Australasian Dirt Bike — January 2018

216 | JANUARY 2018 http://www.adbmag.com.au

REAR GUARD

HOW TO RIDE / ADB GARAGE / WE RECOMMEND/ TECH / KIDZ KORNER / USED RIDE /

VERDICT

Forits$269.95admissionticket

Leatt’s Chest Protector 4.5 Pro

offers good protection, though

you still need to add elbow

guardstobefullycovered.Ifyou

want that complete package,

check out Leatt’s Body Protector

4.5, or the even more

comprehensive Body Protector

5.5,bothofwhichcomewitha

bodysuitmadeofMoistureCool

andAirMeshfabrics–butthey

are priced higher again.

Thankfully I haven’t had to give

Leatt’s Chest Protector 4.5 Pro

theultimatetest,butithandles

roostprotectionwitheaseandit

stands up to singletrack abuse as

well, while being comfortable to

wear when adjusted perfectly to

yourbodysizeandshape.

AC

GET IT HERE

THE BILL

$269.95

BROWSER

cassons.com.au

BLOWER

(02) 8882 1900

LEATT TAKES RIDERsafety

seriously. After starting with

neckbraces, Leatt has expanded

itsrangetoincludeupper-body

protection,kneeandelbow

guards, helmets, apparel and

other accessories.

Whenitcomestoyourupper

body,Leattoffersavarietyof

hard-shell and 3DF soft-shell

protectors,withthisChest

Protector 4.5 Pro combining

features of both.

WE RATE 

PROTECTIONThe 4.5 Pro

combines CE certified hard-shell

chest, back and shoulder

protectors with 3DF Airfit

soft-impactfoamwherethe

protector rests against your

body, the combination offering

significantprotection.Boththe

ventilated chest and back

protectors have an articulated

multi-plate design, with the

deep back protector offering

extensivecoverage,whichis

boostedbysidepanelsthat

offerprotectionofyourribsand

sides,whichisafeature

sometimes missing on

protectors.

FITAgoodfitisthekeytobody

armour being comfortable and

providing maximum protection.

TheLeatt4.5Proisavailablein

twosizes,Adultand2XL.The

Adultfitsmy179cmand96kg

framesweetlybutIwould

suggestIamattheupperend

ofitsrange,sotaller/biggerpie

eaterswouldbecateredforby

the 2XL model.

ADJUSTABILITYUnless you

find body armour that perfectly

matches your body shape and

size, adjustability is what

ultimately delivers a perfect fit.

Leatt’s4.5Prohasafeastof

adjustability via Velcro straps

thatallowthechestandback

protectors to be raised/lowered

to fit your torso, while the

shoulder cup position can be

adjusted via buckle fastening

straps.Ofcoursethearmand

body straps are also adjustable.

NECKBRACE COMPATIBLE

Removable front and rear plates

makethe4.5Profully

compatible with Leatt

neckbraces,whichwillbeakey

consideration for Leatt

neckbrace users.

WE DON’T RATE 

SHOULDER CUP STRAPS

Locating the cups precisely took

a couple of attempts, as initially

they would sit a fraction low on

my arms. Once that was sorted,

the adjustment on the shoulder

cup straps around my arms was

a little short and they felt tight

around my bulging (not!) biceps.

Stretching the elastic straps was

an easy fi x.

VENTILATION Leatt has

included numerous ventilation

slots on the 4.5 Pro, but the

combination of hard-shell

protectors lined with foam

makes for a comprehensive

protector that sits tight against

your body, so getting good

ventilation is a challenge.

LEATT CHEST

PROTECTOR 4.5 PRO

The Adult size held all of Clubby’s

muscular 96kg frame

Shoulder protection is adjustable but the

straps were tight on Clubby’s big biceps

Used &

Abused

OVER/UNDER My preference

was to run the 4.5 Pro on the

outside of my jersey, as I

preferred the comfort of the

jersey against my skin rather

than the protector itself.

Andrew Clubb