Back protectors in the test: Back protectors from Ion & Scott - lightweights in comparison
Stefan Frey
· 27.06.2024
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Torso protectors have always been considered indispensable in the bike park. After all, they protect the bony centre of the body and the vital spinal cord located in the spinal canal. However, more and more bikers are also turning to chest and back armour on enduro and trail bikes - thanks to increased risk awareness, new materials and, last but not least, the trend towards protectors that can be worn stylishly over a jersey.
The Swedish protective equipment manufacturer Poc started this trend a few years ago with its VPD System Torso. Recently, the Munich-based bag and protector specialist Evoc has also jumped on the bandwagon with its Torso Protector. We have already tested both Evoc and Poc in a separate article.
Good protection, low weight
However, both protectors from Poc and Evoc are somewhat heavier and less flexible than back protectors with D3O and Sas-Tec foams. This is where the lightweight models from Ion and Scott come into their own.
They are certified according to the lower Level 1, which allows a maximum average residual force of 18 kN to penetrate the body. However, the protectors can be thinner and more flexible. Ideal for bikers looking for lightweight protection for demanding trails.
It is all the more astonishing that the Scott would even fulfil the high Level 2 on the chest and back. The maximum residual force here is 9 kN. As a rule, only models with much thicker and therefore heavier and less flexible protector pads can achieve this. In this respect, the Ion waistcoat clearly loses out. The AMP protector waistcoat offers significantly less protection, especially on the chest, with a residual force of 16.67 kN.
More about protection
>> Duel - Back protector test #2: Lightweight protector waistcoats from Scott & Ion (just opened)
>> Find out more about protection in our latest Knee pad test: 8 protectors for enduro and bike park use compared
>> Do you want to play it safe on the trail, but are you looking for a protector that is particularly easy to pedal? Then you'll find what you're looking for in our test of 12 lightweight knee pads.
Completely different structure
The design of the two protectors is fundamentally different. Ion uses a zip-opening waistcoat as the carrier material for the protector and also integrates two small back pockets in the lightweight fabric.
With Scott, on the other hand, the D3O pad is only covered with a thin mesh on the outside. On the inside of the protector, the shoulder straps and the side Velcro straps attach directly to the support material.
The Scott is therefore a hybrid waistcoat that can be worn both under and over the jersey - depending on your style preference - but also depending on the weather conditions. On hot days, simply pull the Scott protector over your shirt, on bad days under the appropriate layers of clothing.
Ion vs Scott: 2 lightweight back protectors in the test
How the Ion MTB protector waistcoat Amp performs
- Price 200 Euro >> at Alltricks or Decathlon available
- Weight¹ / Sizes 641 g / XS-2XL
- Made in / Pad removable Romania / only on the back
- Protection level BACK / FRONT² Level 1 / Level 1
- Residual force¹ BACK / FRONT 10.39 kn / 16.67 kn
- EQUIPMENT Stretch waistcoat; side zip; 2 back pockets; silicone prints on the waistband
Conclusion & evaluation
Even if the final score is only average: the Ion protector waistcoat is an absolute tip for trail bikers who are looking for light protection for slightly more demanding use. Although both pads only fulfil the lower level 1, they are pleasantly flexible and mould well to the wearer. The waistcoat into which they are incorporated fits like a second skin and does not crease.
After a short ride with the Ion protector waistcoat, you have actually forgotten that you are wearing upper body protection - except on hot days, when it can quickly become sweaty in the Ion because the material and protector are rather air-impermeable. Two pockets on the side of the back can hold some accessories. The zip is very delicate and could be a weak point in the long run.
BIKE grade³: 3.0
Test of the Scott Softcon Air
- Price 170 Euro >> at Maciag Offroad available
- Weight¹ / Sizes 742 g / XS-S / M-L / XL-XXL
- Made in / Pad removable Vietnam / no
- Protection level BACK / FRONT² Level 1 / Level 1
- Residual force¹ BACK / FRONT 8.77 kn / 8.37 kn
- EQUIPMENT Mesh cover; Velcro straps with safety cover
Conclusion & evaluation
Because the Softcon Air does not have a waistcoat as a carrier material, but still offers a thin layer of fabric over the protectors, it can be worn both over and under the jersey. Surprisingly, the back AND front fulfil level 2 of the test standard in our test. This means that the Scott offers an enormous amount of protection at an extremely low weight. Only the back armour could reach a little further down.
Two stretchy Velcro straps secure the Softcon very firmly to the body. Thanks to the high flex of the D3O pads, comfort and mobility on the bike remain pleasantly high. The Softcon is very versatile and works just as well under a shirt on technical trail tours as it does as an outer layer on rough park descents.
BIKE grade³: 1.7
¹BIKE measured values. ²The protection level refers to the manufacturer's official specification. The BIKE grade is independent of price. The BIKE rating is based on the school grading system with grades 1 to 5.
How we tested the back protectors
Laboratory
Shock absorption is the most important criterion for protectors and is therefore included in the assessment with 50 % for knee protectors and 60 % for back protectors. We test on the test benches of Sas-Tec GmbH and Evoc in Munich in close accordance with the motorbike test standards EN 1621-1: 2012 (knee) and EN 1621-2: 2014 (back). For the back protectors, a bar-shaped drop body with a base area of 160 x 50 mm and a weight of five kilograms is also used. The kinetic energy on impact must be 50 J. The residual force is specified in kN. The higher the values, the lower the protection.
Practice
We tested the fit, comfort and ventilation of each schooner with a total of three testers. We covered a distance of approx. 20 kilometres with each model. The individual points are included in the evaluation in different proportions.
Stefan Frey
Editor
