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First the good news: protector backpacks can cushion the impact of a fall down to two per cent of the original energy. Now the bad news: back protectors - with or without a rucksack - are virtually ineffective against really serious back injuries.
Accident surgeons agree: the greatest dangers for mountain bikers lurk in rollovers. This happens at lightning speed and often leads to overextension of the cervical spine. The possible consequence: fracture and paraplegia. Also dangerous: compression, as occurs during drop landings. The vertebral bodies are pressed together and can collapse. There is no protection against either fall scenario. "The conclusion that back protectors are useless is nevertheless wrong," says Prof. Dr Christoph Siepe from the Spine Centre at the Schön-Klinik in Munich, "they can significantly mitigate direct impact trauma." This is the case, for example, if the biker is catapulted over the handlebars (see photo at the top) and hits their back on rocks.
You can find out which of the protector backpacks tested offers the best protection in the test, which is available as a PDF in the download area below:
- Camelbak K.U.D.U. Protector 10
- Deuter Attack Enduro 16
- Endura MT500 Enduro
- Ergon BE2 Enduro
- Evoc FR Lite Race 10L
- ION Rampart 8
- Komperdell Tourpack
- Leatt Hydration Cargo 3.0 DBX
- Scott Trail Protect Evo FR 20
- Vaude Moab Pro 22
You can find the complete comparison test including all data, points tables and the score overview in BIKE 9/2018. The comparison test costs € 1.99 as a PDF. Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in BIKE. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, hundreds of thousands of euros every year.
You can also read the entire issue in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or reorder the issue in the DK shop.
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Dimitri Lehner
Editor
