A neck brace should be an essential part of your mx racing gear, but their effectiveness isn’t limited to the track alone. The fact is, the best mx neck braces are very effective piece of equipment for street riders as well, especially if you are on the road often with other vehicles.
The safety they provide isn’t often considered necessary until it’s too late. Because of their success in protecting riders on the mx track, they are also being utilized by those who ride street bikes, sport bikes, atvs, jet skis, go-karts, and other outdoor sporting vehicles as well.
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Best Motocross Neck Brace List March 2021
The functionality of a dirt bike neck brace is pretty simple. They restrict neck movement by giving your helmet a “stopping point” if jarred too far in either direction.
At the same time, you’ll find they are so comfortable, you might even forget you’re wearing it. They are also created with “failure points” built in that give way so you have more of a cushion in an accident.
Either feature could possibly save your life in a split second.
Top 5 Dirt Bike Neck Braces
- Leatt GPX 5.5 Neck Brace
- Leatt GPX 3.5 Neck Brace
- Leatt STX Road Neck Brace
- EVS Sports R4 Race Collar
- EVS Sports R3 Race Collar
Leatt GPX 5.5 Neck Brace Review
The Leatt GPX 5.5 Neck brace, according to the company, is truly a more technologically advanced version of the original GPX neck brace. The 5.5 is CE certified for safety, comfort, and effectiveness and allows the best range of movement and motion along with excellent adjustment ability. For top-level racers, this means more needs are met and more key features are available, just where you need them most. The excellent fit you find in the Leatt GPX 5.5 isn’t just for your comfort, but it also allows the most effectiveness.
Below-ear side areas are lower for better wearability, particularly when worn by children, smaller riders, or riders whose necks are shorter than average. Designed to work with the way your body moves naturally, you’ll find the CoreFlex split rear strut to be more comfortable. The same piece is designed to break off before excess pressure can be applied to the back.
Pros Include:
- Increased freedom of motion
- Excellent adjustability
- More safety features
Cons Include:
- The locking button can sometimes be hard to close
- Must be worn over other protective gear
- Can be complicated to learn to use for a beginner
Leatt GPX 3.5 Neck Brace Review
Rigorous testing has shown that the Leatt line of neck braces can help reduce the possibility of serious injury to your neck by more than 40%. The construction found in the Leatt GPX 3.5 is rigid enough to provide excellent protection while adjustable enough to fit almost all adult riders. A collarbone cutout assures protection of fragile bones in the event of a crash by both brace and helmet alike.
You will hardly know you even have the Leatt GPX on until you either need it or take it off. When you see marks on both the brace and the helmet, but feel no neck pain at all, you’ll realize this neck brace works just like it’s supposed to. Ergonomic and adjustable, you’re sure to get the perfect fit, while the airflow ribbed body gives you excellent ventilation.
Pros Include:
- Tested for excellent protection
- Removable thoracic strut
- Adjustable, sculpted, and ergonomic in design
Cons Include:
- It can be tricky to know whether to measure with gear on or off
- Completely rigid, so sizes must be accurate
- Can be a hassle for women who are small
Leatt STX Road Neck Brace Review
For street motorcycle riders, the Leatt STX Road Neck Brace is built with a polyamide resin frame and offers an excellent combination of good looks, movement, and functionality. No tools are needed for adjustments when combining it with other riding pieces and it is designed to work well with a mixture of different pieces of body armor. Although highly protective, it still offers you plenty of room for your helmet to move and never impedes your over the shoulder view.
This neck brace folds, so storage is super easy and it can even be locked to your motorcycle when not in use. A rubber coating means you won’t scratch your motorcycle’s body, even in close quarters, and it offers zipper relief for jackets. Overall, its ease of use makes it a great choice for anyone who prefers a simpler addition to their motorcycle gear.
Pros Include:
- Perfect positioning for motorcycle riding
- Ease of movement and viewing ability
- Foldability for easy storage on your motorcycle
Cons Include:
- The size chart can be a bit off
- Customer support from the company is lacking, especially with regard to returns
- Fitting the brace with back/shoulder armor can be a trick
EVS Sports R4 Race Collar Review
The EVS Sports R4 Race Collar is lightweight and form-fitting for excellent protection. The upper surface is hard, molded, and sends energy toward the actual core of the piece instead of to your body. For more impact protection, the bio-foam liner absorbs even more impact and sends it away from the body. The closure system features a rapid-lock system for easy on and off situations, while the adjustable rear strut creates a truly customized fit for any rider.
Available with straps, your mind can be at rest knowing this fully adjustable piece is placed exactly as it should be. In fact, you’re likely to forget you are even wearing it. The protection never supersedes the range of motion, which means complete comfort for the rider.
Pros Include:
- Light-weight and extremely comfortable
- Adjustable for a great fit
- Excellent range of motion
Cons Include:
- Isn’t as easy to lower adjustments as to raise them
- Strap system is not comfortable for everyone
- Collar rides up during use
EVS Sports R3 Race Collar Review
The EVS Sports R3 Race Collar is the most budget-friendly item of the five on our list, which means it also provides less protection than the rest. Still, wearing any neck brace is better than wearing no neck brace when you’re racing.
The R3 is a slightly lesser version of the R4 race collar. Unlike the R3, which a hard molded upper surface to disperse impact, the R3 only comes with a soft density core. It’s also one-third the price, so in some sense, you are getting what you pay for.
The R3 is easily washable and connects to most chest place for easy on and off protection.
Pros Include:
- Inexpensive
- Low pro design
- Comes in youth and adult sizes
Cons Include:
- Less protection
- Nonadjustable
- Could be thicker
My Vote for Best Motorcycle Neck Brace
While any neck brace is better than no neck brace, the winner here is definitely going to be the Leatt GPX 5.5 Neck Brace. Ranking on the higher end of the budget scale, the benefits are well worth paying a little extra. After all, a bad neck injury can permanently paralyze you, so spending a few extra dollar for the best mx neck brace is well worth it.
With the Leatt GPX 5.5 you get a CD certification, excellent comfort, effectiveness, and safety, and the peace of mind that this combination will bring.
The Leatt GPX 5.5 also offers better adjustment abilities as well as a helmet rim striking platform that allows great freedom of motion. Ventilation is increased, thanks to air flow ribs within the padding, and a chest strap, which is optimal, make a great choice for riders of all calibers.
If you prefer a well-rounded neck brace that truly works as it should, the Leatt GPX 5.5 is absolutely your best choice.