Armored Underwear?

[Lannis]

Like most people I know, I've always worn my "road rash protection" on the outside.    I wear my regular clothes, then on top of that I wear a jacket, pants, boots, and gloves that incorporate not only weather protection, but back, leg, arm, and shoulder protection.    The ultimate in that line is a full suit like an Aerostich, which is touted as a complete riding suit that you can step out of and emerge clean and dry like a butterfly coming out of a cocoon.    Or, like most of us, we wear a jacket and pants, preferably zipped together.

That all works well ... but the down side is that, even when it fits as well as it can, it's still somewhat bulky and clumsy feeling, and looking.

Today, folks are selling armored underwear.    You put this on, either in insulating or mesh form depending on the season, and the padding is already built in.    Not only that, it's tightly fitted to your body so that it's not bulky and clumsy like the padding in a jacket generally is, with elbow and shoulder pads moving around some even when the adjusting straps are done up.   Same for the pants.

That way (it says on the tin), you can wear whatever you want on the outside - for me, that would be flexible unpadded leather or waterproof textile of some sort.   

It seems to me that this would be a really good solution to the "sausage effect" you sometimes get when layering up in insulating and armored gear, where it can be limiting to elbow and knee flexibilty on the bike.

Does anyone actually have any experience with this strategy?    I'd like to hear an actual ride report before investing in any of this sort-of-pricey stuff .... ?

Thanks!

Lannis

[kingoffleece]

I use Bohn armor pants-both versions. Works a treat for me.

[akhileshb@hotmail.com]

Do you have a link to the product by any chance?
thanks

[Lannis]

Do you have a link to the product by any chance?
thanks

Here's one of them ...  I know there are others ....

https://www.bohnarmor.com/

Lannis

[bpreynolds]

Before finding my wife you might have thought I wore armored underwear the way I repelled women.  Heheh.  Little high hat cymbal crash Sunday morning unhumor for ya.

I do think that with ultra strong mesh out there you are going to be seeing more and more of this type of thing - so called unobtrusive protective gear.  Back in late Spring - after becoming dissatisfied with finding any "Summer" jacket that could be cool enough to handle sweaty KY humidity - I purchased this from Spidi
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/spidi-airtech-armor-jacket
It was the answer to a question I had which was, with all the powerful mesh out there, why was there not a jacket or gear that was basically the mesh and the armor.  I could not be more satisfied.  In the hot Summer months I wear it alone and, quite obviously, it flows more air than anything I've ever had.  By itself it looks a little militaristic but I could not care less as I was sick and tired of sweating in my previous gear.  In the colder months I can actually wear it under some of my larger non-riding jackets.  If I wanted.  I still actually stick mainly with my bike jacket and my Gerbing's beneath. 

[jlburgess]

I've done a lot of supermoto racing over the last 10 or 12 years and found that even when wearing leathers one of the big impact areas is your hips. I started wearing padded football shorts I got from the sporting goods store cost about 20 bucks and saved me numerous really ugly bruises.  look for the ones with a honeycomb structure built in they work really well.

[canuguzzi]

Does the added bulk if any mean your outerwear has to up up in size?

[redrider]

I have tried the under garment armor and yes, your regular size outer wear may be a bit tight. CG sells the mesh jacket with armor sewn on. I wonder how well it stays together in a crash.  I prefer leather below 80F because it is less noisy at speed.

[akhileshb@hotmail.com]

I've just recently ordered the thor impact rig se.
http://www.bikebandit.com/riding-gear-and-accessories/motorcycle-protective-gear/motorcycle-chest-protectors/thor-impact-rig-se-2014
Will give feedback once i actually get it and wear it. Planning to wear it under warmer gear.

[Arizona Wayne]

On MC trips for a few years now I've been wearing a MX chest protector with air vents because usually when I go down it's frontally.  For shoulder, elbow protection I use my textile jackets.   For shin/knee protection I use dirt bike Velcro attached equip. under my jeans.  Have leather jacket & chaps but they're so darn heavy and not waterproof......... ...

[Yukonica]

On MC trips for a few years now I've been wearing a MX chest protector with air vents because usually when I go down it's frontally.  For shoulder, elbow protection I use my textile jackets.   For shin/knee protection I use dirt bike Velcro attached equip. under my jeans.  Have leather jacket & chaps but they're so darn heavy and not waterproof......... ...

  you fall down a lot? 

[lucian]

I had my grandmother knit me some under wear from steel wool years ago and they worked great. But they rusted out .

[NC Steve]

    On MC trips for a few years now I've been wearing a MX chest protector with air vents because usually when I go down it's frontally.  For shoulder, elbow protection I use my textile jackets.   For shin/knee protection I use dirt bike Velcro attached equip. under my jeans.  Have leather jacket & chaps but they're so darn heavy and not waterproof......... ...

"  you fall down a lot?  "



My thoughts as well

[oldbike54]

I had my grandmother knit me some under wear from steel wool years ago and they worked great. But they rusted out .

  And there ya have it 
 
 Every time this thread gets bumped the heading conjures some different weird image   

  Dusty

[Dilliw]

I've done a lot of supermoto racing over the last 10 or 12 years and found that even when wearing leathers one of the big impact areas is your hips. I started wearing padded football shorts I got from the sporting goods store cost about 20 bucks and saved me numerous really ugly bruises.  look for the ones with a honeycomb structure built in they work really well.

I've always looked at those in the Sporting Goods stores and thought that would be a good adder under my Draggin Jeans

[pikipiki]

I thought about starting a similar three myself.
I have an armoured under vest with chest, back and some hip protection which I am very happy with, I could have opted for elbow also but as most jackets have elbow protection. A reasonable selection are available
I find the back protector is more comfortable than what could be fitted in the jacket but I could us either. I decide to us the back protection in th vest but am undecided which gives best protection.

What I have found
 I can't find any armoured underwear for my legs and backside that really stand out as a good product for wear under jeans.

I think I might just make my own.

Considering buying something like Damart leggins an stitching kevlar material to outer legs an behind with pockets added for optional knee and hip protectors

[dibble]

I wear one of these

https://www.planet-knox.com/product/urbane-shirt-for-under-motorcycle-jackets/




Keeps the armour close to my skin where it can't move, just add layers on top.

If I'm visiting building sites I wear a Hi-Viz jacket on top and Kevlar lined work trousers, jump ff the bike unzip both jackets and everything looks normal.

[Arizona Wayne]

   On MC trips for a few years now I've been wearing a MX chest protector with air vents because usually when I go down it's frontally.  For shoulder, elbow protection I use my textile jackets.   For shin/knee protection I use dirt bike Velcro attached equip. under my jeans.  Have leather jacket & chaps but they're so darn heavy and not waterproof......... ...

"  you fall down a lot?  "



No, but being a boy scout I was taught to be prepared, and being retired, I travel by bike/scooter a lot.    Tho I don't wear ATGATT.   Just on long distance trips.



My thoughts as well

[Sasquatch Jim]

  I always thought armored underwear was a chastity belt.

[Yukonica]

I wear one of these

https://www.planet-knox.com/product/urbane-shirt-for-under-motorcycle-jackets/




Keeps the armour close to my skin where it can't move, just add layers on top.

If I'm visiting building sites I wear a Hi-Viz jacket on top and Kevlar lined work trousers, jump ff the bike unzip both jackets and everything looks normal.

Great looking piece. a set of pants like that would make an ideal combination.

[PJPR01]

Here's one of them ...  I know there are others ....

https://www.bohnarmor.com/   Lannis

Thanks for the tip...bought an inner long pair and once the rain stops will give them a try.   

[Yukonica]

Thanks for the tip...bought an inner long pair and once the rain stops will give them a try.   

If you hit an error 404 on the embedded link: try the URL minus 'Lannis'  (no offence). Cool Site.
I have very similar next to skin armour from my snowboarding days. The padding is in the same locations. I don't think the shin gate-guards will fit with the boots I use and I'm not wearing them on the outside...
Never gave a thought to pulling that stuff on under leathers.

[bpreynolds]

Find myself reviving this thread a bit this morning as I grow a small bit frustrated with my cheap arse and what I see as the challenge of finding a good pair of riding pants for less than $150-$200.  The Spidi underarmor jacket I purchased above is designed to be worn under a regular or standard jacket of any kind.  As per pants go, I see myself possibly heading in the direction of a similar under armor garment with something from these wonderful guys worn over top http://www.sportsmansguide.com.  Growing up in southeastern KY and spending some time in my youth hunting and fishing, it should come as no surprise that hunting and fishing outerwear is both greatly cheaper than standard motorcycle things while still remaining visible, durable, and weather resistant, or at least as weather resistant as many motorcycle clothing manufacturers claim.  At the end of the day, maybe the only thing much of the motorcycle clothing has on the sportsman's gear is the armor mainly and for this, there is this thread.

[pikipiki]

This forum is big enough to support some merchandising. There a need for quality biking under ware. Not content with budgie smugglers we need padded kevlar 'WildGoose'smugglers.

[Kiwi_Roy]

  I always thought armored underwear was a chastity belt.

No, it all Depends

[Arizona Wayne]

Those who travel with no concern of price and 1 person tents swear by Bohn armor skin padding.  But I have concerns what they are like in hot weather when you wear them repeatedly w/o washing.   Also when you poop or whiz.   

[bpreynolds]

Those who travel with no concern of price and 1 person tents swear by Bohn armor skin padding.  But I have concerns what they are like in hot weather when you wear them repeatedly w/o washing.   Also when you poop or whiz.   

Well Wayne, and I'm just speaking for me personally here, I generally remove my clothes from the respected area prior to these activities.  Are we supposed to keep them on???  :)

[dibble]

Everytime I see the phrase Armoured underwear or tell people I wear Kevlar pants I think of Lord Flashheart from blackadder



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKfbSHW9uGA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC3sURgYxng

[Lannis]

Well Wayne, and I'm just speaking for me personally here, I generally remove my clothes from the respected area prior to these activities.  Are we supposed to keep them on???  :)

This is more of an "old man" thing.   You wouldn't understand ... yet .....

You're assuming that you know when "prior" is ....

Lannis

[Bill929]

I wore the Bohn pants for a couple of years.  Didn't ever crash with them, but found that the pads did stay in place, hugging close to the body.  Maybe a false assumption, but it seems like that might help over more loose fitting outer wear.  I had to go up a jean size otherwise, too snug with the armor on.