HOT Armor

Phil Y · 07-27-2009, 12:48 PM

Just received a shirt and pants from Bohn Armon (www.bohnarmor.com) They fit somewhat snugly but the armor pieces are too excellent insulators--they're HOT, even with a light shirt on. Of course, I'm riding in high 80s and sunshine here in Hawaii, but has anyone experimented with lining the armor pieces with terrycloth or something else to ameliorate this problem?

flatbutt · 07-27-2009, 12:50 PM

Hi Phil, seems to me any additional lining would just increase the heat retention. Air is what you need to cool that stuff off IMO.

shreddr · shreddr's Garage

im so glad you posted that, i have been contemplating ordering that stuff and was wondering how hot it was. my jacket has armored shoulders and elbows, i just need to do something for the knees and hips, I am thinking of this:

although they look like they could be pretty hot as well. back in the day the MX pants i used to wear had an internal pocket that held the shin guard and knee cups, i might try to do some fabricating on my moto pants.

MaineRoads · 07-27-2009, 02:30 PM

I checked the site and they have a couple options for warmer climes. Which did you get Phil?

jduke · 07-27-2009, 02:52 PM

At the MOA National Rally an armor vendor was there with something more waffle looking. I talked with the rep and he specifically mentioned that his stuff was cooler and therefore more likely to be worn.

Phil Y · 07-28-2009, 09:46 AM

Maine, I got the coolest one, the Cool Air mesh that is semi-transparent. The problem is not with the mesh, but with the armor pieces which fit into the pockets in the mesh. They are a heavy foam-type material which do not breathe at all.

Flatbutt, My thought was that something like terrycloth would put a bit of air between the armor pieces and me, kinda like sheepskin in hot weather.

Jduke, I think that a waffle-type armor piece would definitely be cooler than my current, solid pieces.

bradzdotcom · bradzdotcom's Garage

phil~
you live in hawaii.
it's always 80 degrees and always "almost" raining.
any serious protective element (pad, plastic cup, etc) is going to block air flow and be toasty.

in a valiant yet impressively unselfish gesture, i will help you.
i am willing to relocate to hawaii while you come here to the mainland so you can properly test your equipment.

three months tops. i'll bring my own wife, drive your car, bike, etc..
you do the same.

(i will not assume your job at the air station, if that's where you work. i will consider employment helping dripping wet nubile & perky women off rides at the water park).

shreddr · shreddr's Garage

is it hot because the stretch material is holding it tight to your body? what about my idea of pockets inside the riding pants to hold the armor?

Trex · 07-28-2009, 11:39 AM

I have the Bohn light weight stuff that I wear when it is in the 90s. Up top I wear the light weight Under Armour long sleeve shirt, the bottoms are silk longjohns. I wear the UA and silks almost all the time - prevents chaffing with leather or thick cloth and plastic pads.

With the Bohn set-up, I just wear a tee-shirt over it. I have a bunch of the UA tops and with the (black) Bohn stuff I wear the black UA underneath. Let's face it, the Bohn gear is a bit Odd-Ball (know what I mean?) and you don't need to advertise it. For the bottom end of things, I went out and bought a cheap pair of BIG pants (took the gear into the dressing room to make sure) that are wash and wear. So, when riding, it looks like I have khakis and a tee shirt with some wierd arm warmers. For short summer rides I also wear a pair of the BMW sneaker-shoes (I forget what they call them). They are nice and light but are not for all day riding - not enough support. If I am going to be out on a super hot day, I pack one of those water-vests, just in case. Now, that is some crazy looking gear but it can significantly reduce your body temp.

Flatty - I have purposefully opened myself to all sorts of ridicucle with this reply and it is an invitation to use your perverse mind to entertain all of us. Go for it.

Martin Glasser · 07-29-2009, 12:35 AM

Trex

No ridicule--- I believe in ATGAT but get hot and srap my armored jacket on the back and enjoy the heat and wind and sun especially when touring on Highways---My jacket-an IXS-is great at 70 or less and is still waterproof but no venting.

Jacket is 6 years old and I am considering buying Aerostitch which reportedly have some venting but I hear the pants can be hot. I have suggested Bohn to my girlfriend and would consider it for myself-- but it is a fashion don't--huh?

Would the elbow pads do their job without an overgarmet?

I suspect I might buy BMW vented when the discount gets cheap enuff.

Trex · 07-29-2009, 07:26 AM

Martin - the BMW gear is good stuff and the smart way to buy is to wait for a sale. If I'm on the slab, I'll pull on a light weight jacket 'cause I'm a kinda ATGATT guy, too. But bopping around back roads in Lancaster or Bucks County at slower speeds I'll take the jacket off and let the Bohn do its job.

The thing that bugs me most about the Bohn is the advertisments, like in the back of moto magazines. On one page you got a guy with a big smile bent over putting on his Bohn lower body protective system and then on the next page there is that Doctor with her Phernome (sp.?) Formula. I'm always afraid that I'll bump into her sometime (the address for her product is not far from where I live) and she'll have the Female Formula stuff on and I'll be in a Bohn suit...and...I can't go on...Flatty ... take over ...

Highlander179 · 07-29-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shreddr

is it hot because the stretch material is holding it tight to your body? what about my idea of pockets inside the riding pants to hold the armor?

Most riding pants have bot knee and hip pads. It's rare to find them without.

flatbutt · 07-29-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trex

Martin - the BMW gear is good stuff and the smart way to buy is to wait for a sale. If I'm on the slab, I'll pull on a light weight jacket 'cause I'm a kinda ATGATT guy, too. But bopping around back roads in Lancaster or Bucks County at slower speeds I'll take the jacket off and let the Bohn do its job.

The thing that bugs me most about the Bohn is the advertisments, like in the back of moto magazines. On one page you got a guy with a big smile bent over putting on his Bohn lower body protective system and then on the next page there is that Doctor with her Phernome (sp.?) Formula. I'm always afraid that I'll bump into her sometime (the address for her product is not far from where I live) and she'll have the Female Formula stuff on and I'll be in a Bohn suit...and...I can't go on...Flatty ... take over ...

you're doing fine bro. inuendo and all. see? inuendo works too.

Phil Y · 07-31-2009, 01:03 PM

Bradz--LOL!! How can anyone not love this site!!!

shreddr--It's hot because the armor is a foam-like material which does NOT breath at all. The mesh/pockets which hold the armor are ok.

Trex--I'll give Under Armor a try.

All-- I have a Tourmaster mesh JACKET (which has hard (not foam) armor pieces lined with material) which is cooler where the armor meets the body than the Bohn SHIRT is. I guess hard armor is cooler because it doesn't conform so closely to the body, is less of an insulator AND, therefore, breathes more easily. Don't know which offers better protection or would stay in place better when it counts. Guess I'll be saving my Bohn stuff for my "cold", 70-degree winter rides!

shreddr · shreddr's Garage

I bought these to wear under my kevlar pants. I wore them today they are very comfortable, and I feel well protected.

EVS UG06 Padded Short (leg, hip and tailbone pads)

EVS Option Knee Guards

http://www.evs-sports.com/store/

Trex · 08-09-2009, 10:17 AM

Dang, Shreddr, I'd wear that OVER the pants. Too good look'n to hide.