quicklinks:
| #1 Leatt GPX 5.5 Neck Brace |
| #2 Atlas Air Neck Brace |
| #3 Leatt GPX 3.5 Neck Brace |
| #4 The Budget Option – EVS R4 Neck Brace |
If you are in the market for a shiny new motocross neck brace, you have come to the right place!
Motocross neck braces aren’t essential but are an excellent way to minimize neck injuries when you crash your dirt bike.
My below picks have the best reputation for safety and quality, they have stood the test of time and won’t let you down.
If you are looking for motocross neck braces for kids, click here.
#1 Leatt GPX 5.5 Neck Brace – $370
The Leatt GPX 5.5 is my number 1 pick for the finest neck brace on the market in 2019.
If you don’t know about Leatt, the company was founded by Dr Chris Leatt who invented the neck brace after witnessing a fatal dirt bike accident back in 2004.
Since that time, Dr Leatt has invested many millions of dollars to develop the very best neck braces and knee braces on the market.
Their lab is full of expensive engineers, scientists, robotics equipment and crash test dummies to make their products as safe for riders as possible
The GPX 5.5 represents the very best in Leatts’ neck brace line in my opinion.
There is a also the Leatt GPX 6.5 Carbon fiber model that is newer than the 5.5 and is supposed to be even better than the 5.5.
But I couldn’t really see much of an improvement and if anything, I think that the 5.5 model is more robust and better built than the 6.5. It is also way more adjustable than the 6.5.
Also, the GPX 6.5 is $500! which is a big premium to pay for a neck brace that has only marginal differences and only about 0.3 pounds lighter in weight.
For my money, I’m sticking with the Leatt GPX 5.5.
In my opinion, Leatt GPX 5.5 fits the best out of all the neck braces I’ve used and quite a few pro riders agree with me.
This is mainly because the GPX 5.5 has big adjust-ability and you can modify the brace to fit your shoulders and back shape perfectly.
There are 4 different mounting positions on the front chest supports and 6 different mounting positions in the rear back supports and there are also interchangeable rubber mounts to adjust the angle of the back struts as well!
The GPX 5.5 also features a robust seat belt like clip to open and close the neck brace but it also features an emergency screw on the opposite side of the brace that will completely release the neck brace in the event of an emergency. Nice!
The GPX 5.5 weighs in at 1.7 pounds which is on the heavier end of the scale but for all its features and robust construction, it’s well worth it.
The Leatt GPX 5.5 comes in 2 sizes Small/Medium and Large X-large.
To figure out which size is best for you, use the following sizing chart –
Leatt Neck Brace Sizing Chart
Yes, this chart is shit so I have interpreted it for you –
32.5 to 37 inch chest = Small/Medium size knee brace
37 to 48 inch chest = Large/Xlarge size knee brace
Roost Deflectors that Fit the Leatt GPX 5.5>>
If you also wear a roost guard you need to make sure that it fits your chosen neck brace. Some just won’t fit together.
The following roost guards will fit the Leatt GPX 5.5
This is list is not exhaustive!
| All Leatt Roost Deflectors |
| Thor Sentinel Roost Deflector |
| Thor Quadrant Roost Deflector |
| Atlas Defender Lite and Atlas Defender Roost Deflectors |
| Alpinestars A-8 and A-8 Lite Roost Deflectors |
| EVS Revolution 5 Roost Deflector |
| EVS Vex Roost Deflector |
| Fox Proframe LC Roost Deflector |
| Troy Lee BG 5900 Roost Deflector |
| Troy Lee BG 5955 Roost Deflector |
| Fly Racing Revel Race CE Roost Guard |
| Fly Racing Revel Offroad CE Roost Guard |
#2 Atlas Air Neck Brace – $300
The Atlas Air Brace is one futuristic, stealthy piece of gear that has plenty of clever science built into it. It is an exciting piece of gear and I’m really impressed with the Atlas!
The Atlas motocross neck brace has a really smart, very flexible design that is built to mold to your shoulders and chest as much as possible.
Atlas claims that this brace has about 27% more contact with your body than other neck braces which is a huge claim and one that is really hard to confirm.
Saying that though when you put on this brace you can see why.
Firstly, the back struts are fully adjustable with 6 different positions to properly suit your back shape.
Also, the 2 rear sides of the neck brace are connected together by a rubber tether that flexes up and down. This is called ‘split flex frame’ technology.
This split flex system allows the brace to flex with the natural movements of your body while you are riding. Nice!
Additionally, the front chest mounts are also flexible! meaning that they are a very snug fit on your chest and move naturally with your body.
The rig also comes with extra padding if you want to make this neck brace sit higher on your shoulders.
Taking the Atlas air neck brace off is also really easy with their front clip that operates just like a seat belt with a release button to open it up.
The Atlas Air neck brace is made of a polymer construction. I am a fan of Polymer plastic because it is tough, light and flexible. It is superior to carbon fiber in my opinion.
The Atlas Air weighs only 1.3 pounds which is very light in the neck brace world and feels great to wear.
The Atlas Air also comes with the chest strap to keep the neck brace firmly in position on your shoulders.
Also, check out their loud colors and designs, very cool!
The Atlas Air comes in 3 sizes and sizing is based on chest circumference – distance around the chest, measured high on the chest, just under the arms
Small………………. 33″ – 36″ Chest
Medium…………. 37″ – 41″ Chest
Large……………… 42″ + Chest
The Following Roost Guards Will Fit the Atlas Air Neck Brace>>
This is list is not exhaustive!
| Atlas Defender Roost Deflector |
| Atlas Defender Lite Roost Deflector |
| Leatt 5.5 Pro HD Roost Deflector |
| Fox Proframe LC Roost Deflector |
| Thor Sentinel Roost Deflector |
| Troy Lee BG 5900 Roost Deflector |
| Troy Lee BG 5955 Roost Deflector |
| Fly Racing Revel Race CE Roost Guard |
| Fly Racing Revel Offroad CE Roost Guard |
#3 Leatt GPX 3.5 Neck Brace – $250
My third pick is the Leatt GPX 3.5 neck brace. This is the model that was built before the 5.5 and it is still really good value and very competitive in the neck brace market for 250 bucks.
The Leatt GPX 3.5 weighs in at 1.1 pounds which is the lightest neck brace on the market to date as far as I am aware. Nice!
The chest mounts are not adjustable like its older brother but the mounts are really well padded for a good comfortable fit on your chest.
The back (thoracic) struts have a certain degree of flexibility to suit a wide range of body shapes and they also can be re-positioned to widen or shorten the position to get the right fit.
The GPX 3.5 has a chest strap to keep the neck brace securely in position so it doesn’t bounce around while you ride.
Overall. I always found it comfortable and light to wear and I highly recommend it for its price, comfort, weight and features.
The only downside to the GPX 3.5 is that it is abit smaller in size and the XL size max’s out on a 42 inch chest. If you have a chest larger than 42 inches, you will need to look at the GPX 5.5 which max’s out at 48 inches.
Leatt Neck Brace Size Chart
Interpretation –
32.5 to 37 inch chest = Small/Medium size knee brace
37 to 43 inch chest = Large/Xlarge size knee brace
The Following Roost Guards Will Fit the Leatt GPX 3.5 Neck Brace>>
This is list is not exhaustive!
| All Leatt Roost Deflectors |
| Troy Lee BG 5900 Roost Deflector |
| Troy Lee BG 5955 Roost Deflector |
| Fly Racing Revel Race CE Roost Guard |
| Fly Racing Revel Offroad CE Roost Guard |
Budget Pick – EVS R4 Neck Support – $120
If you are looking for a cheap motocross neck brace, the EVS R4 Neck Support is a solid option for only 120 bucks!
This neck brace weight comes in at about 1.4 pounds which is really good value for the price!
Taking it off is also a snap with a quick release tab at the front that is double secured with a piece of velcro underneath the main release tab.
The inner edges of the neck brace are also rubber lined for extra comfort and the EVS R4 also comes with a body harness to keep the neck brace properly secured to your shoulders.
The EVS R4 will also fit most roost protectors. I am still yet to see or hear about a roost protector that won’t fit on this neck protector so if you know one that is a bad fit, please let me know in the below comments.
Keep in mind that the EVS R4 is ‘one size fits all’. This means that it should fit most riders that are taller than 5 foot 3 inches and over 105 pounds.
If you are a larger rider though there is a risk that it might not fit. Saying this, RockyMountain will happily exchange their neck braces for another model if it is a bad fit so don’t stress if it doesn’t fit right for you.
Overall though, this neck brace does a great job of protecting your neck from all 4 neck hyperextensions (axial compression, hyperflexion, hyperextension and lateral hyperflexion) and I really have no complaints about it.
A solid option for only $120!
Conclusion
Do you wear a neck brace? Let me know which one you wear and why you like it. Also let me know which roost guard you are using with your neck brace.
Happy riding!
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