Bruce Cole - Ride on Sunday – Work on Monday

While getting down and dirty off-road is good, for many of us the thought of getting out on the trails over a weekend becomes an objective (obsession) that makes surviving the Monday to Friday grind more bearable.

With this noble 'objective' in mind, getting through the weekend in one piece means that the rider needs to be well prepared. This is where Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) comes in to play.

We don't 'ride naked' and for most of us the essential pieces - helmets, goggles, boots, gloves and pads, are just that - essential. Some of us take it further by wearing padded one or two-piece suits with strategically placed armour for the shoulder, arm, hip and knee areas. As well, enthusiasts are adopting additional PPE components that include neck braces, body belts, safety vests/exo-skeleton components which (if utilized correctly) increase safety for the rider. This market segment is getting more attention from manufacturers and suppliers, and for good reason. Enter the TekVest by TekRider, just one outstanding example of what is available.

As introduced in the July BMA Newsletter, two Off-Road Rally Sport TekVests are in circulation within BMA members. I see this having two benefits: it facilitates long-term evaluation and in the process, promotes the use of this type of equipment. So, what follows is my two cents worth.

The medium unit was a bit small so I borrowed the XXL model from Dallas. Once adjusted correctly, it fit just fine. Based on the sizing chart provided on the TekVest site, an XL should be just about perfect for me.

I have been wearing the TekVest on a daily basis for two weeks now (on and off-road) and it has been easy. After the first use, it becomes just another part of the kit - unobtrusive and reassuring. I wear the vest as an exo-skeleton over my primary riding jacket although the vest can also be worn next to the body if that is the preferred placement.

To say this thing is well-made is an understatement - it is one of the most well-designed, and well-assembled pieces of PPE that I have ever seen. And I have seen a few, including military kits specifically designed for the body.

The CoolMax liner material is extremely sturdy but still provides essential cooling properties. Everything is double stitched and/or reinforced at all pressure or stress points. Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMV) Polyethylene is used for the plates and trust me when I say this stuff is tough.

The body pads are of varying shapes and are stitched into the liner. With the side pads, chest plates and shoulder plates properly adjusted and secured, the upper body is well protected.

The only struggle I had was with the side/chest buckles - they are hard to manipulate, especially once the vest is on. Depending on how much of the strap is available to act as the pull-tab, the heavy-duty nature of the buckle adds to the friction and thus the effort required to snug them up. A wider pull-tab or finger hook would cure this issue.

The front chest pockets with their vertical zippers are great for carrying essentials like small tools while the top horizontal flat pockets are handy for stashing my license and registration (and perhaps a Route Card - remember those?).

To keep the body hydrated and exercise the internal bladder, it is essential that fluids be carried. This is where the back storage or bladder pouch really demonstrates its versatility. A one-to-two litre bladder fits nicely into the back pouch with the tube being run through the top cut-out and then through the tube guide. The guide is a great idea: it reduces the chance of it getting snagged on something that is being passed at speed - been there, done that. But both my straight and 90-degree mouthpieces were too large to push through the guide so I had to remove them first and then guide the tube through. A slightly larger diameter guide would be great.

Even with a water bladder in place, the elastic web straps allow smaller softer items to be folded up and carried. I managed to fit my two-piece rain suit, small FA pouch and space blanket securely under the expandable webbing. This makes the vest a true self-contained piece of kit, especially if an unscheduled overnighter in the bush comes about, right Dallas?

I like the TekVest. Two of them will definitely be added to our equipment budget in the near future. Now if only the reflective striping was in neon yellow like our current safety vests...

Bytown Motorcycle Assocation website