Upper body protection for Enduro/all mountain

Friends use the Leatt vest and they like it, it does get warm but doesn't restrict movement. 

I use the POC chest/back protector that goes outside my tshirt when I ride. I use it on big enduro days or racing and its fine to climb with. I like it being external because you can take it off to have lunch or for a shuttle, it probably is warmer though as its solid rubber with some slots in the back than the vests 

I've had the Airflex for some years and for me it work well for climbing. It ventilates well in the sides. But for climbing i haven't tried it for more than about 2 hours of riding where i got 6-8 runs in the local bike park. This was in a period when the lift wasn't running. I'm a 48 year old weekend warrior, not an athlete.

I always use it with a thin mesh undershirt underneath, and when i use it all day in the bike park i usually change the undershirt for a dry one in the middle of the day. 

I've had some crashes, nothing big or where I've landed on some unfortunate rock or root or anything, but I feel the protection might be a bit weak in the front.

No experience on your options, but I will recommend the Alpinestars A-6 Plasma which I have been running for about a year now. For me it ticks all the boxes and got me well protected on a stupid but quite heavy hit. I was looking for a upper body protector for riding dh and enduro. The previous one wasn't really comfortable when riding enduro so I wouldn't wear it. The Leatt and Fox were also on my list, but the chest parts didn't look to confidence inspiring imo.

3 years ago I bought the SCOTT Softcon Hybrid Pro. As Ikshpp quoted on the Alpinestars one, the SCOTT is also on the heavy (and hot in summer) side but was the only one as that time able to reach "level 2"  of French "EN1621" norm/standard (all were only "level 1" - so lower impacts absorption), used for (motor)bikes. I'm just a regular Joe on a mtb, ride some local enduro races every year and also a father of 3... so get badly injured needs to be avoided. I can spend riding an entire day, but it means a lot of sweat.

Daughter wears a Leatt airflex back/chest for all DH and enduro racing. It's a bit minimal for DH use, but has served it's purpose. For enduro it's light enough for 35km 1600m rides. 

Anything with substantial rib protection isn't going to be comfortable on long climbs. At least with a protector rather than vest you could remove it for the ride up, so you could go for something heavier.

If I were to buy one for all day pedaling, I would get the lightest one possible. The lightweight Leatt worn on top of everything is by far the most popular enduro protector I see around here.

I have a full hard plastic TLD Rockfight CE. If you're doing mostly winch and plummet riding or enduro racing, the trick is to wear it underneath the jersey, but also unbuckle it for the climb. The plastic helps direct more air where it's needed.

I recently crashed pretty hard and managed to get some severely bruised ribs, so thought I'd share my experience with chest protectors etc. 

I was wearing a poc vcd at the time, chest protector didn't do shit unfortunately. I think it'll stop a tree branch impaling you or something but that's about it. It's only a level 1 protector, so to be expected really. The back protector has worked well a couple of times but nothing crazy. Sidenote

So I decided to order a new setup, especially considering crashing seems to be my party trick. I didn't want any vest style ones as I've had a leatt before and didn't like the heat build up and I did want the option of wearing over the top (more on that later). I tried astars, Thor, fox, leatt 4.5. They all had the same issue with poor lower back coverage. I'm not sure why they don't go fully  down. The rib protection from all of them sucks too. If you landed on your side with arms outstretched you're probably cooked, this extends to most chest protectors. Some moto ones are really good in this regard, but they're too bulky for mtb. 

I decided on the Scott Softcon Hybrid Pro, it's actually pretty good temp wise etc. I liked the chest protector felt solid like it would actually do something. My bruised ribs came from landing on my arm so I feel like this would save that. More so than all the other protectors bar maybe the leatt 4.5 (but that back protection sucked). I thought I'd wear it on the outside which you can, but there's too many cracks and crevices so it would be a barstard to clean. I just wear it against my skin and it's fine. It's a little hotter than the vpd system, but less hot spots esp the chest. 

Anyway sorry if this is way off topic from what you wanted to know, but hope it helps. 

TLDR: Beware some back protectors don't go low enough, rib protection can be meh too. External ones aren't as hot/can be removed to climb in. Also they're all hot lol.

Glad they were of some help. I think the Softcon air will be good too! 

I've been using the TLD Stage Ghost for a year now (it can be had with or without shoulder protection). I find it incredibly comfortable, although the zipper is a little annoying. But I do feel the coverage it's given me in crashes has been phenomenal! It might not be enough rib coverage for you though 

FWIW I have been running this when I know I will probably make bad decisions. Only done 2-3 hours of pedaling in it in medium temps but it works great under a light layer. 661 might be bankrupt now so take it with a grain of salt. 
https://sixsixone.com/products/evo-compression-jacket-short-sleeve-black

I live in Sweden which is POC land, but pretty much everyone has the POC system torso. If you go to a enduro race, or a group ride I would estimate they outnumber all others combined by 2:1. I have had mine since they came out like 6 years ago. Except for the straps they are all Visco elastic foam, so they never needs washing, they never get stinky, they are the most breathable upper body protection I have seen. They are comfortable to wear and it is one of those pieces you never go "Its so hot today and I am only going for a light trail ride so Ill skip it".

For downhill laps when the temperature is a bit lower, or I am racing, I use a more substantial upper body protection (right now using a sweet protection one). But all trailrides, enduro racing, and hot downhill laps I take the POC.

I guess it does get a bit warm but it is not huge, and all things that cover you get warm in hot climates, chest sweat is nicer than back sweat i guess

Might seem like a kook thing to do but pretty much everyone uses these on the outside of the shirt, or if sponsored, on the outside of a baselayer with their jersey on top. 

I’m in the market for new armor. I’ve been using AlpineStars for years. It only comes with a back plate. What I enjoyed about it was the ability to put a water bladder in it. 
Are there any other companies that make torso protection with the ability to carry a water bladder and small side pockets for a phone and snacks?

Thanks 

As an alternative, you can get a D3O back protector for a moto jacket and stuff it in a camelback.  

You have some super good points there. I was talking with a keen shuttler (uplifts) and he recommended TLD zip up body armour. Though its an old design it does cover/protect the sides of your ribs. I don't know about how low down your back it goes. 

The design is similar to the Aplinestars a-10 V2. But this is a moto design body armour. 

I agree it seems to be hard to get MTB body armour with full length back protection. I had thought of using my Thor armour with a LEATT moto kidney belt. 

The moto options are likely overkill not great to pedal in. But the points in this forum about there not being many full coverage options with long back protection are true. I have POC zip up vest, which a great back and tail bone protector, but nothing else. The POC t shirt type protector, has not such good back protection and only upper check protection. I recent went for some Thor moto body armour which is a improvement but needs to be worn with a kidney belt (ofcourse its for moto). 

I think at hardline the LEATT riders were wearing some new designs of armour, which may be worth a look. 

Subscribed. I recently broke 5 ribs, 4 vertebrae, and a scapula so I better cover up. Wasnt a MTB crash

Just throwing out an acedotal. I wear the 100% Vest for park and sketchy days. Its very comfy, but I normally wear a superlight merino base layer under it and t shirt over the top. I have took one big slam in it. No major injuries so I guess it did the job. 

I've recently been using a 100% Tarka short sleeve protector.  Level 2 back protector which consists of two pieces with removable smaller lower extension, seems to have good coverage.  Level 1 chest protector also has good coverage on the front but not much for the ribs area.  I've broken ribs in the park before and I don't think the Tarka would have helped in that case either unfortunately as there is no side protection.  The shoulder pads are decently thick and well-placed for riding.  All pads were removable for washing, it's easy to zip up, and fit well.

I found the main material to be like most MTB armor - a bit scratchy and cheap feeling so I wear it over a close fitting road style short sleeve slim fit mesh base-layer and go with a loose fit long sleeve MTB jersey on top.  For park riding, it's been fine temp wise, but I did a short connector climb last ride day and between the armor and well vented full-face helmet, I quickly got pretty warm and sweaty.

Overall happy with it as the price was good (it's on sale, 100% is exiting the protection category all together) and I'm going to keep using it for park days but I still feel like I'd like something with a bit more side coverage long term.  

I like my TLD Rockfight hard shell chest protector, I haven't really crashed a ton in it so I can't speak to the protection for ribs and whatnot but it seems pretty darn sturdy compared to what's out there. I only really wear it for shuttle laps or bike park stuff though. 

Yeah, it is weird how full length back protection has really disappeared from the market. Dainese used to be the best at it, with their articulating plates and kidney belt to secure it all, but there were several other companies that sort of copied their design for a while (like the 661 Pressure Suit). The Dainese website sucks so much now that they don't even show rear views of the bike torso protection, but when I went and searched out rear views on various dealer websites, they all seem to end in the upper lumbar region now. They do still offer a variety of versions of the older style back protectors in their "moto" line though: https://www.dainese.com/us/en/motorbike/protections/back/

Back in the day, their bike lineup seemed like basically the same protection as their moto GP leathers, just without the "leather" part, but now it seems like they, like most other brands, have really gone for a minimalist approach with the bike armor.

You are right, protection seems to be more minimalist and no longer full length. I have just jumped on the Leatt and Fox websites and it seems to be (i didn't look at every body protection option), the same not full length spine protection "style." Plus, i it looks like the guys and gals at Hardline, who use use Leatt protection, seem to be using moto style stuff as the MTB kit seems to be "lighter.' OK Hardline, by its nature is pretty extreme and requires more extreme protection, but unless i am mistaken, moto armour is usually worn with a kidney belt/protection, thus doesn't have to cover the full length of your spine. If i am mistaken, please correct me. 

I’m also looking for a new chest protection but lots seems to be to short in length to protect effectively the spine. 
The Scott softcon seems well designed and pretty ventilated. 
Do you still recommend it after 3 years ? 
Indeed its the only chest protector with level 2