Body Armour
New and used body armour for mountain biking, from sellers across the UK. Pressure suits, armoured jerseys and protective jackets with integrated chest, shoulder and spine coverage. Fox, Leatt, POC, Dainese, IXS, Alpinestars and Troy Lee Designs.
What does body armour cover?
Body armour provides comprehensive upper body protection — chest, shoulders, back and sometimes elbows in a single garment, rather than a separate back protector and elbow pads. It's standard kit for DH racing, bike parks, and any riding where crashes are expected and impacts are severe.
Pressure suit or armoured jersey?
Pressure suits (Fox Titan, Leatt Body Protector 5.5) are tight-fitting garments with hard-shell armour at every impact zone — chest, shoulders, back, elbows and sometimes forearms. They provide maximum protection but are hot and restrictive. Armoured jerseys (IXS Carve, Dainese Rhyolite) look like a regular jersey but have soft armour inserts at key points — lighter, cooler, and more comfortable to pedal in, but less protective than a full pressure suit.
How much coverage does my riding need?
DH racing and bike parks: a full pressure suit with chest, shoulder, back and elbow coverage, where the heat and restriction don't matter because you're shuttling or using a lift. Enduro racing: an armoured jersey with back and shoulder protection — enough coverage to survive the inevitable crash without overheating on the climbs. Trail riding: most riders don't need body armour, but an armoured vest worn under a jersey adds significant crash protection with minimal weight.
Does it go under or over a jersey?
Pressure suits are designed to wear next to skin or over a base layer, with a jersey on top. Armoured jerseys replace your regular jersey.
What size should I buy?
Make sure the armour doesn't shift when you move — the chest plate should stay centred, shoulder pads shouldn't slide to the side, and the back protector should cover the spine from T1 to the lumbar region. Most brands run true to size, so size up if you plan to layer underneath in winter or run it with the rest of your armour and pads.