As far as textile stuff goes I've always bought 'Teknic', very good quality.Ā Try and get gear that has the hard armour, a lot of other brands only have soft foam and claim it will protect you in a crash? I don't think so somehow.
I prefer the soft armour myself. The outer fabric of a jacket is responsible for abrasion resistance, while the soft armour protects you from impact. The latest soft armour is designed to become firm on impact, this means that it is more comfortable to wear, while at the same time providing better damping.Kerry from MSW prefers soft armour as well. She said that the hard plastic can shatter on impact and contribute to injury. Kerry has a lot of experience with racing leathers.It is most important though that the armour sits in the right spot. Unless it's where you need it, it will be mostly useless. I suppose it's worthwile replace it if it starts to deteriorate.At the end of the day you'll wear what you'll feel comfortable to crash in.
