2012: year of the next brace?

[300hp]

I've been tossing around getting a brace for the past couple seasons. After watching my friends wreck themselves, their necks and collarbones a few times last season, the brace is making more sense than ever. A decent brace in the past has been pretty cost prohibitive. No, I don't want the how much does your neck cost debate.

Now, EVS has released the R4 brace. http://www.evs-sports.com/evs-blog/tag/r4/

At $109.99 street price, and with a design philosophy that makes sense, a brace costing too is no longer a reason not to get one. I, for one, am planning on making one happen. What are your thoughts/position on the matter?

H

[iamkickstand]

video has been removed.

I wear a life jacket when I go 80+ mph in my boat.
I wear a life jacket when I wakeboard.
I wear a helmet on XC rides.
I wear a helmet when I snowboard.
I wear a seatbelt in my car.

I decided to buy a Leatt for when i wear a full face and go DH riding.

You know me, I am NOT a safety nut. But if the ability to take a precaution is affordable and seems to make sense I follow that trend. I have a 6 year old to ride a lot of miles with in the future.

So far I have ZERO complaints with my Leatt, it's comfortable, doesn't restrict MY movement (I am of the longer neck variety).

I broke L4/L5 in the past, I understand the leatt is for the neck, but screwed up vertebrae suck, hence why I wear the brace.

I think it is personal preference, injury prone-ness, how often you crash, etc.

Kinda like body armor, I don't really wear any, probably because I am stuid, but when I have it on I feel uncomfortable/restricted. Bumps and bruises I figured will be part of that choic.....I felt differently about the brace, turns out it is comfortable and i do not feel restricted, or at least not as much as I thought I would.

[mtbfree]

That looks pretty sweet. I'd love to find a local shop that stocks them so I could try one on. Maybe one of the moto shops will get them in soon. I definitely agree about the cost-prohibitive nature of the current brace selection, but after going head first into the dirt and having a sore neck for more than a month last summer, this might be the year that I pick one up.

[iamkickstand]

I paid 275ish for the leatt, a little more expensive, seemed to be the most popular brace at the races I was at last summer, which told me it was probably the one that was working the best.

Thats my simplistic way of doing research

One crash and it pays for itself.

On a slightly related note Xander said he wanted a brace with a chest protector for next season.

[300hp]

they make a youth r4, its under 100 bucks. If he is too small for a real brace, check out the evs rc3. ITs a suped up foam collar that provides support against rolls, but is not rigid. You've seen em in the mx world forever. In terms of armor for the little monster, POC makes their "pocito" line of chest and spine stuff that actually fits little kids.

[RMXByker]

Don't know about that one but I wouldn't even consider any serious downhilling without a Leatt. Most comfortable brace I've ever worn. Don't even realize its on.

[iamkickstand]

Don't know about that one but I wouldn't even consider any serious downhilling without a Leatt. Most comfortable brace I've ever worn. Don't even realize its on.

I'm assuming you meant with out the leatt?

[RMXByker]

Don't know about that one but I wouldn't even consider any serious downhilling without a Leatt. Most comfortable brace I've ever worn. Don't even realize its on.

I'm assuming you meant with out the leatt?

Corrected. Thanks!

[iamkickstand]

yup, Xander is getting one of these, may be a bit big at first, but i'm ordering one.



Should last him a few years. I have to imagine a full face helmet could put a lot of torque on a 6 year olds neck!

[300hp]

dood is going to look so pro! I assume you got him a matching kit already?

We are so screwed in like, 3 years when he is faster.

[scat silvurz]

[iamkickstand]

dood is going to look so pro! I assume you got him a matching kit already?

We are so screwed in like, 3 years when he is faster.

no, haven't picked up pants/jersey for him yet. I owe him though, we made a deal if he won his first heat race and transferred direct to the main and then won the main at a race last year I'd owe him pants.....needless to say I owe him pants, and he outgrew his jersey....so I have to pic up a pants/jersey set for him soon.

[300hp]

I don't know what SnM adventure film this is from, but I love it!

[300hp]

ps scat were you out riding the north a2 trails last week? Saw a slant6/nevegal combo track I didn't recognize. We should ride sometime. werd.

[iamkickstand]

ps scat were you out riding the north a2 trails last week? Saw a slant6/nevegal combo track I didn't recognize. We should ride sometime. werd.

I need to toss my slant six up front and get a nevegal, or similar