This week I wanted to find out what my options were for getting a backpack with an intergrated chest protector. I have done the whole body armour thing with a backpack and hydration unit but I had seen the Leatt GPX 4.5 and got me thinking I need one!
Short on time? – Check out the latest price for the Leatt GPX 4.5 on Amazon
On my search for this hybrid piece of equipment, I was very surprised at how few options there are for a complete unit. By that I mean a company that is manufacturing an option specifically to have a backpack and chest protector made to fit together. In this post I’m showing only 2 as these are what I found. The Leatt GPX and the Zac Speed Exotec Roost Deflector With Dakar Pack combo.
There is always the option of wearing either a roost protector or body armour with a regular backpack, which may or may not have a built in hydration unit. But I wanted to see what products are actually made for what I was looking for.
Oh and by the way, if you are wondering whats the difference between a roost protector, chest protector and body armour then I was too at the beginning, so here it is.
Roost Protector v’s Chest protection v’s Body Armour
Roost is the word given in motocross when dirt, mud, stones, debris and everything else gets flicked up from the back wheel of a rider. If you are behind a rider and close enough to be in the firing line then it is the job of the roost protector to deflect it, so they are infact called roost deflectors, not roost protectors. Your head, hands and feet are covered already and the defelctor is for the chest area.
Stones and hard mud can make quite an impact so a roost deflector is a must for riders who are competing and regularly up close to others. They are normally always worn under your shirt and will be a lower profile with less protection than a chest protector.
Roost deflectors are not impact rated so do not carry the same level of impact protection as a chest protector would either.
So what about Chest Protecors and Body armour? Well a chest protecor is a type of body armour and a body armour kit can be made up of a number of components such as a chest protector, elbow and shoulder protection, kidney belts and back protection.
Full body armour therefore offers a more comprehensive covering than just a chest protector, although some chest protectors will have some kind of shoulder and possibly elbow protection included as one unit.
Body armour will be bigger, heavier and hotter, and is worn either under or over your shirt. It is also impact rated so you can compare the level of impact protection between different products.
So back to the backpacks with integrated chest protection…
Leatt GPX 4.5 Hydra Chest Protection
This is my favourite and most complete piece of kit. Leatt are a top brand when it comes to body armour and protection products, they really know their stuff and have plenty of experience to back them up.
The GPX 4.5 has it all going on and looks cool too! You get their hydration system, decent storage and protection in one unit.
The chest protection is CE level 2 impact rated and can be completely detached from the backpack using the clip fasteners. Straps make it adjustable to fit all frame sizes.
As with most Leatt upper body products it is compatible with their neck brace which will slot straight into the chest protector and clip on.
Venting gaps allows for decent airflow to help the rider to remain comfortable when wearing it which is also helped by the material backing.
The backpack gives 25 litres of storage capacity made up of the main compartment with a series of mesh pouches so you can section off different items. A key clip so you can easily find your keys and a cool waterproof lined pouch which is ideal for a phone.
On the top of the back is an additional sealable pocket for spare goggles and lenses which is a nice touch.
The final area houses the 2 litre bladder for your hydration requirements. This is fed through the hose which can be mounted to the left or right hand side of the rider.
Other things worth mentioning are there is a CE level 2 rated back plate that slides into it’s own pocket giving the rider the option of taking it out, and there is an intergrated waterproof pouch in a neat hidden pocket at the bottom of the back pack which simply pulls out and over it to keep it dry.
My Conclusion
The Leatt GPX 4.5 Hydra Pack as it is known, is really well thought out and I think it is priced well for what is being offered.
Check out Amazon for the latest price here
The other piece of kit which is awesome is by a company called ZAC Speed, an Australian company that formed in 2003 and are very innovative with their Configr8 system. More on that in a moment, let us now look at the product in question …
Zac Speed Exotec Roost Deflector and Recon Pack
I know what you are going to say… ‘Thats a Roost Deflector’ and you are correct but… this Configr8 system from Zac Speed is so cool I couldn’t leave it out. Also you try finding actual chest protectors with back packs. It really is Leatt or Leatt, if you know what I mean!
The Configr8 system is something Zac Speed created to enable riders to interchange between different products to come up with a combo that suits their ride.
The system uses their quick release ladder lock method and is simple to operate making configuration changes easy for anyone.
Because of this system you can buy their Exotec Roost Deflector, which looks super cool as it’s made from clear plastic, and then couple it with one of the their backpacks. In this example I noted the Recon Pack because it’s the one I would go for.
The Recon offers 13.5 litres storage with a hydration pack of 3 litres, whereas you can increase to the Dakar for 22.5 litres of storage and 3 litres hydration making it more in line with the Leatt GPX 4.5 (25 litres)
Should you want a smaller option then the Sprint is 9 litres plus the 3 litres hydration. Depending on what you ride at guess most would be suited to the Recon or Dakar. The price increase between the 3 models is small.
Many riders do say that roost protectors ride up and hit or rub under the chin and on the neck, but Zac Speed have cured that by adding additional straps to the Exotec to prevent this. The extra straps also keep the bag from jumping around when riding.
Fitting The Exotec and Back Pack
To combine both the backpack and deflector into one product, the configr8 system means you can dettach the shoulder straps from the bag and insert the straps from the deflecter into the same place. Buckles then attached the base of the deflector around the torso onto the bottom end of the pack.
I love the rubberised zips which coupled with the water resistant material make for decent protection against rain. It does come with a back panel but unlike the Leatt it is not CE rated for impact so more of a comfort feature than anything else.
Other interchangable products Zac Speed offer to be used with the configr8 system include:
- Range of backpacks
- Coreflex
- Exotec
- Tech Vest – (for front storage)
- Tool Roll
- P.O.V harness
Exotec and Backpack Conclusion
I got to stay with the Leatt for the ultimate dirtbiking backpack and chest protector combo but this is a close second.
The design is cool and their unique system for enabling custom setups is neat.
For a newer company I think its going to be exciting to watch Zac Speed evolve and i’ll definitley be following their progress to see what else they bring out in the future.
