LEATT DBX COMP II NECK BRACE & ADVENTURE CHEST PROTECTOR
Five years in the making, the first Leatt neck brace took the motocross world by storm in 2006. Downhill mountain bikers saw the value in the added protection and began adopting them in small numbers. In 2010, Leatt introduced their bicycle-specific brace, the DBX, which offered riders better mobility for mountain biking. Today, the popularity of Leatt braces is increasing at a dramatic rate. At places like Whistler, Northstar, and Mammoth, we’d estimate that about half of the riders in the lift lines were wearing them, ourselves included.

Tech features: The Leatt DBX Comp II works with a full-face helmet to limit the range of motion of your neck in a crash, in theory helping to prevent serious injury. The brace is constructed from fiberglass-reinforced polyamide resin; carbon fiber is also used in certain parts of the brace. Leatt uses Alternate Load Path Technology (ALPT) to disperse the impact forces through the brace into the rider’s upper thoracic region, minimizing strain on the vulnerable cervical region.

The brace features integrated crumple zones that are designed to give way and absorb impact in certain situations. Cut-outs around the rider’s collarbones add comfort and lower the risk of a bro- ken collarbone caused by the brace. The clips that secure the brace are bright red, making them easy for emergency responders to identify. The DBX Comp II sells for $395.

A companion product for the Leatt neck brace is the Leatt Adventure chest protector. Constructed out of HDPE and washable Biofoam, it is designed to accommodate riders from 120–190 pounds, and it features two removable plates on the front and back that allow your Leatt neck brace to integrate smoothly. The shoulder and arm protectors are removable as well, so you can customize the chest protector to fit your needs. The Adventure chest protector sells for $120. Leatt can be contacted at (661) 287-9258.

Field test results: It didn’t take long for us to properly adjust the size on our DBX Comp II, and once we had it on, we were surprised by how comfortable it was. Even with our full-face helmets, the brace hardly limited our necks’ normal range of motion. On top of that, it gave us confidence. There are straps included to secure the brace to your body. We found this to be more of a personal preference; half the crew ran with straps, and the rest went strapless. We have taken some falls (unintentionally) while wearing our Leatt braces. Amazement is the key word. One of our riders went head first into the ground and reported that his neck barely moved. Another had a nasty yard sale and utilized the crumple zones on the brace. He walked away. Whether you are a novice or a pro, we’d recommend this brace for anyone riding a downhill bike. It is just as necessary as a good helmet.

The Adventure chest protector was impressive as well. It fit with the neck brace like a glove. We opted to remove the arm protectors, because they didn’t seem to protect much and were somewhat restrictive. The chest protector didn’t hinder our range of motion and fit a wide range of riders. We recommend wearing it over your jersey, as there are some metal rivets that would be quite annoying if they were chafing against your skin all day. If you’re looking for some added protection with your Leatt brace, the Adventure chest protector is a great option.

DBX Comp II Neck Brace

Adventure Chest Protector



Even Greenman rocks a Leatt. Reprinted from the December 2011 Issue. Click here to subscribe to Mountain Bike Action today.