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Thread: Do you use a back protector?
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01-20-2022, 01:27 PM #1
Do you use a back protector?
A couple of my skiing buddies were former competitive freeride guys where back protectors are mandatory for competition. They still wear them nearly every day skiing and it's got me wondering if this is a pretty obvious piece of safety equipment that I should also be using. We all ski the same stuff at the same speeds and I have witnessed a few of their crashes where they slammed the protector on some nasty objects (stumps, rocks, trees, etc) that seemingly would have done some pretty noteworthy damage, but it also seems as though they have adjusted their crashing style a bit to utilize the extra protection in that area.
I know whether or not to get one is an incredibly subjective topic so I'm not looking for the internet to tell me what to do, I'm just curious how many of you actually wear these regularly and what your experience has been with them. Also interested to see if there are any studies or informal data points about the rate of spine injuries in skiing from direct trauma to the back vs broken necks
I couldn't find a recent thread on these but if there is one let me know and I'll delete this
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01-20-2022, 01:43 PM #2Registered User
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Timely thread, I used to wear one racing and got out of the habit of it once my racing days ended. Just this weekend I was skiing with a friend for the first time who also used to be competitive freeride. She was wearing hers. I thought about it a bit and wondered why I wasn't wearing mine... It's not a hassle, its not uncomfortable, its invisible so not a fashion faux pas (not that I really care). I dug mine out of the closet yesterday evening and will probably start wearing it on days I know I will be skiing harder (not using it on groomers with the whole family for example).
Some people may have trouble getting used to one, but for those of us who it doesn't bother I can't really see a reason not to wear one besides cost which doesn't matter if I already own it. I could see it being very uncomfortable with a pack.
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01-20-2022, 01:50 PM #3
I used to wear one most days I skied inbounds. Definitely had at least one crash that I'm sure it helped in. Have watched numerous friends crashed where their spine protectors definitely helped them.
I don't wear it much now because I don't ski as fast and don't jump off as much stuff as I used to. If I start skiing more inbounds again, I'll start wearing it more.
I found it slightly more uncomfortable than not wearing it, but not much. I'd usually dress one layer lighter, as well.
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01-20-2022, 02:28 PM #4Registered User
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I ski in Crested Butte and I wear an Icon compression shirt for motorcycle that’s got dvo shoulder, elbow/forearm, and spine protection. POC knee pads, and after biting my tongue a few years back, a bite guard too.
I’m not particularly fast, but CB is steep, shallow, and sharky and small mistakes get punished. I’m used to suiting up for moto/DH all summer, and when I tour without elbows, I feel a little exposed.
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01-20-2022, 02:32 PM #5
I skied with one for years.... Some are pretty low profile etc now.
I'm not jumping off of things and bouncing quite as much now. May dig it out on days that I plan to though.www.dpsskis.com
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01-20-2022, 02:54 PM #6
I got one after a scary fall backwards in the trees. Shook for sure. Wore for the rest of season and then made out of the rotation. Saw and pondered it for the first time last week about taking it with again. Little off the game this year so can use whatever I can. Slightly uncomfortable, but not too bad.
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01-20-2022, 03:00 PM #7Registered User
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Yes and no, when I plan to go in exposed places, I use my backpack with the dakine spine protector.
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01-20-2022, 03:16 PM #8
Do you use a back protector?
I have one that I got when I returned to skiing after a back injury. I wear it occasionally skiing and always when I ride bike park. My Deuter Descentor 22L has some back protection too.
Last edited by Self Jupiter; 01-20-2022 at 04:13 PM.
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01-20-2022, 05:31 PM #9
I used to wear one a while back in the 2005-2010 timeframe. Some were pretty awful in their articulation. Found myself skiing funny due to lack of mobility, so I dropped mine.
Recently got a different one though, and have found that technology and design have really helped a lot of modern protectors. I still don't wear mine all the time, but I certainly do when I'm in hairy stuff.
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01-20-2022, 05:33 PM #10
I had surgery a couple of years ago and the doctor said that once I started exercising I needed to be careful with impacts, so I decided to get one. It really didn't bother me at all (and I almost always carry a small pack too). When doing the research on it I read about people who wore one all the time, and a few were saying how they were sure that it had really made a difference in some crashes that they had. I decided to keep using it.
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01-20-2022, 06:18 PM #11
I'm going the other direction as I get old. Don't wear the knee braces anymore after both knees were reconstructed, and I'm losing the helmet.
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01-20-2022, 06:30 PM #12
I used to. Once I got the wary vest with shovel pocket in the back I don’t have to. POC was a barely there safe solution
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01-20-2022, 08:09 PM #13Registered User
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If it’s a day for sending tricks inbounds that I’m not sure about, then yes. This POC jacket has served me well for both skiing and biking. It’s definitely hot to bike uphill with, but is fairly malleable/comfortable otherwise. You can adjust the Velcro on the waistband so that the back pad rides lower… back protection creeping up towards your C spine is annoying, both on the lift and while skiing.
Yes, it is pricey. But cheaper than the trip to the ER that you didn’t have to take.
https://na.pocsports.com/products/sp...35532099518630
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01-20-2022, 08:10 PM #14Registered User
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Interesting. I can't say I know anyone who wears one on a day to day basis skiing, even though some of my friend send way harder than I do.
I see a lot of you saying that newer ones are a lot better, more comfortable and lower profile than older ones. What is everyone using? I wear knee and sometimes elbow pads riding bikes, so why not start wearing a back protector while I'm pushing it inbounds. I'm doing gnarlier shit skiing than I'd ever do on a bike
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01-20-2022, 08:18 PM #15
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01-20-2022, 08:26 PM #16Registered User
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01-20-2022, 08:40 PM #17
I’ve never worn one so maybe this is a dumb question: is the purpose of the protector to protect from blunt force impacts to the back/spine, or to prevent the spine from moving outside it’s normal range of motion?
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01-20-2022, 08:54 PM #18Registered User
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01-20-2022, 09:23 PM #19
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01-20-2022, 10:12 PM #20
Interesting. After my first post I did some quick Google “research.” Here is an interesting study on back protectors. Looks like at one point they used motorcycle testing standards. Doesn’t look like there’s a testing standard for skiing.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...77705810003346
Also this:
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/44/11/822.full
This study has an interesting point: “Users, however, expect protectors to be efficient in impact scenarios that result in spinal injury, which are more severe than impacts as addressed in the current standards. This study highlights that there is a mismatch between the capabilities of current back protectors to prevent spinal injury in snowboarding and the expectations users have of these protectors.” In other words, some spine injuries are due to twisting forces on the spine which the protector doesn’t do anything to prevent.
I could see how a soft protector that doesn’t reduce ROM could be effective reducing impact related injuries. I wonder if a protector that is stiff enough to limit the spine’s ROM would increase the risk of neck injuries.
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01-20-2022, 10:33 PM #21
I ski with a pack most of the time. But if avy is low (1) or I know I'm just ripping pistes I throw on the protector. I find it comfortable and it keeps me warm. Big velcro belly strap feels kinda like a weight belt and helps with bracing.
The confusion for impact protection probably comes from the hard plastic ones- motor cross or mtb styles I think. My soft backed poc give no illusions.
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01-20-2022, 11:44 PM #22
Are those who use them skiing without a pack, and/or do people use packs with protectors in them or regard packs as sufficient protection?
Probably some difference between NA and Europe on this, due to more of the inbounds terrain being controlled in NA. Or am I wrong?
Myself I tend to ski with a pack inbounds, often even without really being in terrain that warrants it. Suddenly you meet up with someone with a plan, and you'd like to have your avy kit. And for my use a backpack, at least mentaly, provides me with sufficient protection from trees etc.
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01-20-2022, 11:59 PM #23
I have. It's slightly bulky, but doable. FWQ/FWT doesn't allow the built in ones in backpacks as acceptable, so many people competing are doubling up on both. Don't know if I agree with it as they market to SHRED pretty heavily... Feels like they have some investment on forcing standalone back protection on riders.
Ultimately, I also think safety should be at the discretion of the rider; require a certain level of protection, but if you're encumbering someone there's an argument to be made about how safe that is.
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01-21-2022, 04:52 AM #24
I got one for a comp back in 2017 and discovered that it's quite comfortable. I still pull it out of the closet for those days I know I'm ripping the forest. It gets forgotten. And forests are dangerous. So, why not? Over the last couple of decades I have tumbled in the forest a couple of times. It's terrifying.
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01-21-2022, 06:35 AM #25
I shattered several vertebra (T12-L3) a decade ago in an avalanche operating under the logic that my avy pack with a massive shovel blade would provide some protection. Packs dont cover your lower back down by your tailbone...
Extreme example, but a real world one.
Today I still ski with a spine protector inbounds and touring regardless of whether I am wearing a pack ontop of it.
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