School me on Kids Armour

O.k.
First rule of parenting - don't brag about your child.
Boy is 8, and getting to be a very good rider. He has spent more time in his life on his bike, then on his legs.
He grew up riding (and building) in Squamish.

Now he is getting into the park - damn.

So I am trying to figure out this armour game. For park days he uses a full-face helmet, knee pads, long pants, and long sleeve shirt. Looking up the kidsworx's series it is mandatory for a chest protector. I was also considering a leatt neck brace - but after talking to some local DH athletes sounds like I shouldn't get one.

So…

What are people's thoughts on kids chest protectors, and neck braces?
Best Brands etc.

Can't help you much with the armour but am curious why you don't think a neck brace is necessary. My kid stopped wearing his Leatt for DH racing because he said it limited his range of motion too much and made it difficult to keep his head up. He tried an Atlas this weekend and said it was much better. I think he will continue to wear the Atlas.

Can't help you much with the armour but am curious why you don't think a neck brace is necessary. My kid stopped wearing his Leatt for DH racing because he said it limited his range of motion too much and made it difficult to keep his head up. He tried an Atlas this weekend and said it was much better. I think he will continue to wear the Atlas.

I was speaking to a Squamish resident, who is pretty damn good at downhill racing. The reason they gave me was that it limited a person's ability to "move". As a result, they felt the restricted neck movement, would likely make you crash more frequently. They also told me about a person who is talented and sponsored who was offered a Leatt sponsorship - which they turned down. They tried to ride with the neck brace and hated it.

Mind you - cite me some articles, that prove this is all bunk and I am sold. I like the idea of protecting my son from a spinal fracture from a scorpion type crash.

Seems in enduro racing, very few people are wearing them, which has me wondering…

Kid's can get used to anything. My boy races BMX and is so used to full face he won't ride any where without it.
Half the kids at BMX track have neck braces. I call bs that it causes problems for them.
Load 'em up, full Stormtrooper. Especially neckbrace, their little necks are so vulnerable.

Thanks Hepcat,
I am not against neck braces - just wanted to make sure that they made sense.
I used to patrol in the w/b bike park so have seen my share of injuries. But the skeptic in me wonders "do they actually work". And the dad in me, thinks "project grizzly -" armour (Reference link https://www.nfb.ca/film/project_grizzly/) to protect the boy.

And after searching the inter-web I am no better off.

The debate about their effectiveness is as bad as wheel size debates.
http://ridemonkey.bikemag.com/threads/leatt-braces-someone-had-to-say-it.243907/page-5
http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Less-pros-wearing-neck-braces-compared-to-five-years-ago,1279860
http://theteamrobot.blogspot.ca/2012/08/faagnerds-get-butthurtstevens-pass.html

Guess I will simply ask Wifey what she wants to do.

Posted by: slynx

Thanks Hepcat,
I am not against neck braces - just wanted to make sure that they made sense.
I used to patrol in the w/b bike park so have seen my share of injuries. But the skeptic in me wonders "do they actually work". And the dad in me, thinks "project grizzly -" armour (Reference link https://www.nfb.ca/film/project_grizzly/) to protect the boy.

And after searching the inter-web I am no better off.

The debate about their effectiveness is as bad as wheel size debates.
http://ridemonkey.bikemag.com/threads/leatt-braces-someone-had-to-say-it.243907/page-5
http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Less-pros-wearing-neck-braces-compared-to-five-years-ago,1279860
http://theteamrobot.blogspot.ca/2012/08/faagnerds-get-butthurtstevens-pass.html

Guess I will simply ask Wifey what she wants to do.

Slynx - if you're still reading, I'd really like to know what you decided with regards to armour.  My boy is a year behind yours and similarly seems to gravitate toward faster and bigger.  Let's just say he doesn't mind being the guinea pig.  The more I read about protective gear the more confused I become.  

It would be great to hear any new/updated perspectives on this.

Hey I have a friend who just posted some tld kids armour on FB pretty cheap, I'll PM the link to you guys

Posted by: Kevin26

Hey I have a friend who just posted some tld kids armour on FB pretty cheap, I'll PM the link to you guys

Thanks, boss!

As a kind of neck brace, I got my little one an O'Neal neck roll thing which has already done what it is supposed to be doing, limiting rom of the neck. It is light and my son likes it. Atlas and Leatt were too expensive and since my kid is six but looks like eight I opted for the inexpensive version.

Mixed with a Fox raptor upper body roost reflector it works out quite nicely. The spine is protected all the way to his tailbone, kidneys and chest as well. Most importantly no hard edges anywhere.

Arms and legs I got a bargain on tsg d30 armor. A pain in the ass to put on but definitely working.

Posted by: D_C_

I'll show it to my son; he'll love this. He calls me a helicopter for suggesting that he should wait on the A Line drop.

Posted by: Henry-Chinaski

Posted by: D_C_

I'll show it to my son; he'll love this. He calls me a helicopter for suggesting that he should wait on the A Line drop.

Playing the Devil's Advocate here....do you think he should wait because his skills are not yet there? Or because you yourself are scared?

I noticed that a lot of kids who regularly ride bikeparks are pretty good at judging their skills and the limits. From what I have seen this year most are better in judging than most grown-ups.