Riding on the Shore invariably means crashing. It might not happen this ride or even the next, but it will eventually and when it does, you're going to wish you were wearing something to protect your hide. Shin and arm pads are pretty much the norm around here, and upper body armour is starting to show up on riders looking for extra protection on those areas pads don't cover.

The Ninja Jacket's articulated spine pad

There are two basic types of upper body armour (not including chest protectors): long-sleeve jackets and short-sleeve jackets. Short-sleeve is a good option if you're happy with your current arm pad situation and are looking for something a little cooler or less bulky than long sleeves, and one of the strongest contenders in the short-sleeve market is Ridge Sport's Ninja Jacket. Features The Ninja Jacket is a pretty straightforward piece of upper body armour. It's made of a heavyweight nylon shirt, with two hard polyethylene (PE) plastic plates mounted on the front and a hard articulated spine pad on the back; all of the pads are attached to closed-cell foam. The shoulders of the jacket are covered with plastic cups similar those on hockey gear, and smaller PE-lined pads protect the upper arms. A full-length zipper makes it easy to get the jacket on or off, and four Velcro straps allow minor fit adjustments. A wide elastic kidney belt keeps everything tight around the bottom. Construction on the Ninja is excellent. All seams are stitched with heavy-duty nylon threading, and so far everything has held up really well. There are one or two small holes in the shirt after a couple of months of use, but those may have just come from throwing it in the gear bag. However they got there, they don't affect performance.

The protection is good, but the Velcro isn't

About two weeks later, I bailed again - and landed on the same shoulder. This crash was a lot harder than the first, and I'm fairly certain I would have broken my collarbone if I hadn't been wearing the Ninja. I got a bit of a bruise from the shoulder cup, but that was it. Score two for the jacket.

Aside from the major wipe-outs, the jacket has been nice for the smaller hits you rack up over the course of a ride - like those times you happen to bounce off a tree with your shoulder, or slip off a log. The extra protection is definitely welcome even on slow-speed falls. Thankfully, I haven't tested the spine pad (yet?), but it's solid and would provide some much-needed coverage if you ever landed on your back. That said, the Ninja Jacket isn't perfect. The first problem I had was that it was too short - even the extra large version made me look like Britney Spears (a hairier, heavily tattooed, and pierced Britney, but with a shared affinity for belly shirts nonetheless).

A little Britney Spears action

I don't know if that's because I'm 6'4" tall, or because of the way the jackets are sized. It wasn't really a problem once I had a jersey on over top of it, but I didn't spend much time hanging around without my jersey on. Other than the fact that it was too short, the Ninja fit pretty well and didn't move around much at all. Most importantly, I don't notice it while I'm riding and that's probably the biggest compliment I can give it.

The other problem was with the kidney belt, or more specifically, the Velcro on the belt. Because of where the belt sat, it was more comfortable not do it up all the way. That left the hook side of the large Velcro closure facing out, which allowed it to snag my jersey. The same deal went for the small Velcro adjustment straps on the shoulders. Loosen them off and you're going to hook your jersey. The solution is probably to put some loop-side Velcro over the hooks if you plan to run the belt/straps a little looser.

Not too bulky under a jersey

Final Thoughts One of the biggest complaints people have with upper body armour is that it's hot. No kidding it's hot - you're wearing the equivalent of a fleece vest or jacket underneath your jersey. The Ninja Jacket isn't any different from its competitors in that regard, but just how hot you find it will depend on what kind of a workout you're getting on the trail and whether you're a naturally hot person. I'm almost never cold, so the Ninja Jacket is probably going to be pretty warm for me in the middle of the summer. For most of the rest of the year, though, it's comfortable and even lets me get away with wearing fewer outer layers. I've been riding with just the jacket, arm pads, and a long-sleeve jersey during January and February, and I've been plenty warm. If you're worried about heating up on the climbs, leave the jacket unzipped or strap it to the back of your Camelbak.

The other thing to take into consideration when you're thinking about this type of armour is whether the added protection is worth the added heat. Most people who wear it will tell you that being a little hot is a small price to pay.

Last but not least is the price. MSRP for the Ninja Jacket is C$200, or about US$140, which makes it considerably cheaper than long-sleeve armour, as well as most of the short-sleeve options out there. Given the great price and the solid protection it offers, the Ninja Jacket is definitely worth checking out if you're serious about upper body armour and are looking for one more way to stay safe when you're going big.

To find a Ninja Jacket in sizes M, L, or XL, check out Ridge's dealer list and call the shop nearest you.

Features: 5.0 Functionality: 4.0 Price: 5.0 Overall: 4.5

Pros: Cons: - Provides solid crash protection - Not wearing arm pads an   option - Not too bulky - Cooler than long-sleeve    jackets - Price is excellent - Jacket may be too short for   some people - Velcro can snag jersey