Posts
28
Joined
3/9/2010
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
5/24/2016 11:04am
I recently was lucky enough to test some of the new Troy Lee Designs / Shock Doctor gear and I was really impressed to say the least. I tested all of the gear in some pretty poor conditions (wet/muddy). I also crashed pretty hard on one of my runs wearing the gear too.
I tested the following gear:
-Elbow Guards EG 5500
-Elbow/Forearm Guards EG 5550
-Knee Guard KG 5400
-Shirt BP 5850-HW
-New chest protector (not in online catalog yet)
So first on the review is the EG 5500 Elbow Guards. The fit on them is pretty standard compared to other elbow guards in that they are a snug fit to help keep them in place (I usually do not ride with elbow guards because I usually find elbow guards to be too uncomfortable). When I first put them on they felt different then other elbow pads I have used in the past. They were a thinner profile, lightweight, and for sure more comfortable than any other elbow pads I have used before.
I rode all day with this set on and was pretty impressed that they stayed in place without being totally uncomfortable. For me that was a huge improvement to other pads I have tried in the past (661, rockgardn, etc). Another cool thing that all of these pads have is some sticky 'no-slip zones' to keep the pads in place. All of the knee and elbow pads use the X-Fit technology to keep the pads snug, but comfortable. Below are some more photos of the fit.
Inside of the pad, this is one of the 'no-slip zones':
From the front:
Side:
Next up are the EG 5550 Elbow/Forearm Guards. These are basically the same as the just elbow guards, but provide a lot more forearm protection. They breath great and stayed in place just as well as the elbow only guards. They were nice and comfortable and provide that extra protection for those of us who tend to scrape up their forearms when they stack. They also have the 'no-slip zones' that keep them in place.
Front view:
Side:
Now onto the KG 5400 Knee Guards. These things are badass first off. BY FAR the lightest knee pads I have ever used. After riding with them all day I really didn't notice them. And when I took a pretty good digger, they did their job great. The pads on the knee split at the right area to where they do not restrict movement when your knee is bending to pedal. They stayed in place perfectly (even while crashing). These are super minimal (but still very protective) and are perfect race knee pads.
From the front (you can see where the pad on the knee splits right under the TLD logo):
From the back:
Next up is the BP 5850-HW under shirt. Ok, I am going to say this and be 100% serious, I think that everyone who rides and races downhill should own one of these. This shirt provides amazing coverage, breathes great, and is so comfortable, you totally forget you are wearing it. It has removable pads on the chest and back (for those who run Leatt braces), also removable pads on the shoulders in case you didn't want to run them for some reason. Seriously, I cannot even explain how rad this thing was. It didn't restrict movement at all. If you have any questions about it, please ask. Again, I honestly think anyone who rides/races DH should have one.
From the front:
From the back:
From the side:
Under a jersey:
And finally, the chest protector for those of you who like to have a little more protection for riding gnarly stuff. The chest protector is lightweight and totally does not restrict movement at all. It also breathes REALLY well for being a full on chest protector. One of the cool features for this is it has removable pieces to accommodate for a Leatt brace. It also has a slot in the back for the brace to fit into. This slot also helps keep the brace in place (so you don't need to run the straps). To give you an idea on how I tested this, I did a 30 minute climb on my DH bike just to get to the trail with the chest protector on and it wasn't too hot. Another cool thing is that it is very form fitting, so you can easily run it under a jersey too.
Full gear from the back (with Leatt):
From the front (with the extra piece removed to fit the Leatt):
From the back (with the extra piece removed to fit the Leatt):
Under jersey:
I hope this review is helpful to you on picking your next pads. I honestly recommend all of these new products I tested. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask.
I tested the following gear:
-Elbow Guards EG 5500
-Elbow/Forearm Guards EG 5550
-Knee Guard KG 5400
-Shirt BP 5850-HW
-New chest protector (not in online catalog yet)
So first on the review is the EG 5500 Elbow Guards. The fit on them is pretty standard compared to other elbow guards in that they are a snug fit to help keep them in place (I usually do not ride with elbow guards because I usually find elbow guards to be too uncomfortable). When I first put them on they felt different then other elbow pads I have used in the past. They were a thinner profile, lightweight, and for sure more comfortable than any other elbow pads I have used before.
I rode all day with this set on and was pretty impressed that they stayed in place without being totally uncomfortable. For me that was a huge improvement to other pads I have tried in the past (661, rockgardn, etc). Another cool thing that all of these pads have is some sticky 'no-slip zones' to keep the pads in place. All of the knee and elbow pads use the X-Fit technology to keep the pads snug, but comfortable. Below are some more photos of the fit.
Inside of the pad, this is one of the 'no-slip zones':
From the front:
Side:
Next up are the EG 5550 Elbow/Forearm Guards. These are basically the same as the just elbow guards, but provide a lot more forearm protection. They breath great and stayed in place just as well as the elbow only guards. They were nice and comfortable and provide that extra protection for those of us who tend to scrape up their forearms when they stack. They also have the 'no-slip zones' that keep them in place.
Front view:
Side:
Now onto the KG 5400 Knee Guards. These things are badass first off. BY FAR the lightest knee pads I have ever used. After riding with them all day I really didn't notice them. And when I took a pretty good digger, they did their job great. The pads on the knee split at the right area to where they do not restrict movement when your knee is bending to pedal. They stayed in place perfectly (even while crashing). These are super minimal (but still very protective) and are perfect race knee pads.
From the front (you can see where the pad on the knee splits right under the TLD logo):
From the back:
Next up is the BP 5850-HW under shirt. Ok, I am going to say this and be 100% serious, I think that everyone who rides and races downhill should own one of these. This shirt provides amazing coverage, breathes great, and is so comfortable, you totally forget you are wearing it. It has removable pads on the chest and back (for those who run Leatt braces), also removable pads on the shoulders in case you didn't want to run them for some reason. Seriously, I cannot even explain how rad this thing was. It didn't restrict movement at all. If you have any questions about it, please ask. Again, I honestly think anyone who rides/races DH should have one.
From the front:
From the back:
From the side:
Under a jersey:
And finally, the chest protector for those of you who like to have a little more protection for riding gnarly stuff. The chest protector is lightweight and totally does not restrict movement at all. It also breathes REALLY well for being a full on chest protector. One of the cool features for this is it has removable pieces to accommodate for a Leatt brace. It also has a slot in the back for the brace to fit into. This slot also helps keep the brace in place (so you don't need to run the straps). To give you an idea on how I tested this, I did a 30 minute climb on my DH bike just to get to the trail with the chest protector on and it wasn't too hot. Another cool thing is that it is very form fitting, so you can easily run it under a jersey too.
Full gear from the back (with Leatt):
From the front (with the extra piece removed to fit the Leatt):
From the back (with the extra piece removed to fit the Leatt):
Under jersey:
I hope this review is helpful to you on picking your next pads. I honestly recommend all of these new products I tested. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask.
Sm 34"-35"
Med 36-38"
Lg 40-42"
XL 44-46"
(chest circumference)
As for the other pads, things were running a little big on sizing, so you might want to go a size smaller than you would normally run. I wear a large t-bone knee pad and a xl/xxl Lopes knee/shin guards. I was running Large 5400 knee pads.
It's called "Hot Weather Base Protection", but on the other hand it looks like a whole lot of insulating foam on a body-tight shirt.
Also, is there a hard plastic bit on the elbow pads, not something like those 661 evo pads?
Thanks in advance!
JohnD,
Since they are all new products, they are still working on getting the sizing up online. I think a small or XS should be good.
Total Gnar,
I like the under shirt better personally. They both move great and don't restrict your movement while riding which is awesome. But the under shirt is just a little more low profile and fits my style a little more. Both work great. The chest protector is a hard plastic material (probably more protective under extreme crashes because of this). But I personally prefer the under shirt.
I will find out about the elbow pads soon. I don't have them with me at work.
I am not sure if I will be or not. But if I get my hands on them, I will be putting reviews up! I am working on a more in depth review of the chest protector. Keep an eye out for it sometime this week.
I'm coming from an EVS body armor for DH padding so its a huge improvement in feel and I agree with the breathability comments although it hasnt been super hot here as of late. Compatibility w Leatt is great but I may trim a little, not sure yet.
Max_Nordström, the spine protection is a harder foam material. It is not plastic.
The chest protector review should be up anytime now...
Your sizing chart couldn't come at a better time. I was about to order the pads today. Thanks a lot!!
Do you remove the pads if you wear a neck brace?
Will this be a good fit for females (as chest protectors are not !!) Pads in or out??
Thanks so much for the past info!
cw
Great review mate, convinced me to give this new stuff a go. With the BP 5850-HW under shirt (I am looking at getting the short sleeve version) do you know what the compatibility is like when used with a Alpinestars BNS. Obviously you would wear the Neck Brace outside the shirt, but would there be any interference at all?
Cheers, Hayden.
Any more reviews on the hard CP? I ride motocross and downhill, and want something I can use for both. Great reviews man, thanks!
Tucker
As for female fitting, it should fit pretty well. The material is pretty stretchy so it should fit the ladies pretty well compared to a hard plastic chest protector.
I would imagine it would be pretty similar to using a Leatt, but I don't know for sure. I know the shape is somewhat different and I am not sure where the AS one sits. I really cant imagine very much interference. I don't experience any when I run it with my Leatt.
http://www.vitalmtb.com/product/feature/Tested-TLD-Shock-Doctor-Chest-P…
Hope this helps!
Thanks again everyone.
Was the elbows the sames one like here?
Troy Lee Knee Pads And Helmet
I sure can tell you more about the D3 helmet. I have been running it since November 2009 and it has taken some pretty serious impacts over that time. The crash in this review was pretty minor compared to the impact I had in December 2010. I ended up going over the bars and falling 6ft-8ft onto a rock garden with my head/shoulder/wrist (breaking my wrist). The foam stayed totally in tact and the shell only had some scrapes. My friend who saw me crash said he thought I was going to die. Thank god for my Leatt and this helmet. Besides surviving some pretty serious crashes, the helmet has some killer features. The venting on it is awesome compared to its predecessor (the D2), the back is angled to work with a Leatt brace to maximize your movement, I think 1/4 inch more EPS padding through the whole helmet, quick emergency cheek pad removal, etc.
By far the best MTB specific helmet I have used to date. Let me know if you have anymore specific questions. I would be happy to answer them.
I also didn't find the elbow guards you linked to.
Would you be able to shed some light on the difference between the BP-5850 and the 7850?
From what I can tell theres extra padding under the chest but I was wondering if its anything necessary.
The 7850 has thicker and denser pads. It also has more pads on the lower abs and lower ribs.
I hope this helps!
Great review. I bought the BP3800 but had to return it, as the protection level it offers is very low (very thin foam on the front and no back back protection at all).
Now I am looking at the CP5900 and the CP5955. Do you have any experiences with these armours? To me the CP5900 looks just like a CP5955 without the shoulder and upper arm protectors......are the foam densities, distribution and thicknesses the
same in these two models?
How do these armours work with the Alpinestars Bionic neckbraces?
Any help will be greatly appreciated
Thanks!
Great review
Im all new in the downhill action, been riding XC for the last 3 years in Denmark but it is rather flat and the need for protection isent that high.
But now im ready to step up the game and run DH tracks and i need som good gear.
Im interested in all the gear you have testet it looks good and seams like the fit is great, but is the protection as good as plastic parts?
And what about the chest protector vs. BP 5850-HW under shirt are you supose to run both or just one off them?
Becous It doesnt look like there is any back protection in the BP 5850-HW, so my thoughts is that a newbie like me need more then the undershirt and should go for the Chest protector either CP-5955 or CP-5900.
Best Regards
Me
Great review. I was mainly looking at the TLD shock doctor 5850-HW vest. My Dad wants me to wear Bodyarmour (understandably) but i hate my current 661 evo suit (aka- Clone trooper). So i was wondering if you look like a clone trooper when wearing it. And also whats the back protection on it like?
cheers!
Post a reply to: Troy Lee Designs / Shock Doctor gear review (ride and crash tested)