Leatt GPX 5.5 Neck Brace
(discontinued)

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Tested: Leatt GPX 5.5 Neck Brace
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Vital Review

Review and Photos by Joe Carlino

Unfortunately, accidents and injuries are inevitable in this sport we all love. The only precautions we can take are to use the proper protective gear. Along with helmets, boots and chest protectors, the neck brace has become one of the more standard pieces of safety equipment that you'll see on the track today. Neck brace safety is becoming more and more popular each year, so I decided to try out the latest offering from one of the leaders in neck protection, Leatt, and their GPX 5.5.

Leatt GPX 5.5 Neck Brace Highlights:


  • New low-profile design.
  • five-way adjustability (no tools needed).
  • Injected foam padding is more durable and easy to clean.
  • Split CoreFlex rear Thoracic strut.
  • Folding rear Thoracic strut for ease of packing.
  • Collarbone cut-out to relieve bone contact from the brace.
  • Emergency release button for injured rider.
  • Colors: Black/Grey, White/Black, Orange/White/Black, Red/Black.
  • Sizes: (Adult: S/M, M/L) and (Junior, one size fits all).
  • MSRP: $369

First Impressions:

Right off the bat, I noticed the new Leatt GPX 5.5 does not have any fabric covering on the padding. Anyone who has rode with an older Leatt brace knows how dirty they can get. The new GPX 5.5 brace is made from molded fiberglass-reinforced polyamide that is easy to clean with just a damp rag. The brace has a lower profile and slight flex for comfort when moving and twisting. The range of motion is increased, yet I still felt safe when head/neck limitations are reached. Leatt really hit it out of the ballpark when they were able to make this brace fully adjustable in five locations, with no tools needed! The old brace was a pain to change the sizing clips, adjust the ramps and angles. Now to adjust the new GPX 5.5, you open the tabs on the front and back then slide the sections to your fit. To change the rear Thoracic angle, simply slide in a variety of rubber fittings supplied until you reach the desired alignment with your back. The chest and shoulders come with molded foam pads that snap in or out depending on your build. To top things off, the rear strut now folds into the brace so it easily fits in the gear bag.

On the Track:

The most noticeable characteristic once I used it on the track was that the low-profile design, which equates to a higher range of motion than previous models. When looking left or right, I didn't even notice the brace was there. The new split rear Thoracic is more comfortable because the contact point is now distributed between your shoulder blades, rather than a single contact point on your spine like in the older brace. The new release button is a nice touch to the overall design; it's smooth, secure and again, low-profile. After just a few laps with the GPX 5.5, my main thought was that overall it felt less bulky and more comfortable than the previous Leatt models.

Long Term Durability:

In terms of longevity, on a ride-to-ride basis (with no crash impact), the brace will hold up for several years. The Leatt 5.5 GPX is actually made to break or bend at key points on the brace during a traumatic crash in order to relieve stress on the body. If you happen to slam hard and suspect something is wrong with the brace, I would suggest you get it inspected before the next time you use it.

The Last Word: 4 stars

It’s easy to say that this is an amazing product for the price, for me everything about this brace is an upgrade from the previous model. With the new technology and features built into this brace, you can’t go wrong. The GPX 5.5 is well made, and offers comfort, safety and style. The low-profile design makes this brace virtually invincible when looking left and right. The ease of adjusting the brace saves time and lets you make the perfect fit with no tools. The GPX 5.5 is a product that I would suggest to everyone from a first-timer, weekend warrior to a serious racer, trail rider or track fiend. This is not only a brace for a rider who is looking for their first one, but if you are thinking about upgrading from an older model, this is a great brace to take its place. Hopefully, we are all fortunate enough that this isn't a piece of safety gear that is put into play every time we ride, but when is, it will be worth every penny you spent.

About the Test Rider:

Joe Carlino is the guy next door. He looks for products with best value and buys them right off the shelf, just like you. He’s gained experience from being on two wheels since he was a kid. He has bought, built, repaired, and ridden everything from BMX bikes to vintage motorcycles to motocross bikes. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, he spends 75 percent of his free time riding the sticky dirt tracks of Washougal and Mountain View and the rest of his time riding the prime single track trails of Tillamook Forest and Hood River. Joe makes a hobby of this when he’s not traveling the world making snowboarding films for Nike SB. With ten years of experience in the action sports industry, he has an honest look at these products from a consumer’s point of view.

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1 member reviews

Very good product at a reasonable price point.
Rating:
The Good
Great range of mobility. Very easy to adjust. Fold flat feature makes it easy to fit in your gear bag. Lightweight.
The Bad
The only bad I have found so far is the height pads on the sides of the brace can come out easy. Now this isn't an issue when riding, but I usually have to hunt around my gear bag to find one after it's fallen out. I will be storing the brace in a helmet bag now to mitigate this.
Overall Review:

This is my first brace and I'm happy with the choice I made to get the GPX 5.5 from Leatt. I hope I never have to put it to the test but I feel more confident wearing this device. After a few laps I didn't even notice I was wearing it.

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Post a reply to: Very good product at a reasonable price point.

Specifications

Product
Leatt GPX 5.5 Neck Brace
Construction
 
Colors
Black
Miscellaneous
Engineered by a medical doctor and Bio Medical engineers and tested by some of the fastest bicycle and motorcycle racers in the world.
Totally new chassis design made of fiberglass-reinforced polyamide.
New helmet rim striking platform for increased head and helmet freedom of motion.
Five-way adjustability.
Sliding front and rear SureFit adjusters to ensure optimum fit.
Four-angle rear thoracic strut adjustments fits more body shapes.
Adjustable over-the-shoulder height for optimizing freedom of motion for different neck lengths and helmet rim profiles.
Sculptured, split front for improved comfort and fit.
New and improved, CoreFlex split rear thoracic strut is more comfortable and designed to work with the body's natural movements.
Thoracic rear strut is engineered to snap off before applying excessive pressure to the back.
New and improved low-profile open / close system incorporating a spring-loaded push-button.
Easy to use emergency release mechanism for injured riders.
Engineered collarbone cutout to help keep your helmet and brace away from your most fragile bones.
Injected foam padding on upper surface is more durable, easier to clean and designed to accommodate custom sticker kits.
Air flow ribs in the padding ensure optimum ventilation.
Folding rear thoracic strut for easier packing.
Free, optional, clear chest strap included.
CE certified as Personal Protective Equipment 89/686/EEC.
Price
$369.99
More Info
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