First Look: Leatt 2015 Product Line 7

Article and photos by Michael Lindsay

In 2006, Leatt entered the motocross protection market with its widely popular neck brace. Since then, the company has grown and has been adding other safety related products to its line. For 2015, they are expanding even more, adding in a wider range of elbow, knee, chest, and total upper body protection. They're also entering the knee brace market with their long awaited C-Frame, and also have a helmet in the works that we were allowed to sneak-a-peek at. This doesn't mean they have forgotten about their roots however, as the neck brace line is getting a large amounts of upgrades as well.

Neck Braces:

Neck braces is where it all started for Leatt, and they’re still pushing to improve them every year. For 2015, they'll be introducing a new top-of-the-line carbon model dubbed the GPX 6.5, and a new entry-level GPX 4.5 model. Both of these braces are based off of their 5.5 model that was released a few months ago. These braces are designed to give a larger range of movement and adjustability, while still improving safety for your neck. The entry-level brace uses their older-style adjustment, which requires you to swap out parts to make the braces larger or smaller in certain areas. The carbon model however joins the mid-range GPX 5.5 by being adjustable with no tools. Instead, it uses a series of buttons and sliders, which makes setting it up a breeze.

There are a few other products in the neck brace lineup as well. The DBX model is fordownhill mountain bike riders, which features a lower rear chassis to allow better range of motion for the different stance used on a mountain bike compared to moto. There is a SNX model for snowmobile and snowcross applications. This brace is much larger, as it's designed to fit over the large coats typically used while on a snowmobile. Finally, there is a MRX model for motorsport and UTV usage. This model is actually Leatt's own take on the HANS device.

Chest Protection:

Chest protection is another field that Leatt is trying to take by storm, by offering more than just the standard chest protection.

For hard shell protection, Leatt has a few different options in their Chest Protection 5.5 line. These range from a standard chest and back-only style protector, to one that features side/rib protection, and a model with chest, back, side, shoulder, and elbow protection.

Leatt is also expanding their line of 3DF Airfit Protection vests. These range fromstandard chest and back protection, to full upper body vest with shoulder and elbow protection. The protection comes from the 3DF Airfit impact foam, which is soft and flexible when riding but stiffens up during hard impacts. This line is meant to be used as under-jersey protection, with the vests being made from a compression material that features a moisture-wicking fabric as well.

Then the double-duty items arrive, in the form of the Fusion line. This is Leatt's combined chest/neck protection. Last year, this was introduced in a kid's size and now it's being released in an Adult size as well. Overall, these products are fairly straightforward, as they combine Leatt's chest protection with a neck brace for a simple all-in-one package.

Knee, Elbow, and Shoulder Protection:

You may have heard some rumblings about Leatt's C-Frame knee brace before. The company was planning on launching it last year, but found a few things in the design they weren't completely happy with. After going back to the drawing board, Leatt is ready to launch the knee braces in the next few months as they've now entered production.

These braces are unique in the design, as they only feature a hinge on the outside ofthe brace. This is done by Leatt to better support the knee, and they claim this allows for a more natural movement of the joint. The top and bottom frames of the brace have also been designed with bone injuries in mind. Both sections are designed to actually break off from the brace before reaching the average force that is needed to break a femur or tib/fib. Along with this, the shape of these sections are designed to better distribute the load and not place as much pressure into the upper and lower leg portions as some other braces on the market. We'll personally have our hands on these braces in the coming weeks to put them to the test and give you a more in-depth look at them.

Along with this, there is a large line of elbow and knee protection. Leatt has been hard at work designing these products to be the best on the market. They self-admit that the pricing is a bit higher side on some of these items, but they feel as they are worth every penny with all the development and unique materials that are in use to keep the rider safe. The biggest news for this line is the new Armour Gel knee and elbow pads. The gel used actually stiffens the harder it is hit. The gel isn’t Leatt's own design, but one they were so impressed with they had to include it in their lineup of products. The best example of how well this material works is the videos we were shown of it in action. Check out the video comparison of a shin being hit with and without the Armour Gel.

There is also a shoulder support brace that is new. This strap on support was designed with help from orthopedic surgeons to help riders with rotator cuff and other shoulder dislocation type injuries.

Hydration:

Leatt's line of hydration equipment also gets a refresh this year. New colors are joined by a new optional, washable, bladder which resembles a zip-lock baggie of sorts. Leatt offers a wide range of sizes for water storage, plus some backpack designs that offer more storage for other uses.

They’re also introducing a chest protector that features a built-in hydration system. The design is a bit different as you place the hydration system on first and then strap the front chest protector plate on. This allows you to adjust the height accordingly so the weight of the water pack is not dragging the front shell upwards.

Helmet?

Yes, Leatt is entering the helmet market. What can we tell you? It will have a host of new features not previously found on any other helmet available today. The folks at Leatt have done their homework and had quite the impressive list of new ideas that went into its creation. The helmet itself is at the end of the pre-production phase, but it will still be a few months before it's in the hands of consumers. Keep a look out for our in-depth First Look at the new GPX 6.5 lid later this year.

If you're interested in any of Leatt's products, you can check them out at Leatt.com