Top Hard Enduro Chest Protector

Most hard enduro crashes happen at walking pace. A tip-over on a rock step. A slide off a wet root. A failed climb that ends with you and the bike tumbling back down. Speed is low, but the torso lands on whatever is under it: a rock edge, a log, the bar clamp, the bike itself.

That is the job a certified chest and back protector is built for. The chest standard, EN 1621-3, says its tests are designed to show protection against impacts on edges such as kerbstones or the corner of a car roof. A rock step is the off-road version of that edge. The back standard, EN 1621-2, uses the same kerb-edge logic.

What the injury data says

• Enduro racing. A three-year prospective study at the Erzbergrodeo followed 2,923 starters. 6% had an accident. Most accidents happened in a curve when the front tire slid, and they mostly injured the arm and leg. More than 80% of counted injuries were superficial.
• When the torso is hit, it is serious. A pediatric trauma center reviewed 162 children injured in motocross. 30 (18.5%) had chest or abdominal injuries. 27% of those needed surgery and 50% needed intensive care. The authors describe focal, high-impact injuries to the chest and abdomen.
• Evidence for back protectors is thin. A 2016 systematic review found only two small cross-sectional studies on back protectors for motorcyclists. It concluded the evidence is too limited to be certain of the effect on spinal injuries, while noting hard-shell and standard-compliant protectors may be associated with fewer back and spine injuries.

Our view: a chest protector is a low-frequency, high-consequence item. The first two studies above are the basis for that. That is why it sits at four stars, below the five-star helmet, goggles, boots and knee protection.

Two very different products look almost the same on a shelf.

• A roost guard (stone shield) is certified to EN 14021. BSI describes it as giving "limited protection against lofted stones and debris" in motocross and other off-road riding. It is not meant for people with a chest girth below 75 cm.
• A certified chest protector is certified to EN 1621-3, often paired with a back protector certified to EN 1621-2. These standards measure how much impact force passes through the protector.

EN 1621-3 draws the line itself. Its scope says that if a product only protects against lofted stones, EN 14021 applies. If it protects against impacts and stones, EN 1621-3 applies.

EN 14021 has a further catch. When BSI published it as a British Standard, the national foreword warned that the UK "consistently voted against its approval". UK experts said the average peak force requirement "may be too high".

A real example

Fox sells both kinds in the same Raceframe family:

A roost-only guard is the wrong tool for hard enduro, and the standards' own scopes show why. EN 14021 covers flying stones. Only EN 1621-3 and EN 1621-2 test what happens when you land on a rock.

The legal frame: PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425

In the EU, motorcycle impact protectors are personal protective equipment under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. Alpinestars' EN 1621-3 manual classes its chest protectors as Category II. Category II covers "risks other than those listed in Categories I and III". For Category II, the regulation requires an EU type-examination (module B) by a notified body, then conformity to type (module C). A type-examination certificate is valid for a maximum of five years.

The regulation also sets what the maker must tell you: the protection classes, the standards used with their dates, the notified body, the internet address of the EU declaration of conformity and, where applicable, the month and year or period of obsolescence.

EN 1621-3:2018 — chest protectors

EN 1621-3 was prepared by CEN technical committee CEN/TC 162 and approved by CEN on 14 November 2018. The key points from the standard's own text:

• Two shapes. A full chest protector is one piece. A divided chest protector is two halves.
• Two sizes. Type A is the smaller protector and Type B the larger. The minimum protected zone is set for each type.
• Two levels. Level 1 is for soft protectors that meet the force transmission requirement only. Level 2 is for more rigid protectors that meet both force transmission and force distribution requirements. The standard notes that Level 2 can bring weight and restriction penalties.
• The test. The equipment list includes a dropping apparatus, a bar impactor, a hemispherical impactor, an anvil and force measurement. Samples are tested at ambient temperature and wet, with optional high and low temperature tests.

Why a distribution test? Alpinestars' user manual cites the EU-funded APROSYS research: spreading an impact load over the chest matters more than how much energy the protector absorbs. That is what Level 2 adds.

EN 1621-2:2014 — back protectors

EN 1621-2 defines three shapes:

Back protectors are sized by waist-to-shoulder length, measured on the body with a tape. The standard says this is used because there is no consistent link between that length and body height. The 2014 edition made the wet impact test mandatory and added optional high and low temperature tests.

The two levels carry force limits, set in Table 2 of EN 1621-2:2014 (clause 4.4). A 5 kg bar impactor hits the protector with 50 J of energy, and a load cell under the anvil measures the force that gets through. Level 1 allows a mean of no more than 18 kN, with no single strike above 24 kN. Level 2 allows a mean of no more than 9 kN, with no single strike above 12 kN. A protector only earns a level if it meets it in every test condition it claims, including the mandatory wet test. Lower transmitted force means better protection.

Shoulders: EN 1621-1

Some chest protectors add shoulder cups certified to EN 1621-1, the limb protector standard. MotoCAP describes that test as a 5 kg weight dropped from 1 m onto the protector. The full EN 1621-1 label guide is on our knee protection page.

What the standards do not cover

• Real crash forces. Both EN 1621-2 and EN 1621-3 say the force levels in their tests do not compare directly with the forces riders meet in accidents.
• Road-riding origin. The EN 1621-2 scope refers to "riders in normal traffic situations". Off-road riders use it because it is the back protector standard that exists.
• Abrasion. A 2016 review notes that EN 1621-2 assesses ergonomics and impact force reduction, not abrasion resistance.
• The neck. The EN 1621 series has four parts: limbs, back, chest and inflatable protectors. None covers the neck. See our neck brace guide.

The Alpinestars EN 1621-3 user manual explains the chest marking field by field. The back protector codes come from EN 1621-2 itself.

Check the zone, not just the CE mark

A "CE" chest protector can carry different certificates in different zones. The makers on this page list them per zone. The Leatt Chest Protector 6.5 Pro lists chest EN1621-3 Level 2, back EN1621-2 Level 2 and shoulder EN1621-1 Level 1. Read each line.

Watch for "prEN"

Fox lists its Raceframe Impact chest plates as "prEN 1621-3", the draft designation. When EN 1621-2:2014 was published, Part 3 was listed as "under development". The final EN 1621-3 was approved in November 2018. If the edition matters to you, check the EU declaration of conformity.

The declaration of conformity

Under the PPE Regulation, the product must come with the declaration or the web address where you can read it. Alpinestars publishes its declarations at eudeclaration.alpinestars.com. The declaration names the standard with its date and the notified body that examined the product.

A protector that has moved is not protecting anything. The makers' fitting rules:

1. Size by the maker's chart, not by jersey size. Fox sizes its Raceframe Impact Soft Back by height and chest: S/M for 160–177 cm and a 85–102 cm chest; L/XL for 178–185 cm and a 104–117 cm chest. Leatt gives a 160–196 cm height range across S/M, L/XL and XXL for the 6.5 Pro.
2. Check the back length. EN 1621-2 sizes back protectors by waist-to-shoulder length, not height. A plate that is too short leaves the lower spine bare.
3. Tighten the shoulder straps until taut. Alpinestars' manual says to slide the strap adjusters up until the straps are tight.
4. Put the plate on the upper chest. The same manual says the protector belongs on the upper chest, not the stomach.
5. Check arm movement in riding posture. The protector should not be so wide that it limits your arms when you stand on the pegs.
6. Try it with everything you ride in. Jersey, neck brace, hydration pack. Alpinestars says to try a protector with the garment it will be worn with.

Heat and ventilation

Hard enduro days run long and hot, and most of the effort is off the seat. The PPE Regulation itself requires protectors that enclose the body to minimize perspiration. The makers answer with vents: Leatt lists ventilation slots, Fox "extensive laser perforated venting", Alpinestars a channeled, highly perforated back protector and a ribbed lining for airflow.

Alpinestars also warns that high or low temperatures can change how a protector performs, even when T+ or T– is marked.

Our view: for most hard enduro riders, Level 1 chest protection with the best back level you can tolerate is the right balance. Two things support that: the standard itself says Level 2 brings weight and restriction penalties, and hard enduro is ridden for hours at high effort, often walking and pushing the bike.

Over or under the jersey

Fox says its Raceframe Impact models can be worn over or under the jersey. Leatt says the 6.5 Pro's removable plates and BraceOn system allow a neck brace fit over or under the shirt. Alpinestars says the BNS neck support straps can go over or under the jersey. Whichever you choose, the fit rules below still apply.

Hydration packs

Pack straps sit on the same shoulders as the protector. Fit the pack and protector together, and reject any combination that drags the plate down your chest. The Alpinestars manual's fit rules are clear: the plate must stay on the upper chest and must not limit arm movement. See our hydration pack guide for harness types.

Neck brace integration

• Leatt's chest protectors use BraceOn. Leatt says all its body protection includes it and a Leatt brace can go over or under.
• The Alpinestars A-4 Plasma is BNS compatible via pull tabs on the shoulder pads.
• Leatt's FAQ says a brace can sit over a chest protector if it sits correctly on the shoulders, chest and thoracic area. The best place for the thoracic strut is against the body, under the chest protector.

The full fitting rules are in our neck brace guide.

Rocks, logs and handlebars

EN 1621-3 tests with a bar impactor and a hemispherical impactor. That is a fair lab stand-in for landing on a rock edge or the end of a log, because the standard's stated aim is protection against impacts on edges. It is also why a flexible roost shield is not enough when you practice log and rock crossings.

Use this order when you choose:

1. Confirm a real impact standard. Look for EN 1621-3 on the chest and EN 1621-2 on the back. EN 14021 alone means a roost guard.
2. Read the level per zone. A Level 2 chest plate also spreads the load. On the back, EN 1621-2 caps the mean transmitted force at 18 kN for Level 1 and 9 kN for Level 2.
3. Check the back shape. FB covers the central back and shoulder blades. CB and LB cover less.
4. Check side and shoulder coverage. The Leatt 6.5 Pro adds flank panels and EN 1621-1 shoulders. The A-4 Plasma adds detachable rib and shoulder padding.
5. Confirm neck brace compatibility if you wear one: Leatt BraceOn, Alpinestars BNS tabs.
6. Try it with your pack and brace in riding posture.
7. Weigh the heat trade-off. The more rigid and complete the protector, the more it weighs. Leatt lists the 6.5 Pro from 1.99 kg.
8. Check what is removable. Removable plates help cleaning. They do not mean you can ride without them.

Cleaning

• Alpinestars: clean the chest protector with a damp cloth and soapy water. Do not submerge it. Never use strong cleaning agents or solvents.
• Fox: the Raceframe care label says machine wash cold and gentle, gentle detergent, line dry. No bleach, no iron, no dry cleaning.
• Leatt: follow the product care label. Leatt's FAQ calls following the washing instructions "a great start" for function and longevity.

Storage

Alpinestars says to store standalone protectors flat, with nothing heavy on top, in a dry ventilated area away from heat and direct sunlight. A hot van or a garage window is the opposite.

Inspection

Leatt says its products must be inspected before each use. Stop using one with torn seams, holes or damaged protectors.

Alpinestars says to replace a chest protector if it is degraded, cracked, chipped or delaminated. Replace it after a severe impact, especially if the plastic has turned lighter in color at the impact point. After lesser impacts, have it checked by a dealer. Never paint it or add stickers.

Age

Alpinestars strongly recommends replacing its protectors every 5 years under normal use. MotoCAP reports a jacket whose impact protectors had crumbled into powdery fragments inside the armor pockets, and warns that heat, moisture and age break protector materials down.

Date your protector the day you buy it. The 5-year guidance above needs a start date, and the MotoCAP case shows the damage can be invisible from the outside.

1. Buying a roost guard as impact armor. EN 14021 covers lofted stones only. The EN 1621-3 scope says so.
2. Trusting "CE" without reading the zones. Chest, back and shoulders can each carry a different standard and level. Read every line on the label.
3. Riding without the plates. Alpinestars says using a garment without its removable protectors voids the certification and gives no impact protection. Pulling the back plate on a hot day leaves the spine bare.
4. Wearing it low. A plate sitting on the stomach leaves the upper chest open. The fit rule is upper chest.
5. Keeping a whitened or cracked shell. Alpinestars treats lightened plastic at an impact point as a sign to replace it.
6. Stacking a neck brace on shoulder pads. Alpinestars says the BNS shoulder pads must sit directly on the shoulders, not on shoulder protectors. Check the fit with both on. See our neck brace guide.

For the rest of the kit, see our hard enduro gear guide and how we build these pages on the gear methodology page.