By Stan Portus

Published: Wednesday, 27 October 2021 at 12:00 am


Investing in body armour for mountain biking is a wise move for anyone who rides fast or tricky descents.

Also known as pressure suits or back protectors, the options we’ve listed here provide protection for your back and spine, with some options also including protection for your shoulders, elbows or chest.

Many riders opt for knee pads or elbow pads, but wearing torso protection is a good idea, too. After all, we never know when a crash is going to happen.

Fortunately, upper body armour has become lighter and less restrictive compared to the bulky suits of years gone by.

Many now employ protective materials such as D30 or Koroyd and have high stretch or breathable fabrics to create comfortable and secure fits. This makes it easier to wear more of the time –  which consequently means you are better protected on more of your rides.

It’s important to consider what type of riding you do when choosing upper body protection for mountain biking (or, in fact, any type of protection). The more extreme your type of riding, the more protection you will need.

If you’re taking to relatively easy trails and spend more time pedalling than heading downhill, lightweight protection might be suitable for you.

If you’re racing in downhill events, riding black trails or sending some big jumps, you should invest in a jacket or suit that will protect more of your body.

Our pick of the best body armour for mountain biking includes options for all manners of riding. Our expert team of independent testers have racked up hours of riding and considered protection, fit, comfort, extra features and price when scoring these products.

Finally, you should always wear a helmet when mountain biking, so be sure to check out our picks of the best mountain bike helmets and the best enduro helmets.

Best body armour for mountain biking, as rated and reviewed by BikeRadar 

  • Leatt Body Tee AirFlex Stealth: £190 / $200 
  • Alpinestars Evolution LS: £190 
  • Bluegrass Armour Lite: £120
  • Fox Baseframe Pro D30 Guard: £169 / $260
  • SixSixOne Recon Advance: £215

Leatt Body Tee AirFlex Stealth

4.5 out of 5 star rating
"Best
Leatt’s Body Tee is comfortable enough to wear all day and is compatible with Leatt’s neck brace, for further protection
Russell Burton / Immediate Media
  • Price: £190 / $200 as tested

Leatt’s Body Tee AirFlex Stealth slimline top is light and comfy enough to wear all day, and the open mesh fabric means it doesn’t feel too hot on long climbs.

The AirFlex (soft impact gel) back and shoulder padding provide Level 1 protection – a European safety standard that means the maximum transmitted force must be lower than 18kN with no single value exceeding 24kN.

The large chest panel adds peace of mind, and all are highly flexible.

It’s designed to integrate seamlessly with Leatt’s neck brace, with loops and a removable section of padding at the neck.

An off-centre zip makes putting it on a cinch, and the zip shield prevents any skin irritation. Plus it has two easy-to-access stash pockets.

The only thing that’s really holding the Leatt Body Tee back from a full five stars is the price.