Leatt 3DF Airfit Vest
Review by Oli Morris / images by Jamie Edwards
Features:
- Perforated, multilayer 3DF AirFit foam for a lighter, better fit and more ventilation
- CE certified for impact protection Back protection EN1621-2 level 2 (highest level)
- Chest protection prEN1621-3 level 2 (highest level)
- MoistureCool wicking fabric helps keep you cooler
- Elastic waist belt to give more secure protector positioning
- Front protection for non-neck brace riders
- Easy to wear, zip-up, compression sock design to maximize evaporation.
- BraceOn flexible neck brace connection
- Removable Impact foam for easy washing
- RRP £159.99
I generally don’t like to wear body armour and only really do when I have to; for example at European DH races where it is compulsory. That’s not to say I haven’t tried it over the years but it always feels too bulky. In the past, body armour seems to have been made to save you from a bow and arrow rather than a crash on a bike, it simply hasn’t been realistic to wear when riding. Finding something that keeps you safe and is comfortable at the same time … that’s not something I’ve managed up to now.
“In the past, body armour seems to have been made to save you from a bow and arrow rather than a crash on a bike”
I’m going to be brutally honest here …
I am going to be brutally honest here and say that when I saw the box, my initial concerns were around the quality of the item. The pictures and general look of the box didn’t shout “quality” in my view.
That opinion was very quickly changed when I tried the armour on for the first time. It felt like Leatt have used a good standard of materials and really put time and energy into making a high-end item.
The Leatt Body Vest 3DF Airfit is nice and simple with removable back and chest protection and a strap around the chest. This strap helps make the padding in the armour conform to your body. It is easy to get on and off due to a zip that runs from the bottom right to the top left of the suit.
Is it safe?
This is always a tough one when testing body armour as you don’t want to actually be in a position to test how safe it is. I’m not a crash test dummy! (he is! – Wideopen)
The armour is built up of layers of 3DF AirFit impact foam which is extremely mouldable, lightweight and has good ventilation. It also has enough layers to give you confidence that it will save you in the event of a crash. The layers are glued together but I found it useful to remove a couple from the padding on the chest, just to make it a little lighter and more comfortable on hot days. This isn’t essential but was my personal preference.
The armour has some light protection over the hips (really useful as I always land on hips when I crash) and full chest and back protection. It’s also neck brace compatible – unlike some armour – and means you can run a brace without removing any protection or sacrificing comfort.
This is a lightweight vest so you don’t get any protection on the shoulders and arms. There are other models if that’s what you’re looking for. This one is designed to be worn on its own or upgraded with elbow-pads and a neck-brace if you need it.
Whilst it’s hard to interpret quite what safety standards mean, it’s great to see the 3DF has two CE “highest level” certifications – one for the back protector and one for the chest protector. That’s added piece of mind to know that it’s got the official seal of approval.
Is it comfy?
As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t really wear armour before getting the Leatt 3DF Airfit so I have gone from nothing to wearing it almost every time I ride.
Despite having a back protector, the Leatt conforms perfectly to my body and seems to cover the right amount of my back. It doesn’t run too far down the back and is the correct width to keep your spine protected whilst still allowing back movement. It doesn’t restrict movement at all.
“It doesn’t restrict movement at all.”
The chest protection for my preference is slightly too thick but I have fixed this problem by removing one or 2 layers of protection.
One of the main features with this is the adjustable strap that goes around your chest. It is made up of a thin piece of plastic that is the same size as the protection on your chest and back and has adjustable straps coming off the plastic. This allows you to tighten the armour to suit, meaning you get the optimum fit. This is a really big positive in my eyes.
Other than that, the suit is quite long meaning you can tuck it into your shorts / trousers and this all helps towards the overall comfort. It is made of “MoistureCool” & “AirMesh” fabrics making it fit closely to your body, breathable yet snug.
Bulking up
Proving how vain us mountain bikers are – the look and style of body armour is important, even if you never actually see it. When you’re wearing the Leatt vest under a jersey people will hardly notice that you’ve got it on. It’s not bulky, you don’t look like you’re wearing a suit of armour and you don’t get that annoying, tight, sleeves thing. You can see from the photo above that it doesn’t add loads of bulk.
Wrapping up
The 3DF Airfit Vest has filled me with confidence. The fit is excellent, it’s easy to move in and the protection is robust – to me, that’s an excellent combination.
If you’re looking for some comfortable armour that’s going to save your back or chest in a crash then the Leatt 3DF Airfit would be a great choice. Grab a set of elbow pads when you buy if you want added (but optional) piece of mind.
You can read more about Leatt on their website here.
You can buy the 2017 Leatt 3DF Airfit Vest online here or the slightly older, slightly cheaper 2016 version here.
