Leatt Neck Braces - who uses?

[Dirt Tracker]

I just got word last week an old friend had a seemingly small crash in France. He does charge hard but this was while out showing some other friends around the area and just riding pretty average single track. while it was a small crash the results weren't good with damage to his neck and vertebra. 

 

Co-incidently the downtime podcast recently ran an interview with Dr Leatt about the development of his neck brace and that got me thinking as to why more average people don't ride in them. 

 

Are they uncomfortable? A hassle? Not cool? I'm guessing XC riders may not find a benefit but then a otb can happen at any time any where. Just look at a couple of the horrific ones in the Epic this year. Maybe it's just that most people walk away and don't end up with more serious issues. 

 

Seems to me with the rise of protective gear (everyone now sports knee pads) and convertible helmets that the idea of 'you can never have enough protection' might be adopted more in the sport at a day to day level. 

 

I think I'm going to look for one as I've had a fair few smashes around Jonkers and Tokai recently but not too sure what I would look for out fo the range. 

[Grease_Monkey]

To be honest, with all that protection cycling just becomes a hassle for me. I do own knee pads and a convertible helmet, but most of the time I don't ride with it because it'a a schlep to haul around, it's uncomfortable, and it's hot.

 

Now, I don't argue the value in them, but at the end of the day you have to wash all that equipment and pack it in and out of the car every time you go for a ride on top of the hydration pack and shoes, and, and, and...

 

It'a just too much effort, and I simply don't see myself ever actually wearing it.

 

Not exactly the best argument I'm making, bit it is why I ride with just a helmet 90% of the time.

[thebob]

Use one on my dirt bike. Won't ride without it when I am on the KTM. It saved my once when I had a big off at around 60km/h. For the MTB I would wear one if I was riding downhill or enduro with a full face helmet.

[dirtypot]

Don't you need a full face helmet for the brace to work?  That's not going to be helpful for 98% of MTB riders.

[Edge_Design]

I have one from when I owned a motorbike - I wouldn't get on the bike without it.

 

On a bicycle I think it would be too restrictive/bulky/uncomfortable for every day use. However if I was doing DH riding then it would be essential in my opinion. I ride enduro (badly) and feel a convertible helmet and knee pads are adequate to reduce the risks to a level I'm comfortable with.

 

Why end at neck braces - back and chest protectors, goggles to protect your eyes/face, elbow pads etc. You have to decide what risk you're willing to take as that impacts where you draw the line on protective gear. 

 

Also remember that every time you do hit your head (however softly) you should throw the neck brace away and buy a new one as you have to assume it took an impact which affects its structure. Could get expensive on an MTB! 

[Grease_Monkey]

Use one on my dirt bike. Won't ride without it when I am on the KTM. It saved my once when I had a big off at around 60km/h. For the MTB I would wear one if I was riding downhill or enduro with a full face helmet.

Also used to wear one on my moto, wouldn't ride without it and full body protection there. When you come off a mx bike you hit the deck hard!

[dave303e]

I also will not get on my enduro motorbike without a leatt on, I have lawn darted badly of a large mx jump before and believe if I hadn't had it on I would be in a wheel chair.

 

On the mtb it only works with full face helmet so it is pointless. To be honest on a mtb I try ride well within my limits at all times because the helmets are not always what they claim to be and designs are flawed having vents which is stupid. If I were riding downhill I would wear one but ya not for XC/marathon.

 

As for my comment on mtb helmets being stupid. Motorcycle helmets are tested for point and blunt impacts, having vents mean bicycle helmets won't take point impacts(Think hitting the ground vs hitting a sharp point). Take your mtb helmet and put a small watermelon in it. Then hit it against a sharp cut off tree root/branch or the end of a steel dropper(think course marker dropper) or the raw end of the bolt on a road guard rail and let me know if you think that helmet performs well.

[Thermophage]

Don't you need a full face helmet for the brace to work?  That's not going to be helpful for 98% of MTB riders.

Yep. No trail lid extends far enough down the back of your neck to really make a diff and similarly without the chin bar to stop the forward motion same same.

[Dirt Tracker]

Yep. No trail lid extends far enough down the back of your neck to really make a diff and similarly without the chin bar to stop the forward motion same same.

 

Would a Leatt DBX convertable work with a brace or does it have to be a solid FF? I'm pretty interested in getting one for rougher days and enduro series where the sensible gene tends to take a day off. I can't see myself doing cobra and conties blue with it though as I don't really like wearing FF on trails.

 

I guess you need to make a call on the risk of each trail although my most recent 3 crashes that ended in hospital were well off the rough stuff and the result of pine needles covering the trail and turning it into a skating rink and a couple of pedal strikes on sniper rocks when going gas to keep momentum after the steeps.

[Grease_Monkey]

Would a Leatt DBX convertable work with a brace or does it have to be a solid FF? I'm pretty interested in getting one for rougher days and enduro series where the sensible gene tends to take a day off. I can't see myself doing cobra and conties blue with it though as I don't really like wearing FF on trails.

 

I guess you need to make a call on the risk of each trail although my most recent 3 crashes that ended in hospital were well off the rough stuff and the result of pine needles covering the trail and turning it into a skating rink and a couple of pedal strikes on sniper rocks when going gas to keep momentum after the steeps.

I think the best would be to give them a shout and ask, but if I had to hazard a guess I would say yes - just in their interest to make their products work together. I have also seen someone at the enduro events here with a neck brace and helmet (both Leatt), but I think it was a dedicated full face.

[V12man]

Would a Leatt DBX convertable work with a brace or does it have to be a solid FF? I'm pretty interested in getting one for rougher days and enduro series where the sensible gene tends to take a day off. I can't see myself doing cobra and conties blue with it though as I don't really like wearing FF on trails.

 

I guess you need to make a call on the risk of each trail although my most recent 3 crashes that ended in hospital were well off the rough stuff and the result of pine needles covering the trail and turning it into a skating rink and a couple of pedal strikes on sniper rocks when going gas to keep momentum after the steeps.

You need to check that the rim of the neck brace contacts the helmet - front side and rear - some ff helmets dont - and I suspect the Leatt convertible helmet does not contact the neck brace well enough in some positions to be fully effective.

 

I do use mine with my Bell convertible for enduro races and it seems to have enough contact- but... it's not anywhere near as good as with the noisy bike helmet- which is a Leatt

[Muzzarati]

My trusty Leatt saved my life, the forces going through the brace were so strong that it started cracking the jaw piece off my helmet.

 

I still broke vertebrae but in my thoracic spine. The brace as far as I understand does direct forces lower down and away from you neck, so design wise it did it’s job. Still sucked to end a day with a busted back.