If you are keen to protect your back from any potential falls while skiing, the Komperdell Pro Vest could be a good idea. I used it while ski touring in Scotland and on a trip to Switzerland for piste skiing. Komperdell sent me the Pro Vest to test in return for an honest review.
Features include:
- Multi-layer Cross Flex back-protector, made of adaptive dual-density foam
- Light and flexible design
- Front zipper
- Washable at 30°C
- Multi-impact resistance – due to self-regenerating Dual-Density Foam
- Internal hem gripper
- Sizes: Female: XXS – XL
- Male version
- Price: £199.95
- See: Komperdell Pro Vest for ski protection.
My thoughts: Komperdell Pro Vest for ski protection
Not so many years ago, wearing a protective helmet for skiing wasn’t a habit of everyone. These days, almost every skier and snowboarder appears to wear a helmet. It’s the same for cycling.
At first, when wearing a helmet I thought it would be hot, uncomfortable and annoying, but now it’s just part of my kit – and the helmet fits well.
It’s the same with the Komperdell Pro Vest. I thought it would be stiff and uncomfortable, but I mostly forgot I was wearing it.
I like that it’s light and flexible and you wear it like a jacket. It’s as simple as that. The back is a bit bulky and stiff but not overly so. I wore the vest over base layers layers but under the waterproof shell jacket, plus a rucksack. There is always quite a lot of layering and bulk when dressing for skiing so I didn’t mind the vest as well.
The internal grips at the hem are useful for keeping the Komperdell Pro Vest in place. The grippers stop the jacket riding up.
The extra bulk at my back and shoulders – plus a rucksack – were noticeable when I sat down, such as on a chairlift. The simplest thing to do is to take off the rucksack. It wasn’t uncomfortable, so much as a bit bulky.
I also found my back got a bit sweaty but that is not unusual when skiing!
The benefits are peace of mind. When I ski it’s often out of the resort limits. In Scotland, the ski terrain is usually unpredictable and a fall is more likely than not during each outing.
When I ski overseas, I am often faced with slopes and terrain that test my comfort zone, so there is always the potential for a fall.
Wearing the protective vest means I have my back and my head protected.
I would recommend the vest if you are new to skiing or snowboarding or if you’re planning to ski in situations where you will be pushing your boundaries a bit, or if you are likely to encounter unpredictable terrain.
At the same time, it’s an easy garment to wear and since no-one knows when they might fall, it could be a good idea simply to wear it as part of the routine, just like a helmet.
This is not a cheap product but it’s an item I expect to last. It is also washable.