Rally Max Review - Bryan Bosch at Thumpertalk.com

This is my 2nd vest by TekVest, I like their products and I'm glad to see that they've tweaked the line to accomodate the latest generations of neck braces.

The key feature of the product that I like is the fact that the protective material chosen is UHMW-PE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene). You can read about it here: http://www.tekrider.com/uhmw.html (not long).

It's just a tougher material when compared to the tradtional HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) material most roost deflectors are made from. Couple this with a low profile but densly padded layer (closed cell vinyl nitrile foam), this product just offers a higher level of protection than competitive offerings, also protecting your flanks, a vulnerable area that most products completely ignore.

In terms of comfort, my gauge is, do I notice the product while riding? The answer is no. It doesn't get in my way, feel aqkward or limit necessary movement, so I just don't have any real complains in this area. There are adjustment straps on the flanks and over the center of the chest to get the fit dialed in to your liking (in terms of snugness) with a beefy zippered enclosure up the front and velcrow adjusters for each bicept. It's called a TekVest for a reason: it wears more like a form fitting vest where the traditional roost deflector sort of lays on top of your body.

So, what's the trade off? Heat. I'll ride with the product to a point, typcially up to about the mid 80s. Heat really zaps me, so when it's hot, I ride with something the flows a bit better. Fortunately the mountain temps allow me to ride with it most of the season.

Nice features include:

• 4 generous sized pockets up front (2 snap and 2 zippered)
• Zippers have tabs on them so they can easily be operated with the typical off-road type of glove on
• Rear pouch that will hold a 100oz hydration bladder with shoulder sleeve to route the drinking tube where it's easily accessible.

I think the toughest thing to address for most is the price. Compared to traditional roost deflectors, it's not cheap. But then again, if the extra level of protection that the product provides is likely to save you from more serious injuries, I'm sure that most of us would gladly pay the premium. But, just like you, I don't have a crystal ball regading my future, so it's pretty much, how lucky do you feel?

Read the full post at ThumperTalk.com: http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9943194