Armoured vests for under jackets

[DanielT]

I've been looking at back protectors which led me on to full upper body vests. Like the Dainese wave pro. Basically a mesh vest with all the armour attached and you wear any jacket over it (meaning leather or textile not just pyjamas!)

I can see many pros and cons:

Pro:
The armour is level 2 so an entry to mid range jacket would be ok and save buying top of range summer AND winter gear.

Armour would stay in place unlike in a off the peg jacket.

Cons:
can't just take jacket off when you're in town/pub etc.

Not sure if it looks over the top. Dark Knight looks cool, but would you walk round in public like it?


So, what do you think? Good or bad?

[phil on a fazer]

i wear a pressure suit when green laning, its a Thor impact rig. SO comfy...can wear it all day and not know ive got it on. I had a 20mph crash on tarmac and the armour doesnt move at all, really did save me as i came down from quite a hight (i was standing on the pegs at the time)
 
to put on and take off takes about 8 seconds, also helps to keep you warm....or overheat?? 

[Aegis Bearing Mel]

I have one of these wee fellas, really comfy, on & off in 30 secs and means I can wear my jackets to the pub as normal without having to worry about the armour.
Added bonus is that it keeps you warm in the winter and I was commuting wearing it over a shirt when the weather was toasty without a jacket.

Well worth it imho.

[DanielT]

I like the look of the forcefield one. Does not look as freaky-insect-like as the dainese or Knox I'd looked at.

[Skippernick]

I have one of these wee fellas, really comfy, on & off in 30 secs and means I can wear my jackets to the pub as normal without having to worry about the armour.
Added bonus is that it keeps you warm in the winter and I was commuting wearing it over a shirt when the weather was toasty without a jacket.

Well worth it imho.

When you say wee fellas did the mean the armoured vest or the poser in it?

[phil on a fazer]

I have one of these wee fellas, really comfy, on & off in 30 secs and means I can wear my jackets to the pub as normal without having to worry about the armour.
Added bonus is that it keeps you warm in the winter and I was commuting wearing it over a shirt when the weather was toasty without a jacket.

Well worth it imho.

 
i think i tried that one and didnt like it. the one i tried wasnt fully mesh down the arms so when you went to put it on it twisted around....well annoying.
 
i think a lot of people over look these vests. as said above it takes seconds to put on and off, and i belive it will protect you in a crash fair better than the armour in your jacket / troosers.

[positron]

I like the look of the forcefield armour, even if the man pulling Zoolander faces.

However, are these a bit of an overkill for normal every commute/riding? I can imagine wearing these under a thin waterproof and yet warm jacket, so that you have max protection and protection from elements without looking like a bag of spuds.

[DanielT]

When I was doing my DAS, one of the instructors wore a armour vest and said it was great cos he could wear any jacket he wanted over it

[BennyBoy]

I've thought a lot about getting one of these bad boys...  I currently have just a buffalo jacket with additional armour in the shoulders and elbows... saved my life in a 25mph(ish) dead stop into the side of an emerging car.

Maybe its worth it after all