d3o (Liquid Armor) Mini Review |
|
|
File under Product Review Safety
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
|
|
D3o (click here to read what we've written about them in 2005) is a new type of armor that can be used in many applications, one of them being motorcycles protection. d3olabs  are sponsoring several "development athletes", pioneers who are willing to test the new material (I'd call them guinea pigs..). One of them is Charles, a motorcycle rider on a RTWRound The World trip. Usually a motorcycle trip that covers many countries and many continents. trip from the UK to Australia (you can check out his story by clicking here ).
On his trip, Charles is currently in India, after riding for 4 months and 14,000 miles.
Charles is equipped with the d3o protection, which is a light, gel-like, material (liquid armor), that when it receives a strong impact (i.e. a crash), solidifies itself, protecting the rider from serious injuries. After the impact, it returns to its original state. The material can be used in body armor, even helmets or gloves, anywhere you stand the chance of hurting yourself when faced with strong impacts.
Charles took the time in his busy travel schedule to tell us about the d3o material:
" Fortunately, I cannot comment on its impact properties (other than having slammed my elbow in to a wall to test it!). From the breathability, comfort and practicality aspect, I can do nothing but to praise it. I am using the armor in my Heine Gericke Tuareg jacket in the shoulders and elbows, in the regular manufacturers armor pockets. I am also using it in the hip pockets of the trousers. At the time that I left, d3o did not have any back protection available for testing. "
The d3o looks like it's going to have a very promising future. It's light, and very easy to deploy. Once you hit something, it turns hard immediately, protecting you.
Thanks for the update Charles, and good luck with the rest of your trip!
Via: PlanitEarth
|
|
|
Click here to Show/Hide 
