The POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour is a full-protection offering comprising shoulder, chest and back plates. The armour proves to be comfortable and non-restrictive, and it manages heat surprisingly well, but it is also bulky due to the nature of being a full torso suit. The backplate tends to ride up a little, but it's a great offering if you’re looking for maximum protection.
- Mountain bike body armour - everything you need to know
- Leatt Body Tee Airflex Stealth body armour review
- Knee pads - everything you need to know
POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour - Technical details
Protection is plentiful with the POC VPD Air+ Tee featuring chest, back and shoulder plates made from POC’s VPD (Visco-Elastic Polymer Dough). VPD has similar characteristics to D3O where it's a soft and pliable material that firms up upon impact.
Ventilation is good with the chest back and shoulder plates receiving plenty of vent holes to let the hot air and moisture out. The mesh jacket is thin and breathable and claims to wick moisture away from the body for dryness and comfort.
A single zipper down the side of the chest secures the armour and ensures the chest plate is uninterrupted. A waistband helps keep the backplate secure lower down but can be removed entirely if you don’t need it.
The chest and back plates are removable to make washing easier, although the shoulder plates stay in place, and this is a hand-wash-only affair.
Available in sizes Small to Large, this armour should fit anyone from a 32- to 46in chest.
POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour - Performance
I was expecting the medium size (pictured here) to be a tighter fit than it was. The fit is secure, body-hugging and keeps the plates in place, but it's not the compression-type fit you might see on other body armour options. The mesh material sits comfortably against the skin and wicks the moisture away very well; overheating hasn’t been a problem, even when pedalling.
The armour plates are quite stiff when cold but after a couple of minutes of body heat, they soften and mould to your shape. Once softened, they haven’t caused any restriction in movement while on or off the bike.
Even with the waistband, I have found the backplate to rise when riding; this can be annoying when you’re hunching over in the riding position with the top of the backplate sitting against your neck. For me, this only occasionally happened but, for people with a slightly shorter torso, this could be more of an annoyance, so it's worth being aware of when you try it on.
I had the pleasure of crash-testing this armour at a bike park where the ground was rocky and hard-pack – an over-the-bars moment where my shoulder and chest took the brunt of the impact. Although my coat was ripped to shreds, I am pleased to say the armour did its job admirably. I came away with no scratches or bruises and there was no damage to the armour either.
Although the pads are reasonably thin, this style of armour (shoulders, back and chest) is on the bulky side so if you’re looking for something slimmer consider a back protector option instead.
POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour - Verdict
Retailing at £220, the POC VPD Air+ Tee is certainly an investment. For the comfort and quality on offer, the price is justified, but other options offer similar protection and are worth considering.
The G-Form MX360 Impact shirt is another option at £185, which comes with G-Form’s own SmartFlex padding that’s machine washable. Liam tested it but reported it isn’t quite as refined as other offerings concerning pad placement and is a little bulky. The Leatt Body Tee Airflex Stealth is another option at £220, which offers the same protection as the POC armour and comes in a slimline package.
The POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour offers comprehensive protection for the shoulders, chest and back. The VPD pads are soft and compliant and hold up well under impact. The full suit of armour doesn’t get as hot as other offerings, while the material wicks heat and moisture from the body. While the backplate can rise a bit and it's bulky, overall, it's an excellent product.
Add comment