SixSixOne - Evo Compression Jacket Long Sleeve

Size chart is way off, I ordered a small, had to return it to get a medium - fits well gives a good amount of protection. Definitely go the size up up if you will buy.

This is my first set of MTB body armour - I started MTB like many others during first lockdown riding my local trails in Nottingham (Hemlock Stone). They're pretty gnarly with red/black (some say double black) unofficially rated runs. I've already got full face (Bell Super DH), elbow pads (POC Joint VPD air), and knee/shin pads (Leatt 3.0 EXT) but wanted some back protection as was progressing with dirt jumps and wanted to feel safer when attempting the Stile Cop runs next month. I saw the Sixsixone Evo compression alongside some others and liked that it had back, shoulder and elbow D30 protection.

The chest and hip (technically it covers your anterior superior iliac crest rather than your actual hip but that's just the pedantic anatomist in me!) padding is just foam and is fine but would have been nice to have some D30 there too but I guess that would have added to the price & weight. To be honest it was Sprocket & Gear's price that swayed my choice in the end between a Leatt hard shell one and a Fox D30 one.

Initially I was really annoyed when the Evo arrived though as the sizing was way off and I had followed the Sprocket & Gear plus the Sixsixone official website size guides after measuring my chest etc very carefully. That told me to get a size medium but it was way too small - I'm not a big chap (68kg, 38inch/96cm chest), pretty skinny to be honest and technically on the lower end of the medium size scale for this product however it was like wearing a crop top! The forearm straps were too tight, the neck stretched and the shoulder pads didn't sit correctly. Plus the back padding only seemed to cover the top half of my back offering very little lumbar spine protection. I bought the next size up (large) instead and have returned the medium. The large is much much better for me - the padding now sits right, the strapping on the forearms is spot on and there's no crop top vibes going on anymore. I know it is supposed to be a "compression" jersey but the medium didn't offer any compression, just an uncomfortable squeeze. The large is still close and fits well. I've only had it couple of weeks and only ridden in cold weather (winter currently) so it was a welcome additional layer but not sure what it'll be like in summer.

Incidentally wearing it straight against the skin I think it'll cause some serious nipple rash/chaffing - it feels very harsh against mine anyway! So I've worn it with a t-shirt or vest underneath and that worked really well. The way the elbow pads sit in the sleeves they actually feel much better than my POC dedicated elbow pads as those would often slip with the juddering of riding. There's no movement with the Evo and the additional forearm straps really help keep any stray movement in check but not feeling like a tourniquet. It would be nice if the push stud/poppers that are designed to connected to your short liners actually matched the Endura ones I've got but I guess the idea is you get the Evo shorts as well that will be compatible.

As for actually providing protection when falling, I've not had many falls fortunately so far since taking up MTB but I did managed to fall twice on the Evo's first outing: just skids in wet mud at the end of trails - maybe I was riding more aggressively because I had the padding on. Both times I fell on to my right side and the main brunt of it was on my shoulder. Although I was fine at the time with no skin abrasions or bruising, later that day the right side of my neck, shoulder girdle and trapezius were very sore and have been for the past 3 days but that's down to the jarring of the crash rather than the impact. The D30 shoulder padding certainly seemed to stop any abrasions or superficial bruising which I'm sure I would have had had I not been wearing it.

Overall it's a great bit of kit - comfortable and good coverage plus it barely shows underneath a long sleeve jersey, it just makes me look a bit more buff! Annoying issue with the sizing though so check that before buying and I've not yet tested in hot weather. Would defo recommend.