Need advise with Youth neck braces

I havepretty much the same split. They boys have been running the EVS braces with good results for a couple of years. However, i just switched from the Leatt to the Atlas and like it so much that i am thinking about getting ones for them now that they have kid sizes. Very comfortable and well made......

http://atlasbrace.com/

The new Tyke and Prodigy kids braces are very nice!

The Leatt is an engineering marvel. Lots of pieces, nuts and bolts, latches, pads. Good points is it is quite adjustable and not too uncomfortable with a chest protector designed for a neck brace. Bad points, well everything I listed before the good points.

Before the Leatt I had gotten an Alpinestars. What a cheap looking 3 dollar piece of unadjustable squirt molded plastic that thing was. Right back into the box it went to be returned.

The Atlas brace looks improved over the initial design that had the wire cable running around the back of the neck. It appears to be worth a good look.

Considering the controversy surrounding the effectiveness of all the neck braces, I think the comfort level is a key factor. If it's easy to put on and comfortable to wear chances are it will probably be in place when you crash.

Best "chest protector" for kids is the bullriding vest style. We use the 2nd Moto ones and my boys won't ride without them. Both of my boys have taken some serious hits to the torso and walked away just fine. There is no comparison to the old plastic style chest protectors...................

Not so much on the youth neck brace topic, but it looks like Leatt is coming out with a new brace called the Moto GPX Race early November. It states that this model has a few new upgrades to it. I'm definitely going to try to get one! The $359 price tag isn't bad either, compared to the Moto GPX Pro model.

I(my son from age 7 or 8 to now, 14) has ridden with a Leatt. Recently, within the last year, we got an Alpinestars as well. The Leatt has held up since we bought it and have no complaints as it wears well, is comfortable and is still in good shape. He wanted the Alpinstar brace and wore it twice and said that he didn't like it as idoesn't fit as well as the Leatt and is uncomfortable. the new Atlas has piqued my interest, however, I thought that at least giving you some personal experience on the two most popular ones might help. Good luck!

Agree with above - my son (6) rides with a vest from motocrossvest.com. Nice piece. Even has pockets inside to hold icepacks on hot days. He's continually telling me I need to get one.

Of note - we tried running a Leatt with the vest and it never fit quite right. Could be my guy's small size - the only neck device that worked for him (aside from a crappy foam roll) was the Aplinestars.

My 6 soon to be 7 yr old had been wearing a Leatt for about a year and a half. We have had no problems at all, it's extreamly adjustable and he is also wearing a Safetyfirst vest with it. The vest is designed to go with a Leatt and secures it to his body. The vest is made in TX and in two years have had no blems even after power washing it after every ride. I'm not so into some of the other vests, they seem to be made for all braces and don't really fit one perfectly. I like the new omega's but.. there is no vest type attachments, you have to wear the x-strap to hold it in place.

Any is better than none IMHO.

i am very confident that the Leatt Brace broke my collar bone, 1,5 years ago.. Now I don't know if there's been done adjustments, but I would not really want to see a child with broken collarbones.

As of WHY I am confident it was the Leatt, I'll give my opinion here.

When I crashed, I landed on the side of my head, pressing the Leatt brace into my sholder, and it "felt" for a brief moment as if a circled piece of something hard penetrated my collar bone. We went to Fredrikstad Hospital, one of Norways big hospitals, and the doctor said it was a VERY unusual place to break the collar bone (so far out.)

Home I went, and I called two of my friends that also believed the Leatt broke theirs, and they had broken it in the same spot as me, and both had gotten the "unusual place" comment from two different doctors. I googled x rays from the same situation, found two of them, and both were at the same place as mine. That's when I decided to get an Alpinestars BNS instead, which has been absolutely wonderful for me.

I have heard though that the Alpinestars BNS does not come with alot of adjustsments for younger riders, so you might consider checking out the Atlas brace? Never seen it but I have heard only good things about it.

And sorry to dig up an old subject, I do not know if their product (Leatt) has been changed, but it's my experience with it.

Good luck!

Please,Please,Please take the time and research this.I'll get flamed for this but don't put one of those things on your child.
They cause way more harm than they do good.I know all the other riders and their parents will accuse you putting your childs health in jeopardy and the manufactuers will make you feel guilty for not buying one but...research it. I've been at the track where two young boys have died because of the Leatt brace and I have two adult friends who are in wheelchairs because of them...Its your call but children are very resilient and dont need them. When they crash and break a collar bone
everyone says well thank God it could have been worse and they did their job...NO they broke a kids collar bone for no reason.I'll stop my rant but please dont follow the herd ...research it.