Can you/Where can you buy "just armor"?

[berth]

So, I have a jacket. Jackets in fine shape, textile jacket.

But it has old, creaky "foam-ish" shoulder and elbow pads.

I know those inserts have advanced quite a bit since when the jacket was made, so I was curious if I could just buy some inserts and replace these.

Where would I get them, and any other caveats I would need to think about in doing this?

Are there modern textile jackets that have built in (or a slot for) back protectors? It seems back protectors are much more common today, but not sure if that's just in "high performance" leather suits, or just stunta's wearing strap ons over their t-shirt.

 

[Indio]

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle-protective-gear

OR any local moto shop.

Yes almost all jackets have slots for back protectors these days.

 

[S1KGSXR600]

So, I have a jacket. Jackets in fine shape, textile jacket.

But it has old, creaky "foam-ish" shoulder and elbow pads.

I know those inserts have advanced quite a bit since when the jacket was made, so I was curious if I could just buy some inserts and replace these.

Where would I get them, and any other caveats I would need to think about in doing this?

Are there modern textile jackets that have built in (or a slot for) back protectors? It seems back protectors are much more common today, but not sure if that's just in "high performance" leather suits, or just stunta's wearing strap ons over their t-shirt.

Yes, you can buy inserts. I'm a fan of knox, it's saved my spine several times.

Check out motorcycle superstore for online (best idea imo) or if your really committed to supporting our local stores, I'm sure some guys will be around to recommend some places in a minute...

Most jackets have a cut in the back area of the jacket, on the inside, where you can remove a backprotector if there's one already in there. If there isnt one already in there or it isn't removable, you'll need to get one of the spine protectors that strap on to you, or perhaps fabricate a slot in that jacket (unsafe, i'd think)

I usually buy a size larger in jackets if I plan on using bionic armor, or adding in additional padding, as many times the new padding will be much thicker (by 2 - 4x thicker) and usually shrinks the jacket down a size.

Only other thing to watch for, besides quality, is measure your current pads and make sure all the pads you buy are the correct dimension to fit into the slots.

 

[crick]

aerostitch is another company with inserts:

http://www.aerostich.com/suits/tf-impact-armor/medium-tf2-soft-replacement-pads.html

these pads u can probably cut to size. They're soft but on impact harden.

Most modern textile jackets like rev'it or dainese will have a slot in the back to insert a back protector.

the other option is to buy armored shirts, but that's a hassle to put on/take off.

The above poster mentioned a size larger (cuz of wearing an armored shirt?) but be weary of getting jackets too large with inserts... u dont want the armor to shift around. u want them to sit in place during an off situation.

 

[mrzuzzo]

Any local moto shop. I bought some Alpinestars ones at Road Rider.

 

[secn8ure]

at www.compacc.com

 

[Climber]

Over the years many people have suggested http://www.johnsonleather.com/ in SF and the forcefield armor that they're a US distributor for.

 

[berth]

The only slot in my jacket back is for a camel bak.

The jacket came with the thicker foam armor, so it's already "right-sized" for me.

I guess (some of) the new armor are basically "thin" rubber-ish pieces. My foam bits are at least 1/2" thick I think. But I guess their diminutive dimensions bely their actual capability.

I'll have to look around OC to see if I can find some place with pieces and get them to fit in my jacket. Dunno how hit and miss this kind of thing will be.

Thanks!

 

[Roadstergal]

If you want good protection, go T-pro. Johnson has had people ship them gear when they're not local to get armor installed. They now have the template for the Roadcrafter to replace the Aerostich Styrofoam.

 

[revster]

Scuderia has everything from Forcefield to 3DO.

 

[NoneMoreBlack]

Over the years many people have suggested http://www.johnsonleather.com/ in SF and the forcefield armor that they're a US distributor for.

Second that. Excellent selection of Forcefield there, same price as you'd pay anywhere else. Also they would be able to install the armor either permanently or in a pocket (as in, adding a pocket to an existing piece of gear).

Lots of modern textile stuff has back protector pockets. Check out the Icon 1000 range for one, their stuff all comes with D3O armor which is pretty comporable to TPro, and getting the armor included with the purchase can make a big difference in OTD price.

 

[berth]

I guess I'd have to call Johnson to see what I would need, or if it would even fit.

Apparently, Revzilla has the armor as well, but Forcefield only mentions 3 Distributors in the US (Johnson is one, another one is down here in Santee [for assorted values of "here", as it's San Diego, and I'm OC]).

Funny, I just googled for it in OC, and this thread is already on the front page of Google lol.

 

[louemc]

Johnson would be first choice... Plus they can make it fit... If That is wanted/needed.

 

[wakked1]

Fit is pretty important, its not really one size fits all. In SF Scuderia has a pretty good selection of armor. Online Revzilla has a large selection but measure your existing stuff first.

 

[SFSV650]

Alpinestars offer a fairly inexpensive hard foam back pad for about $30. It can be trimmed to fit with a Stanley knife / box cutter.

I crash tested it and can confirm it was very comfortable to slide on. :thumbup

 

[Roadstergal]

I guess I'd have to call Johnson to see what I would need, or if it would even fit.

They've modified pockets on my leathers to fit their armor, or sewn it into places on my leathers that don't have pockets. They're used to working with motorcycle gear.

I had a crash at the track where I landed so hard that I now have the Forcefield pattern imprinted on the back of my leathers. No damage to my back or spine at all (or to any place that was covered with Tpro).

 

[berth]

I had a crash at the track where I landed so hard that I now have the Forcefield pattern imprinted on the back of my leathers.

Better the back of your leathers, than you back! :thumb up

Yea, its not as if I can just pop in to Johnson and see what's what. But I can try and give them a call.

 

[Donelop]

Theres nobody better suited to putting armor in a jacket than johnsons leathers. I dunno if they still are but at one point theu were the north american distributor of forcefield armor. Either way they still have tons of it.

 

[LectricBill]

I had Johnson's retrofit (with Forcefield) one of their old heavy leather jackets I had. I never wore the jacket anymore because it lacked armor. Custom placed while I waited. Now I'm a tank!