PRESS RELEASE: Bluegrass
Back protection is one of the most underrated pieces of a mountain biker’s kit. How many times is it accidentally forgotten? How many times is it a target for complaints about the fit, the look, the comfort, and even the smell?
With that in mind, we decided to start from scratch and offer the ultimate back protectors. By using the best fabric, the innovative Dryarn® microfiber, coupled with a seamless construction, we achieved the perfect comfort, breathability, and dryness. Made in Italy and using D3O® inserts, they represent the next generation of back protection, without any compromise!
Suitable for all Mountain bike and E-Mountain bike use, they are the go-to choice of our pro-racer Kevin Miquel, like us on our after-work rides. The protective inserts are discrete under the jersey but efficient with impact thanks to D3O® technology. These all-new Seamless Back Protectors D3O® perfectly complete our existing back protector range.
Like a second skin, our two new Seamless back protectors D3O® provide comfort, breathability, and dryness like never before.
Forget all the excuses of leaving your back protector at home – jump in!
BLUEGRASS SEAMLESS B&S D3O®
Thanks to the seamless construction, the most comfortable and ergonomic fit has been achieved. Like a second skin, the fit is unisex and accommodates all body shapes. Being very stable, the fabric holds onto its elastic properties for the lifetime of the product.
The Bluegrass Seamless B&S D3O® is a unique body armour made from 90% Dryarn® microfiber; an innovative material that guarantees the highest level of performance for next-to-skin fabrics. The fiber works to regulate body temperature; driving perspiration outside without absorbing it. The armour dries quickly, ensuring skin remains fresh and dry.
Features
▪ Seamless construction
▪ Dryarn® microfiber
▪ Unisex fit
▪ Protectors compliant with EN 1621-2:2014, Level 1
▪ D3O full back protector (removable)
▪ D3O shoulder shells (removable)
▪ Made in Italy
▪ Weight (S/M): 580g
▪ Sizes: S/M, M/L
▪ MSRP: 250€, £230, 300US$, 350CAD, 400AUD
▪ Bluegrass website
▪ Seamless construction
▪ Dryarn® microfiber
▪ Unisex fit
▪ Protectors compliant with EN 1621-2:2014, Level 1
▪ D3O full back protector (removable)
▪ D3O shoulder shells (removable)
▪ Made in Italy
▪ Weight (S/M): 580g
▪ Sizes: S/M, M/L
▪ MSRP: 250€, £230, 300US$, 350CAD, 400AUD
▪ Bluegrass website
Seamless construction and Dryarn® microfiber
Featuring D3O® technology, the Seamless B&S offers the thinnest and most advanced protection against impact. Utilising the new D3O-BP4® back protector, it outperforms its predecessor with increased ventilation and flexibility.
The shoulder shells stay firmly in place with backpack strap compatibility. They won’t interfere with your arms movements and they are not annoying on your clavicles. Giving you confidence and comfort during the ride.
New D3O-BP4® back protector
Shoulder shells
Two rear pockets are a convenient solution for snacks and other small or soft items that would not pose a hazard in case of an impact.
The bottom of the armour is purposely longer than traditional vests. Dressing it into the pants, it helps to maximise stability while rinding.
Rear pockets
Long length
The fiber is 30% lighter than traditional fabrics and thanks to its second-skin fit the Bluegrass Seamless B&S D3O® body armour goes unnoticed under the jersey.
Thanks to its elastic properties, we can guarantee the perfect fit and comfort for all body shapes. We offer two sizes, S/M and L/XL.
BLUEGRASS SEAMLESS LITE D3O®
The Bluegrass Seamless Lite D3O® thanks to the seamless construction has the most comfortable and ergonomic fit ever been achieved. Like a second skin, the fit is unisex and accommodates all body shapes. Being very stable, the fabric holds onto its elastic properties for the lifetime of the product.
This unique body armour is made from 90% Dryarn® microfiber; an innovative material that guarantees the highest level of performance for next-to-skin fabrics. The fiber works to regulate body temperature; driving perspiration outside without absorbing it. The armour dries quickly, ensuring skin remains fresh and dry.
Features
▪ Seamless construction
▪ Dryarn® microfiber
▪ Unisex fit
▪ Protector compliant with EN 1621-2:2014, Level 1
▪ D3O full back protector (removable)
▪ Made in Italy
▪ Weight (S/M): 360g
▪ Sizes: S/M, M/L
▪ MSRP: 190€, £170, 225US$, 300CAD, 300AUD
▪ Bluegrass website
▪ Seamless construction
▪ Dryarn® microfiber
▪ Unisex fit
▪ Protector compliant with EN 1621-2:2014, Level 1
▪ D3O full back protector (removable)
▪ Made in Italy
▪ Weight (S/M): 360g
▪ Sizes: S/M, M/L
▪ MSRP: 190€, £170, 225US$, 300CAD, 300AUD
▪ Bluegrass website
Seamless construction and Dryarn® microfiber
Featuring D3O® technology, the Seamless Lite offers the thinnest and most advanced protection against impact. Utilising the new D3O-BP4® back protector, it outperforms its predecessor with increased ventilation and flexibility.
New D3O-BP4® back protector
Two rear pockets are a convenient solution for snacks and other small or soft items that would not pose a hazard in case of an impact.
The bottom of the armour is purposely longer than traditional vests. Dressing it into the pants, it helps to maximise stability while riding.
Rear pockets
Long length
The all-new Bluegrass Seamless Lite D3O® feels like a base layer but works as a full back-protector. The fiber is 30% lighter than traditional fabrics and thanks to its second-skin fit the back protector goes unnoticed under the jersey.
Thanks to its elastic properties, we can guarantee the perfect fit and comfort for all body shapes. We offer two sizes, S/M and L/XL.
Must Read This Week
185 Comments
I get it that R&D costs money, as does the tech involved in making back, head, eye, elbow and knee protection but when stuff retails for £150, £200, £250+ I just think its instantly pricing many riders out of purchasing things.
I'm sure people will say 'what price can you put on safety' yadda yadda yadda, but the hard truth is when stuff costs this much, many folk just won't buy.
You only have to look at the sale prices of most gear to see how much profit is built into items. If we're serious about safety, these companies have got to step up and offer real protection at realistic prices.
There are plenty of companies offering 'real protection' (with MIPS/D3O etc) at realistic prices - just because you see an item with a big discount, that doesn't mean it was overpriced to being with. On protection, dealers make between 40-55%, the brand who's selling it often makes no more than 20% (before you consider all of their R&D, Staff, Marketing (and riders should get paid more, right?).
No-one in this industry is driving around in Lamborghinis, taking holidays in the Maldives.
Doesn't Cedric Gracia have a Ferrari or Aaron Gwin a McLaren?
I'm being facetious of course, they fully deserve it for investing wisely in their golden days (and of course for being the best in their eras). And now that I think of it, Cedric mainly invested outside the mtb industry so maybe you're right after all haha.
This one made in Poland for 125EUR, so half the price. Probably not as breathable.
But I admit I ride in POC VPD System, because it is the most breathable thing I have found. I was able to hunt back and chest for about 200EUR total (on sales).
Nope, that stuff is part of the cost price, not the retail price.
And whether someone owns a bike that costs £500 or £5000 doesn't mean they can't shout up when they have an opinion on the price of stuff.
It's clear from the up and down votes that my original post has split opinion which is exactly what I expected would happen (and is the right thing TO happen).
But a couple of posts have brought my profile, bike history and - supposed - cost of those which I don't think has any bearing on the original subject matter (as well as the figures being spouted being way off the mark).
If we take a car analogy then it doesn't cost you more to get a 5 star NCAP rated car; you can pay £5000 to get one or £50000 to get one. Sure, they both offer different things in terms of quality of materials, brand image etc etc etc but the fundamental aspect of safety isn't compromised at either price point.
As everybody else has stated, there are likely options to suit your budget.
While protection is highly reccomend, it's also optional.
Much like helmets; You can purchase a helmet for $100 or $500. While they both protect you, the $500 helmet will likely have more features.
You get what you pay for.
People look at mountainbiking products and think "need". While that is somewhat subjective, ultimately none of this is a "need". You define how much you wanna spend on something that makes you happy.
It's all I can do to not overheat slipping knee pads over my calves & y'all wanna saran wrap your whole carcass in hero pads?
www.motosport.com/product/?cc=us&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI34qQvcDL7wIVhPbjBx2sLAYmEAQYAiABEgIS1_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&key=Fox-Racing-2021-Raceframe-Roost-Deflector&pssource=true&segment=badger&utm_medium=pla&utm_source=google&variant=FXRZ23M-X001-Y002
For comparison, the same protection on Moto gear would run you $250 (www.klim.com/Tactical-Shirt-4034-000). so i would say this is more than fairly priced.
The staff that design the stuff don't make a profit.
The staff that manufacture the stuff don't make a profit.
The staff that run the warranty department don't make a profit.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
They get paid a wage for their work and then the owner of the company keeps the profit. Crap arrangement of you ask me.
PS. Warranty is also to be included under the cost price...
I'd argue that if I take the effort to bring my idea of a business model/product to the market and turn a profit, it'd be a crap arrangement if the kid I hire to answer phones for me gets anything but what the value of his contribution is.
There is no moral imperative for profit I'll give you that, but I don't think that saying profit is immoral is necessarily true or fair.
Likely the owner is NOT the one keeping the profits as that's not how most businesses work. Especially on a larger scale. Too much liability.
Likely the owner benefits from the use of company assets, as well as the ability to write off certain taxes. In fact, if I had to guess, he's yearly salary is not much more than the people that work for them.
You are correct, however in each worker working for a wage. That's how it works. They are employed by a company who takes risks with money to turn a profit, and in turn provide secure and reliable wages for its workers. It's a balance of things. I'm not sure how your situation works, but if your making a killing sitting back and sharing the profit with the owners of whatever your doing, hats off to you sir!
Although I doubt that's the case as you complain about the price of a premium product in a sport that is not at all inexpensive. I suggest the buy and sell. That's where I prlurchased alot of things including premium protection at a fraction of the cost of new when I was younger, and didn't have the money to go far.
Instead of saying "I can't afford that!",
Ask yourself, "how CAN I afford that?"
I cannot stress enough, that this industry is full of luxury items. In fact, most of the low end stuff is.
I fully support any business turning a profit, while producing a product that they are truly passionate about.
That's the dream isn't it?
If you believe the majority of company owners don't make more than their employees you'll believe anything.
The ideas being brought to market are rarely the owners ideas and even when they are, they are brought to market by the staff that work for them just as much as the owner.
You'll also notice I didn't complain about the price. Just the justification for the price.
My example was actually more of a smaller more boutique outfit.
That being saint's it's fairly dependent on the size of the company, and how it's structured.
While I will fully agree there are many large corporations whose sole function is to make money, and make it for themselves, we also can't throw every company into that catagory.
Your correct, alot of ideas under the brand are the brainchild of people like yourself.
While at the same time, if you look at We are one composites, these are people who live and breathe what they do. They have turned their passion into success. Call me naive, but I like to believe that they are the ladder.
There are many companies in the industry that are driven by the wrong reasons, and I think its fair to say these companies tend to lose their reputation along the way.
If we had to choose a company who is providing good products, at a variety of pricing, and having good after sales support, while hitting the "corporate" box at the same time would be Fox Head. I won't say they make the best stuff, but it's very good, and any issues I've had with their stuff, they are quick to warranty. The prices are fair, and ultimatly I happy with what they provide.
For MTB it's the same. Yes there's cheaper protections options available, but if you want the best materials, newest most advanced tech and maybe more protection for what you're doing then you pay more, it's all pretty simple really.
And honestly, if anyone can afford expensive bikes they should be able to afford the protection they need. Personally I'd rather save some money on a high spec bike if it ensured I'd be able to ride to with the protection I feel I need, rather than have a high end bike and end up with brain damage in hospital, just becasue I didn't want to buy a decent helmet.
I personally roll with knee pads on every ride and elbow pads on most of them. But it totally makes sense to me why the youngsters, and also a lot of old guys, go without. There is just something free-ing about being padless (something something bad condom joke).
Then I hit my late 20s and ground start to hurt a lot more, and slowly the injuries I *thought* I had healed from in my youth started to make popping sounds when it was about to rain.
Now I wear as much as I can.
We don‘t have sex in Germany, that could be fun and we don‘t have fun in Germany...
I think its a good direction for our sports look and feel.
I`m buying!
www.ebay.com/itm/RACER-Motion-Top-2-Full-Body-Armor-Protector-MX-Motocross-BMX-MTB-ATV-DH-Gear/184366081798
Oh yea, and works fine with my Leatt neck brace.
First, in order to fit snugly enough that they do not slip backward (and end up applying like pressure to your throat) you need to wear a very tight fit that borders on uncomfortable.
Second, they’re hot. Mesh may help with heat, but all I can envision is my nip slipping into one of those holes and chaffing like a wet taint on a sandpaper seat.
Getting it on isn't much of a problem. Taking it off after a day of riding in the summer and the shirt is soaked with sweat is a different story... and makes me search for similar shirts with a zipper.
Hand-wash makes it a complete no-go for me. If I can't machine-wash it on the delicate cycle with the rest of my cycling gear (pads removed), then it's too much trouble.
I'm all for back protection whenever I'm doing gravity riding. I am convinced the 7iDP shirt is the reason I can still walk after a bad crash back in 2015.
This should be MAYBE $100-120, and I now know to never spend a penny with BlueGrass.
It seem to be protecting the outside of the arm, which strikes me as being in completely the wrong place?!
www.d3o.com/partner-support/products/viper-stealth-back-protector
@bluegrass-eagle: Why is the shoulder pad so low? are the photos of a pre-production model or something?
Grazie.
If a "g" was left off, I'm curious and interested. If an "n" was added, not so much.
It's like those lightweight "trail" kneepads. They're only supposed to save you from getting skinned when you slide out on those rides where you wouldn't wear any pads otherwise, not for bikepark days. Doesn't make them "pointless".
My bike gear was encouraging social distancing long before covid.
Post a Comment