Bluegrass Protective Vest: Protection, style and functionality to wear over your clothes

In the bike park, you hardly see any young shredders under 20 without a cool protective vest – worn over a T-shirt featuring a punk band they’ve probably only heard of by the grapevine. But never mind. The key takeaway here is: protection is in! And we have the protective gear manufacturers to thank for that, above all. Bike protectors are no longer heavy, hard-shell armour, but are made from flexible, self-hardening high-tech foams. Safe. Lightweight. Comfortable. And, in the form of modern torso protectors, stylish too.

Flexible protection in accordance with Levels 1 and 2 of the CE standard

With the Venture Vest wants Bluegrass to expand the range of applications for protective vests and provide trail and enduro cyclists with the protection they deserve. The torso vest is designed to offer protection throughout the entire ride whilst being as unobtrusive as possible. To achieve this, Bluegrass combines a Level 1-certified chest plate with a CE Level 2-certified back protector. The high-quality SAS-TEC foams are lightweight, flexible and feature an open-cell structure to improve ventilation. Both plates can be easily removed from the breathable outer fabric for washing.

Smart bag management

As wearing a rucksack over the vest would make little sense and would hardly be comfortable, Bluegrass has equipped the Venture Vest with all sorts of useful pockets and features. Two slip pockets and a zipped compartment on the chest can hold snacks or a smartphone. On the back, you can carry protectors or safely stow larger items in the zipped pocket. Another pocket even offers space for a hydration bladder. The necessary guides for the drinking tube are also provided. This means you’ve got everything a cyclist needs for a long trail ride – the rest goes into the storage compartment on the frame.

Handling and comfort

The Venture Vest can be opened at both sides using zips to slip it on. This is handy, but the zips are a bit stiff to use and aren’t always that easy to close. The Bluegrass vest is fine-tuned using elastic lacing on both sides. This allows you to loosen the fit slightly when going uphill. It’s handy, and it gives you a bit more room to breathe.

Thanks to its flexible padding and lightweight mesh fabric, the Venture Vest fits like a glove. Secure support on downhill runs: tick. Freedom of movement on narrow trails: tick! And for a torso protector, the Bluegrass is surprisingly breathable too.

All the pockets are easily accessible whilst riding and hold their contents securely in place. However, the two zips are a bit on the small side and are difficult to grip, particularly when wearing gloves.

​Key issue: Risk of falling due to the contents

However practical the Venture Vest may be, there is one point that warrants careful consideration: the numerous pockets carry the risk that, in the event of a fall, you might land on their contents, resulting in a high localised load. Even with a protector, this can lead to higher localised forces. The following are particularly critical:

• hard, compact objects
• angular or cylindrical objects
• fully packed pockets directly above the protective area

​The protector does indeed distribute energy – but only if the load is evenly distributed. Hard objects in between can partially negate this effect. Our recommendation is therefore:

• ​It’s best to use the pockets for softer or less fragile items such as energy bars and the like.
• Pack hard tools as far to the side or as low down as possible (or perhaps in a hip pack or frame pocket)
• Make sure that the bags are not ‘under tension’
• If you ride more aggressively (bike park, enduro, jumps): stick to minimalist protection and leave the tough stuff to others

Bluegrass Venture Vest – Details & Price

• ​Sizes: S / M / L
• Weight: 782 grams (size M)
• Price: 250 euros >> available here
• EN1621 certified: Back Type B Level 2 / Chest Type B Level 1
• SAS-TEC protective inserts for maximum protection without compromising breathability
• Hydration bladder compartment for up to 1.5 l, with loop fastening
• Zips and side adjustments for quick size adjustment on the trail
• Side zips for quick removal and adjustments on the go
• 3 flexible pockets for gear on the chest and back
• 2 zipped pockets for secure storage
• Breathable front mesh for maximum air circulation
• Removable back protector for easy hand washing

Editor’s conclusion

Trail rides with a protective vest? The Venture Vest by Bluegrass makes it possible. It is light, breathable and, thanks to its flexible protectors, moulds comfortably to the body. The side lacing is practical and can be adjusted with one hand. The pockets are all easily accessible and, in theory, can hold a full set of touring gear. However, you should be careful with what you pack: hard objects can pose a risk in the event of a fall, despite the protectors. Some of the zips are a bit stiff, and the back protector could extend a little further down. Overall, the Venture Vest is a versatile protective vest that’s very comfortable to wear. However, you do pay a hefty price for its numerous features.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Bluegrass Venture Vest

Advantages

• light, airy and comfortable for a protective vest
• customisable
• practical and easily accessible storage compartments

Disadvantages

• sticky zips
• high price
• Hard objects in your pockets can be dangerous if you fall