Fewer and fewer motorcycle apparel companies are including CE approved back armor as standard equipment in their armored jackets. Even premium suppliers like Alpinestars and Dainese most often include only a foam pad in the pocket out back. This is a pet peeve of mine. If you lay down good cash for a top-tier jacket, I think you should get premium armor in all critical areas.
So what to do if your jacket doesn’t have CE spine armor? You have some choices. You can settle for the compromised protection of the included foam pad, you can purchase the company’s optional CE armor that is specific to your jacket (and often ONLY your jacket), or you can get a stand alone back protector that can be worn with any jacket.
If you choose the third option, you can get the best protection available for your spine. Back protection that straps directly to the rider’s body, and is independent from the jacket, offers several benefits. It most often features a longer protective profile which spans virtually the full spine. Another benefit is that it does not shift out of position like protection fitted into a jacket’s pocket can.
The REV'IT! Gravity Back Protector is constructed of microcellular PU foam, 3D mesh and EVA foam. It protects the distance from waste to neck (which no insert can do). It has a Velcro fastening waistband, double waist adjustment, and adjustable shoulder straps. Because proper fit is crucial, the Gravity comes in three sizes. The small fits people up to 5'8", the medium fits riders 5'9" to 6', and the large is for anyone over 6'.
The protector has effective ventilation with an airflow panel and several air channels. This is vital since back armor typically is the biggest hot-spot in any jacket.
The Gravity armor meets CE level 2 specifications, which is the highest certification level in the European standard. This is a big benefit to having back armor with an independent fitment design.
With this supreme level of protection, you also get versatility. The REV'IT! Gravity Back Protector can be used in dirt, dual-sport, street, and track applications. At a retail price of $200, the Gravity is not cheap. However, when you consider it will work with every jacket you have (and even under your MX jersey), that price doesn’t look too bad.
It should now be clear that even if you are not a racer, independent spine protection is a really good idea.
