Got my Dainese Rhyolite vest in the mail

**DirtMcGirk** · 06-13-2012, 06:39 PM

Got my new Rhyolite vest in the mail from Universal Cycles today.

I like it, a lot lighter than the full Gladiator vest I am coming from. But it is a little shorter than I had expected. Not all the way to tailbone protection. Still pretty good stuff, and will be great for here in Phoenix, but not quite what I had expected.

Really well made though.

**Downhillbiker23** · 06-13-2012, 06:47 PM

Cool story bro

In all seriousness. Is the rhyolite the one that hardens on impact. Soft normally and when hit it stiffens up making it soft protection. Let me know how it works. Hopefully you don't have to find out, but if you do I hope it works. Would love to know. It might be great I try

**DirtMcGirk** · 06-13-2012, 06:50 PM

I figure with all of the bike talent I don't have, I'll be field testing it with some dirt samples as early as this weekend. New bike + fat ass - lack of talent = random dirt samples on a pretty consistent basis.

**guiepinto** · 06-14-2012, 05:56 AM

Is it Leatt brace compatible?
Can you remove the upper foam pieces from the back?

**aaron_ma** · 06-14-2012, 06:49 AM

Any chance you could post a picture with the vest on? I have heard that the production version being shipped is much shorter than the vest displayed on Dainese's and other seller's websites. I have been looking for something with back and some chest protection that is light and low profile for trail riding, and the Rhyolite seems to fit those needs. But it has been pretty hard to get a good sense of what the vest is actually like from the info available.

**Nick** · 06-14-2012, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by aaron_ma

Any chance you could post a picture with the vest one?

Please, no.

My experience with Dainese is they fit to "euro" spec, not deep fried USA spec.

**ZenkiGarage** · 06-14-2012, 08:40 AM

Never tried their cycling gear but have worn Dianese leathers for years, and their quality is top notch.

**trap121** · 06-14-2012, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by DirtMcGirk

Got my new Rhyolite vest in the mail from Universal Cycles today.

I like it, a lot lighter than the full Gladiator vest I am coming from. But it is a little shorter than I had expected. Not all the way to tailbone protection. Still pretty good stuff, and will be great for here in Phoenix, but not quite what I had expected.

Really well made though.

How tall are you and what is your chest size? What size
did you get? Other than short, how is the fit?

**johnbryanpeters** · 06-14-2012, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Downhillbiker23

...Is the rhyolite the one that hardens on impact...

No. See POC Body Armor

**jonKranked** · 06-14-2012, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by johnbryanpeters

No. See POC Body Armor

jbp - there's several variations of dynamic impact response materials in use from various manufacturers, (not sure if DIR is the correct terminology here). 661's d30 is one example. but the POC stuff is really nice.