With so many different products on the market today offering neck protection it can be difficult to choose just one. Just like anything in this sport, you can take the inexpensive route, head for the middle of the road or go for the cream of the crop. This conundrum applies to shopping for neck-protecting riding braces. We pitted a pricey player, Leatt’s GPX Sport at $595, against the more affordable RC Evolution from EVS Sports, which comes in at a much more agreeable $175.
When it comes to keeping your head on your shoulders, is the most expensive one always the best? Perhaps. Here’s what I’ve found wearing them both in training and competitive riding over the last few months. — Cody Anderson
Leatt GPX Sport Leatt has really changed the way neck protection is viewed since its first model. Since then, the company has added a few different models. What I like about Leatt’s product is its ease of use; it’s very modular and easily fits in place. It can be used with or without the straps. It’s easy to take off and put on with a simple locking device on the sides, which makes a distinct connection when secured. The GPX is also lightweight and visually appealing. The rear center portion of the Leatt goes down the center of the rider’s back and offers protection of the spine as well.
I didn’t like that the Leatt rests on top of the collarbones. Some riders have said they believe this has caused broken collarbones when they’ve crashed. That, of course, would be difficult to prove so don’t think that if you wear one and crash you’re going to break your collarbone. I have crashed while wearing one and was totally fine — no broken collarbones.
ATV Sport
Another point was that the Leatt seems to limit my neck’s range of movement more than the EVS. However, you’re going to lose some of that when wearing any neck protection device. After all, that’s really what it is designed to do.
M.S.R.P.: $595
Contact: Leatt Brace, (800) 691-3314;
www.leatt-brace.com
EVS RC EVO The Verdict: I’ve been wearing EVS’s RC EVO for about three months now and find it pretty comfortable, for a neck brace. It’s a bit heavier than the Leatt, but I feel the comfort is worth the extra weight. This poundage is the only downside to the lower-priced EVS that I discovered in my testing. It might not be as pretty as the Leatt, but it is significantly more affordable.
The biggest reason I prefer the EVS model is due to the overall, rider-friendly design. The RC Evolution sits more on the whole shoulders rather than resting on the collarbones. This is what originally attracted me to EVS over the Leatt, and I felt the same way after three months.
The straps are easy to use and pretty comfortable. With some other brands you might notice some rubbing on your jersey that will eventually irritate your skin. I wear mine for about three hours at a time and have yet to notice any nuisance from the straps or its position on the body.
The rear portion, like the Leatt, also offers some additional spine protection from the plastic that covers the center of the back. It also happens to fit very nicely with my Fly Racing chest protector. And yes, I have crashed while wearing this brace. A few times.
ATV Sport
Keep this in mind when looking for neck protection from EVS, Leatt, the new Bionic Neck Support from Alpinestars ($680) or any other brace you find; everybody’s bodies are different. What fits me might not fit you. So even though I prefer the EVS, that doesn’t mean the Leatt couldn’t be a better choice for you.
M.S.R.P.: $175
Contact: EVS Sports, (800) 229-4387; www.evs-sports.com
