Since their introduction to the neck protection market in 2011, Atlas quickly became one of the main players in the segment. Now, six years later, the brand has updated their adult brace multiple times, with the latest version being the Air. Other than the available sizes in the Air, their range has also expanded quite a bit; offering three more braces for teens (Prodigy), youth (Tyke), and peewee riders (Broll). Beyond this, they've even added a line of chest protection products to work with their braces. All this is backed up with a strong group of sponsored riders, such as Dean Wilson, Jason Anderson, Ryan Villopoto, and Evgeny Bobryshev. Now, we'll give you a quick overview of their 2017 product range.
Starting off with the mainstay brace for their 2017 line is the Air, which is available in small, medium, and large sizes. It features a split support structure on both the front and rear of the brace, which is done to disperse impacts, and also remove some of the pressure directly from the spine and sternum. This brace also comes in at only 1.3 pounds for a medium-sized version, while offering a range of adjustability in each size. This includes extra padding to adjust the overall height of the brace along the shoulder region and rear support mounts which can be reversed and angled different to adjust the fit from your back-to-chest region. This brace is available in five colors and comes in at $329.99.
Pricing goes one step higher with their top-of-the-line model, the Carbon. As the name suggests, this version is made from a carbon-resin, which means it's lighter (by 25 grams) and offers more flex for its strength than its little brother, the Air. All the features of the brace are the same, including the adjustments, plus split front and rear sections. Just like the Air, it also comes with an included strap system, which can be worn over the top of your jersey or under. This version is available in two color options and costs $499.99.
From a distance, the Prodigy looks similar to the Air, which makes sense since it's basically a shrunken version for the younger teen rider. Because of this, it boasts the majority of the features found on the Air, excluding the height adjustment pads, but including the rear adjustments capabilities. Being that the Prodigy is a youth size and smaller than the Air, it also comes in lighter at 1.2 pounds It's also available in five graphic options and will st you back $269.99.
Next down the line for the youth age rider is the Tyke, which keeps the same design philosophy as the larger products but is more noticeably sized different in certain areas to better work for this size/age of rider. The Tyke's rear adjustment is a bit different then some of other larger models, it still offers a large total size change, but not in as many stages as the other versions. Overall however, this still allows the brace to grow with the rider. This brace also features the same easy-to-open function at the front of the brace, which is found on all Atlas models. The Tyke has its own unique five graphic designs, weighs one pound and retails for $199.99.
Last up for neck braces is the smallest model in the lineup for peewee riders, the Broll. Being that this model is designed for the youngest of riders, its appearance is a bit different, mostly in front section. Instead of the hard plastic, split section found amongst the larger models, the Broll features a front area with more foam for more impact absorption and to deal with the lower speeds involved. The Broll keeps the split back design that Atlas uses amongst their whole range, keeping the pressure directly off the spine. This brace also offers a range of adjustability to work with the continuing growth of the youngest riders who just seem to get bigger week after week. The closure system is also a bit different, as it utilizes a simple strap latch which allows parents to easily remove the brace. This brace weighs just .8 pounds, and is relatively inexpensive at only $99.99 to get the youngster started alongside their first bike.
Beyond a full range of neck braces, Atlas also offers a small range of chest protection. On the hardshell side of things is the Defender, which was developed to specifically fit with the Air and Carbon braces, while the Defender Jr. is to be utilized with the Prodigy or Tyke. The Defender features a hard shell protection front and rear, with waterproof padding, while the shoulder straps offer adjustability and a mounting point for the neck braces. The front shell has two section, with the top portion being removable to allow for the extra room needed with a neck brace. The rear section of the brace is meant to slide under the rear shell or optional clear strap. This protector is $139.99 and is available in seven color options.
All-in-all, Atlas offers a total of six different sizes of neck braces, allowing a rider of any age or size to utilize the protection. If you're interested in seeing the sizing charts for each brace, comparing the features, get spare parts, new graphics and more, then check out AtlasBrace.com.
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