I'm a chest protector guy. Or roost guard, roost deflector or whatever you're supposed to call them. A lot of the cool MX guys think that makes me a kook for wearing one, but I like to be a protected kook regardless of what I look like. And I'm picky about the ones I wear because the way they fit and how I feel they will protect me without being restrictive are my main criteria.
Fox has an all-new piece on the market and I was anxious to try it, because if there was ever a gear brand that hovers above kookdom, it's Fox. The Raceframe is pretty unique in that it has seven molded-in flex points. Basically, these are soft, rubbery flexible zones connected to the typical rigid plastic sections. Pretty ingenious.
It has foam padded shoulders and straps that fasten with a single clip-in clasp on each side. Bio-foam is layered across most of the contact areas, and in typical Fox style it has plenty of high fashion. There are even little styling detail buttons.
Overall I've been wearing the guard for a few months now, and I'm really stoked on it. The biggest thing I notice about it is that I don't notice it. Meaning I was wearing it around between rides. No, not out to breakfast in the morning or lunch after a ride (I only wear my jersey and riding pants out there, dummy). But it didn't come off seconds after my helmet did back at the truck. It is comfortable. In use it does all the typical roost deflection duties as well as any protector out there. Though it is cooler to cut off the smallish forearm attachments, I left mine on and felt they stopped me from getting a few roost pecks on my sculpted upper arms. I have yet to go down really hard while wearing it (nor do I ever want to), but in the smaller diggers it has done everything expected of it, judging by the scratches on it.
About the only complaint is that the attachment clasps can easily fill with mud and that can make them hard to undo. So for something that looks good and gives me an extra layer of protection without interfering with my riding, it's definitely in my wardrobe. Priced from $120-$150 and available in small, medium and large, there's a full range of colors, too. It isn't specifically designed to work with neck brace or support systems since it was being developed before those safety devices came into vogue, and we didn't test it in conjunction with any of them. -Jimmy Lewis
| Gear | 91.0 |
| Style | 19/20 |
| Comfort | 9/10 |
| Function | 46/50 |
| Wash/care | 9/10 |
| Price | 8/10 |
www.foxracing.com