Better Living Through Saucepans?

Sometimes technology for a Digital Rider ends up in unexpected places…

Up until recently, protective motorcycle jackets and pants bulked up riders with all manner of padding – elbows, shoulders, knees, hips, back, and sometimes chest. Safety-conscious riders swear by them, but they are also 50% more likely to resemble Bibendum the Michelin Man.

Company d3o creates impact-resistant armor that’s generally more flexible and less bulky than its more traditional counterparts. The key is an engineered visco-elastic polymer that is flexible under normal conditions but stiffens under impact. The company’s introduced this high tech material in other sports like skiing/snowboarding, lacrosse, and equestrian and is now making inroads into motorcycle apparel.

But does it work?

From Gizmag comes this entertaining review if not entirely scientific review of d3o armor:

www.gizmag.com/d3o-motorcycle-armour-trauma-test/14227/

The video is worth watching, particularly the part where they bring out the saucepan. Be sure to read the story Update and User Comments at the bottom of the page for more insight and viewpoints on this new product. In any case, we have the Internets to thank for this free exchange of information.