body armour

**chipiematt** · November 1st, 2009, 01:59 PM

hey.....

can anyone recommend a good set of body armour that doesnt restrict body movement or affect how rig fits.

think im gonna get some so would be good to get some thats been BASE tried and tested.....

cheers

matt

**hookitt** · November 2nd, 2009, 04:16 PM

it will always affect fit somewhat so get the harness sized appropriately. It's not that much different so if you just put it on and get used to it, it's fine. Besides, it's a small price to pay to give you a better chance keeping the back in one piece.

Dainese makes a great spine guard. Tested. I use it for BASE and for riding. BackSpace 2

This one seems good too

These are great ==> Elbow pads

So are these ==>knee/shin guards

**seekfun** · November 4th, 2009, 01:43 PM

Check out a company called SixSixOne. Their products are widely used in BASE and much of their product line is endorsed by Apex BASE. I've used many of their products for mountain biking and a few for BASE, and I've had good luck with them.

Note: body armor can affect pin tension. Check yours. That's all I'm going to say about that.

~ Chris

***mknutson*** · November 5th, 2009, 08:32 AM

Here is what I use and I love it:

Core Saver:
http://www.sixsixone.com/Catalog_661...2-9d741818906e

Bomber Shorts:
http://www.sixsixone.com/Catalog_661Bike.aspx?id=bb30b578-c724-4e22-8f00-7cd8af527c9b&product=e6f6fe3a-5dea-4c8f-995a-cdee38b0747f

Shin Pads:
http://www.sixsixone.com/Catalog_661...e-9dfa9662af61

Elbow Pads:
http://www.sixsixone.com/Catalog_661...8-b5f8c9303be0

Gloves:
http://www.sixsixone.com/Catalog_661...1-39d8bab108d1

But I like these:
http://www.sixsixone.com/Catalog_661...d-6bca3419d94e

**guido** · November 5th, 2009, 11:06 AM

Yeah, Mick looks like one of those Cylons from Battlestar Galactica at the exit point decked out in all that armor. If you tip him over, it takes about 5 minutes to get him rightside up again! Kind of like cow tipping....

**chipiematt** · November 5th, 2009, 02:22 PM

hahaha cheers for the suggestions, like mick maybe i should get a star wars storm trooper suit.

***mknutson*** · November 5th, 2009, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by chipiematt

hahaha cheers for the suggestions, like mick maybe i should get a star wars storm trooper suit.

A few quotes to think about:

Dress for the CRASH, not the jump!

Better to have and NOT need, than NEED, and NOT have...

This sport is abusive physically. Take a look at downhill/free skiers armor. Take a look at downhill bikers gear. We are, or can be far more abusive than those sports, so why would you not wear just as much armor as they do.

I would much rather people make funny jokes about cow tipping (which I like), than be in the hospital because I thought it would be cooler to not wear the gear. Then I am sure I would go FUCKING crazy stuck in a bed for months or more as a result....

**chipiematt** · November 5th, 2009, 03:08 PM

geeez i was having a laugh!!! i am getting armoured up hence the post!

***mknutson*** · November 6th, 2009, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by chipiematt

geeez i was having a laugh!!! i am getting armoured up hence the post!

No worries. But I like those quotes, and they are not mine. But plagiarism.... ;-)

Actually Adam F. gave me the 1st one when I was on my FJC with him.

**chipiematt** · November 6th, 2009, 09:52 AM

was thinking of trying this for the top half................

Lost redirect

**couloirman** · November 10th, 2009, 09:11 PM

Im looking into getting some armour now as well.

Mick, aren't most of the pads you posted soft and not hard plates? I guess I feel like the soft ones are not going to protect well enough from something that would otherwise be a serious injury, and they only really protect from minor cuts and scrapes. The core saver and knee/shin pads look bomber and Ill probably get some, but the rest of them seem like they would only really protect from minor cuts and scrapes which I don't see as a big enough deal to bother with the extra bulk. If I'm going all out for pads, I want them to work.

I guess its all just a compromise between fit and function, but Ive yet to find an ideal solution.

How do all those pads affect the fit of your rig/wingsuit? or affect PC position if the core saver/spine protector is thick and raises the rig off your back possibly asymmetrically?

Im probably buying most of the items you listed because it seems like the best(albeit imperfect) solution to the problem, but I bet I end up not wearing it a lot of the time due to the bulk annoying me.

***mknutson*** · November 11th, 2009, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by couloirman

Im looking into getting some armour now as well.

Mick, aren't most of the pads you posted soft and not hard plates? I guess I feel like the soft ones are not going to protect well enough from something that would otherwise be a serious injury, and they only really protect from minor cuts and scrapes. The core saver and knee/shin pads look bomber and Ill probably get some, but the rest of them seem like they would only really protect from minor cuts and scrapes which I don't see as a big enough deal to bother with the extra bulk. If I'm going all out for pads, I want them to work.

I guess its all just a compromise between fit and function, but Ive yet to find an ideal solution.

How do all those pads affect the fit of your rig/wingsuit? or affect PC position if the core saver/spine protector is thick and raises the rig off your back possibly asymmetrically?

Im probably buying most of the items you listed because it seems like the best(albeit imperfect) solution to the problem, but I bet I end up not wearing it a lot of the time due to the bulk annoying me.

1. Actually the shin and spine are hard pads. The shorts and elbow pads are 3DO which is a cool new material that is harder than plastic on impact.

2. Never used the core saver with wingsuit, but with my rig, not asymmetrical at all, but is a bit tighter than normal. But I do feel much more comfortable knowing it is there. And it is less bulky than the full suit. The shin, elbow and pants have no affect on the suit or jumping in general. But, they are a bit warm in hot weather. Still, not as much as the entire suit.

**JDATC** · November 11th, 2009, 11:09 AM

I have quite a body armor collection, which is why I chuckled at bridge day during the videofest when one of the prizes I got was money off of six six one gear, since I actually own a lot of it.... Rest assured I gave it to a new jumper who could make good use of it.

That said, I like the core saver a lot. I previously was using a velocity gear jacket
Velocity Gear - Motorcycle Body Armor & Motorcycle Gloves - Protective Gear which was a little more cumbersome.

However the nice thing about that jacket is that the spine protector is removable and has accompanied me on every jump pretty much including wingsuit base jumps... I find that the spine protector alone adds very little to my bulk. The core saver, I wouldn't wear on terminal stuff, too bulky even as light as it is.

The other six six one stuff I like is all the new d30 (evo) stuff. Elbow, knee and shin. Pricey at around $100 per set of pads, but lower weight and easier to pack and carry. Also more flexible then the hard armour.

The d3o stuff has been getting good reviews for impact protection in terms of forces transferred is more efficiant than regular foam... take it for what it is worth.

:: d3o Technology ::

It's durability though is somewhat anemic in my opinion, and the knee pads require you to remove your shoes which I dislike.

However, I have had some rather good impacts and plf's into stuff wearing a variety of pads and helmets, and am glad I wear it. It's a personal choice to lug a lot of shit around you may never use, but for me, I like it. However body armor is not a substitute for good canopy control and sound judgment....

It does however, lessen the impacts of poor decision making and rotten luck sometimes.

_justin

**Huck** · November 11th, 2009, 03:00 PM

Just to add what a few others have said. I use everything (not exactly but very similar) Mick has posted except the shorts. It really doesn't add too much bulk and you will get use to it after awhile. If you have a custom rig built, make sure you have your spine protector (whatever brand/type you choose) on when measuring the upper torso. PC location will harly change at all----not enough to really notice.

On the note of putting it to use: I had a strike in KL a few years back (yes it is possible to hit that fucker even though its overhung as hell). I only hit with my feet as I was turning the canopy away but was shocked at how hard the impact actually was. Did have the ol' Hanwags on and luckly suffered no injury. Had I actually hit it with my arms/legs/torso I was VERY glad I had all my gear on.

Another quick story: several years ago I witness (from the bottom) a jumper hit the wall 3 times at Mari's Gash in Mineral Bottom-----a buck 80 with line twisties. Said jumper was completely padded up and only suffered minor injuries.

Bottom line---although somewhat of a pain in the ass to lug up a 1500 ft. tower or 4000 ft. mountain, full body armor works and has proven so in past history.

Play safe ya'll