Know more about what is the best way to protect your hip while riding. Choose from a range of optimum gear made for protection.
When it comes to motorcycle safety gear and accessories, riders often focus on helmets, gloves, and jackets. However, one area that sometimes gets overlooked is hip protection. While head and torso protection are crucial, your hips are also highly vulnerable in case of a crash or fall. Hip injuries can be severe and debilitating, making hip protection essential for any rider looking to ensure maximum safety. Read on to find out the importance of hip protection, the available options, and the benefits of investing in the right gear.
The Importance of Hip Protection
Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to hip injuries because of the way they are exposed during a ride. In the case of an accident or a slide, the hips are often the first point of contact with the ground – especially when falling on the side. A fall at high speeds can result in serious injuries such as fractures, dislocations, or bruising.
Here’s why hip protection is so important:
- Impact Absorption: In an accident, the impact on your hips can be significant. Protecting this area with padded armor helps absorb the force and reduce the risk of severe injuries.
- Preventing Fractures: Hip fractures are common in motorcycle accidents, especially in high-speed collisions or when a rider is thrown off the bike. Protective gear reduces the chances of a fracture by distributing the force of impact more evenly.
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Injury Recovery: Hip injuries can be life-changing, often requiring surgery and months of recovery. Wearing the proper hip protection gear can minimise the risk and help you avoid these long-term consequences.
Hip Protection Options for Motorcycle Riders
When it comes to protecting your hips, there are various types of gear designed to shield this vulnerable area and ensure that you are safe. The key is choosing gear that fits well, offers adequate protection against impact and abrasion, and suits your riding style. Here are the most common types of hip protection available for motorcyclists:
- Riding Pants with Built-In Armor
Many modern motorcycle pants come equipped with built-in hip armor. These pants are specifically designed for riders and often feature CE-approved hip pads that provide impact protection. The armor is usually inserted into pockets located around the hips, ensuring that the padding stays in place during a crash or fall.
- Material: Riding pants can be made from materials such as Kevlar, reinforced textile, or leather, all of which provide abrasion resistance and durability.
- Comfort: These pants are comfortable to wear on long rides, and many are also breathable and water-resistant, making them ideal for various weather conditions.
Choose from a wide range of riding pants on www.reisemoto.com. Spidi’s 4season pants are one of the top choices of riders. This comes with certified removable protectors for the knees and hips.
- Hip Protectors
Hip protectors are separate pieces of armor designed to be worn under or over your regular riding gear. They provide additional protection by adding a layer of cushioning around the hip area. These protectors are usually made from shock-absorbing foam or other materials designed to minimize impact forces.
- Slip-in Hip Pads: Some motorcycle jackets and pants come with pockets where you can insert additional hip protection pads. These slip-in pads are flexible, allowing you to add or remove them based on your needs. Make sure that you are buying brands like Spidi, Reise, Acerbis and Viaterra that ensure that they use top of the line materials and certified protectors.
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Adjustable Straps: Many hip protectors come with adjustable straps for a secure fit, ensuring they stay in place while riding. It’s counterproductive to have loose hip protectors. If they shift around, they are likely to do more damage than good.
- Armored Riding Shorts
Another effective option for hip protection is armored riding shorts. These are worn under your regular riding pants and feature integrated padding around the hips, thighs, and tailbone. Armored shorts provide an extra layer of impact protection without adding bulk or restricting your movement.
- Breathable Fabric: Most armored shorts are made from lightweight and breathable materials to ensure comfort, even during long rides.
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Versatility: These shorts can be worn with any riding outfit, providing a seamless fit for both casual and performance riding.
- Adventure and Touring Pants
For adventure and long-distance touring riders, specific pants offer additional protection, including built-in armor for hips, knees, and thighs. These pants are often designed for all-weather riding and come equipped with advanced features like waterproofing, ventilation, and high-impact armor.
- Integrated Hip Armor: Adventure and touring pants typically feature robust hip armor that protects riders during long rides on mixed terrain.
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Durable Materials: These pants are usually made from high-quality textile or leather, ensuring that they are abrasion-resistant and capable of withstanding tough conditions.
Benefits of Hip Protection Gear
Investing in proper hip protection is a decision that enhances both safety and comfort for motorcycle riders. Here are the main benefits of using hip protection gear:
- Enhanced Safety
The most significant benefit of wearing hip protection is the added safety it provides. With impact-absorbing armor, the force of a crash is dispersed over a larger area, reducing the likelihood of injuries. Hip protectors can be lifesaving in high-speed accidents or even in minor spills that might otherwise cause damage to your hips and pelvis.
- Improved Comfort
Motorcycle pants with built-in hip armor are designed to offer protection without sacrificing comfort. Many riders worry that extra padding will be uncomfortable, but most modern gear is engineered to provide a snug yet breathable fit that doesn’t restrict movement. Ventilation is a key feature that riders want in their wants, and these pants ensure that breathability is taken care of.
- Weather Protection
Adventure and touring pants often include features such as waterproofing, insulation, and ventilation since the rider is likely to be in multiple terrains over a long ride. These features keep you comfortable and protected from the elements while offering essential hip protection during long-distance rides.
- Versatility
With options like armored shorts and slip-in pads, you can easily add or remove hip protection based on your riding needs. Whether you’re riding casually or embarking on an adventure, hip protection gear can adapt to your style and the demands of the road.
- Long-Term Health Benefits
By protecting yourself against potential hip injuries, you are safeguarding your long-term mobility and quality of life. Hip fractures and dislocations can have lasting effects, and using the right gear can prevent injuries that require months of rehabilitation.
While helmets, gloves, and jackets are often the first pieces of motorcycle gear riders consider, hip protection should not be overlooked. Whether through riding pants with built-in armor, armored shorts, or slip-in protectors, there are numerous ways to protect your hips while riding. Investing in the right gear will not only enhance your safety but also provide you with peace of mind, knowing you’re protected from potential injuries. Ultimately, choosing the right hip protection for your riding style—whether it’s casual, adventure, or long-distance touring—will ensure a safer and more enjoyable ride.
- Team Reise Moto