A lot of the jackets I showcase and review have a pocket for an additional back protector but few actually come with one. So this begs the question, should you buy a back protector for your motorcycle jacket?
A back protector is often something you’ll need to buy after the fact and they’re not always cheap. Personally, I ride around a lot without one. However, if there’s a space for the pad, you should probably fill it right?
Let’s take a closer look at the question of should you buy a back protector, and what options are out there.
Do Back Protectors for Motorcyclists Work?
It would seem that any additional protection is better. It’s going to be smart to cover your body in any way with soft or hard armor to try to stay safe.
With that said, there was a study in the Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine that did a systematic review of the effectiveness of back protectors in terms of injuries to the spine.
The review was inconclusive. It showed that there was simply a lack of evidence that back protectors will uniformly help prevent spine injuries.
This is not to say that back protectors don’t provide additional protection. All it means is that they might not be able to help prevent injuries to your actual spine.
My view is that a back protector is some additional protection, and it’s not hurting anything. So, why wouldn’t you want to wear one?
There has been plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the stance that back protectors do provide spine protection, and even if they don’t, you’re also getting an extra layer of padding that should protect you from abrasion and some impacts.
It your jacket has space for a protector, I’d say it’s in your best interest to add one.
What Types of Back Protectors are Out There for Motorcyclists?
Back protectors fall into two categories: hard and soft. Hard ones are usually not the ones that fit into the slot or pocket in the back of your motorcycle jacket. That’s where soft protectors come in.
Beyond that, there’s a wide range. Some provide only protection for your lower back. Others provide protection for only your upper back. There are also others that provide protection for your entire back.
The full back protector type is obviously the best. It’s also the one I’d recommend. If you’re going to wear a back protector, you might as well wear one that completely covers your back.
It’s also worth noting that different motorcycle jackets will call for different back protectors. You should find the back protector that works with your jacket and feels good.
Choosing a Back Protector
When it comes to choosing a back protector, all I’d advise riders to do is to read some reviews if you can find them, look over product specifications, and try out several.
Get yourself a back protector that covers your full back—or at least most of it. These are the best and will provide you with the most protection.
Usually, back protectors aren’t wildly expensive and they can vary quite a lot, so you should be able to either go into a motorcycle gear store and find one that’s comfortable for you or order something, see how it feels and return it.
Revzilla has plenty of great back protectors and so does Cycle Gear. You should be able to find one that will work for you at one of these two retailers. Amazon is also a good place to look, but you won’t get the same level of customer service, so keep that in mind.
Check out back protectors at Revzilla
Check out back protectors at Cycle Gear
