Opinion
Why a back protector is only part of the solution
by Patrick Bardelli
This protective gear by Evoc, ION and iXS is great for skiing and biking
25.7.2023
Translation: Eva Francis
Pictures: Patrick Bardelli
Protective gear by Evoc, ION or iXS can save you from getting injured – be it when you’re skiing or snowboarding in winter or biking in summer.
Doing sports is good for your health, but it may also lead to injuries. In my case, the list of injuries is quite short. I broke my left hand while skiing, damaged the cartilage in my left knee and had a few bruised bones on the left hip and shoulder. What’s noticeable is that I always injure my left side. If I fall, I always fall to the left.
That got me thinking. As a result, last winter was the first time I hit the slopes geared up with a back protector and additional protective equipment. Read up on how it went here:
Works on the slopes. What about trails?
I’ve now tried out the same equipment – the Evoc back protector, the shorts by ION and the knee and elbow pads by iXS – on the mountain bike. One small but nice detail is that the Evoc shirt is also available with a zip, which makes it much easier to put it on and, above all, take it off after sweating. Without the zip, it's almost impossible to get the wet shirt and the rigid back protector over your head.
Bike protective gear
CHF151.–
Evoc Protector Shirt Zip
L, Chest protector, Back protector, Unique specimen
This offers better protection for my back, chest, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees than if I wasn’t wearing suitable equipment. And I saw the positive effects of this right away. The Blauen, a mountain ridge covered with forest, is right on my doorstep and offers some technically challenging trails.
Source: Strava
45 kilometres, 1,200 metres of altitude and two crashes later, I’m glad I wore the protective gear. In the downhill sections on my way back, I fell off the bike twice and got to know the surface of the trail better than I would have liked. My left knee in particular would have been injured quite badly had I not worn protective gear. Thanks to the knee protectors, however, I remained unhurt, apart from a few scratches on my shins. My conclusion? I’ll never bike without protectors again.
Source: Patrick Bardelli
This is only a small selection of protectors. You’ll find our full range of protective gear here.
Header image: Patrick Bardelli
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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