see how to fit the straps in a reliable way again for me. To note, I am not MX and only a cautious trail rider and ride an occasional enduro. My chest protector and body armor do a very good job of keeping the Leatte in it's proper place, but I will see how I can use the straps. As far as sizing, I think there is only small and medium. MrKartoom, I am pretty certain the medium can be adjusted to fit you quite well.
I wear mine quite often with my 661 under armor.... it is a pain in the a.. to suit up but once in place you don't even know it is there.....all the guys that I ride /race with help each other.... check each others straps etc to make sure all is in place and adjusted properly.... the time spent at home trying out the Leatt and the different settings before heading to the track is time well spent.... all the guys in my ride group stress having a Leatt, riding at each of our own personal skill levels and going home to our wives and kids at the end of the day. A medium covers pretty much all sizes and can be adjusted a lot of different ways to fit the individual rider, your personal helmet and the range of motion that while somewhat limiting works best for you personally. T
Thanks. I was back looking at them again and while the box it comes in has little check boxes for S, M, and L contents, it also lists only S an M available elsewhere for the Club. Kinda misleading, but the medium did seem to fit fine.
