Test: The IXS Flow Vest protector vest fulfills the desire of many gravity and enduro bikers for light and comfortable back protection. The close-fitting protective vest is hardly bulky and the back protector meets the most important European standards and simply gives you a good feeling.
After nine years in the saddle, I've mostly paid my dues, at least I hope so. Thank God, falls are no longer the order of the day for me, which is why I now reduce my upper body protection to the necessary minimum with a clear conscience. That's why I've been doing without the knight's armor with shoulder and elbow protectors, which was very valuable in the early days, for several years. A back protector that reliably protects my spine and does its job as unobtrusively as possible is therefore being sought.
After some research, the choice fell on the IXS Flow Vest protector vest. The protector was developed for enduro/trail use or racing, since most riders require maximum mobility here.
So briefly to the technical details. The protector meets the European safety standard EN1621-1 resp. EN1621-2. The spine is protected with the so-called XmattterTM protection foam. There are integrated hip pockets on the left and right in which small items can be stowed. However, you should be careful not to stow any sharp or hard objects here, otherwise unnecessary injuries may occur in the event of a fall. The protector is available in four adult sizes and three children's sizes.
IXS Flow Vest – a good feeling in practice
But now to the practical test. The protector has a very tight fit, which allows it to disappear unnoticed under the jersey. At the same time, the material used is very stretchy and even the zipper is made of stretchy material. As a result, the protector adapts exceptionally well to movements. The spine protection is pulled down very far and goes almost to my sacrum. Personally, I would have preferred the protector insert to be a little shorter in order to be a little more flexible in the lower back area.
As promised, the material is very breathable and feels comfortable on the skin even at high temperatures. There are no scratchy seams or zippers that would bother you. The protective foam can be easily removed from the vest to be able to wash it. Unfortunately, I can't judge whether the protector will do its job in the event of a fall, as I have so far been spared any serious falls on my back. Here, however, I trust in the many years of experience of the protector specialists from IXS and the European safety standards.
