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I've started getting more adventurous riding the like of Antour Stiniog - as I'm not getting any younger (soon to hit 50) I think it's probably sensible to get some body armour. I've been looking at IXS Hammer Jackets which seem reasonably priced. I've just noticed the O'Neil Gravity Zero jacket as well at a similar price. I want something that protects the ribs as well as the back/arms as I've bust my ribs a few times. A mate has the 661 Evo Pressure suit and whilst it has back, arm and chest protector the ribs seem a little exposed.
What do people think of the IXS Hammer jacket and is the O'Neil Gravity Zero suitable for MTB.
I've had a few rib injuries but never as a direct hit to the ribs, my worst broke 5 ribs in multiple places without so much as a scratch to show for it. I put it down to momentum in a crash doing the damage rather than direct contact but I do now wear armour as my theory is that it dissipates the energy of the crash so any armour which takes the sting out of the initial impact would work........in my opinion.....probably....
If you have any plans to get a neck brace in the future then make sure you get armour that fits probably with the brace. In my experience the only one that fits properly with my Leatt neck brace is the leatt armour.
I did use a Rockgardn flak jacket for a while but I had to hack it to pieces and remove a couple of the plates from the spine protector to get it to fit with the neckbrace despite the manufacturers claims it would work.