The POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour is a full-protection offering comprising shoulder, chest and back plates. The armour proves to be comfortable and non-restrictive, and it manages heat surprisingly well, but it is also bulky due to the nature of being a full torso suit. The backplate tends to ride up a little, but it’s a great offering if you’re looking for maximum protection. 

POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour – Technical details

Protection is plentiful with the POC VPD Air+ Tee featuring chest, back and shoulder plates made from POC’s VPD (Visco-Elastic Polymer Dough). VPD has similar characteristics to D3O where it’s a soft and pliable material that firms up upon impact. 

POC_Air+_Tee_body_armour_4
POC_Air+_Tee_body_armour_4 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
POC_Air+_Tee_body_armour_4, by Ty Rutherford

Ventilation is good with the chest back and shoulder plates receiving plenty of vent holes to let the hot air and moisture out. The mesh jacket is thin and breathable and claims to wick moisture away from the body for dryness and comfort. 

A single zipper down the side of the chest secures the armour and ensures the chest plate is uninterrupted. A waistband helps keep the backplate secure lower down but can be removed entirely if you don’t need it. 

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POC_Air+_Tee_body_armour_5 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
POC_Air+_Tee_body_armour_5, by Ty Rutherford

The chest and back plates are removable to make washing easier, although the shoulder plates stay in place, and this is a hand-wash-only affair. 

Available in sizes Small to Large, this armour should fit anyone from a 32- to 46in chest.

POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour – Performance

I was expecting the medium size (pictured here) to be a tighter fit than it was. The fit is secure, body-hugging and keeps the plates in place, but it’s not the compression-type fit you might see on other body armour options. The mesh material sits comfortably against the skin and wicks the moisture away very well; overheating hasn’t been a problem, even when pedalling. 

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POC_Air+_Tee_body_armour_3 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
POC_Air+_Tee_body_armour_3, by Ty Rutherford

The armour plates are quite stiff when cold but after a couple of minutes of body heat, they soften and mould to your shape. Once softened, they haven’t caused any restriction in movement while on or off the bike.

Even with the waistband, I have found the backplate to rise when riding; this can be annoying when you’re hunching over in the riding position with the top of the backplate sitting against your neck. For me, this only occasionally happened but, for people with a slightly shorter torso, this could be more of an annoyance, so it’s worth being aware of when you try it on. 

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POC_Air+_Tee_body_armour_1 (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)
POC_Air+_Tee_body_armour_1, by Ty Rutherford

I had the pleasure of crash-testing this armour at a bike park where the ground was rocky and hard-pack – an over-the-bars moment where my shoulder and chest took the brunt of the impact. Although my coat was ripped to shreds, I am pleased to say the armour did its job admirably. I came away with no scratches or bruises and there was no damage to the armour either. 

Although the pads are reasonably thin, this style of armour (shoulders, back and chest) is on the bulky side so if you’re looking for something slimmer consider a back protector option instead. 

POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour – Verdict 

Retailing at £220, the POC VPD Air+ Tee is certainly an investment. For the comfort and quality on offer, the price is justified, but other options offer similar protection and are worth considering. 

The G-Form MX360 Impact shirt is another option at £185, which comes with G-Form’s own SmartFlex padding that’s machine washable. Liam tested it but reported it isn’t quite as refined as other offerings concerning pad placement and is a little bulky. The Leatt Body Tee Airflex Stealth is another option at £220, which offers the same protection as the POC armour and comes in a slimline package.

The POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour offers comprehensive protection for the shoulders, chest and back. The VPD pads are soft and compliant and hold up well under impact. The full suit of armour doesn’t get as hot as other offerings, while the material wicks heat and moisture from the body. While the backplate can rise a bit and it’s bulky, overall, it’s an excellent product. 

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Test report POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour review £220.00

Body armour

Product purpose: 

The VPD Air + Tee is the optimal protection for those riders who require maximum back protection and minimal padding and highest flexibility across the chest and elbows. The VPD Air + Tee features a lightweight and ventilated 3 layer back protector which conforms to Level 1 (1621-2) standards. The protector utilises a flexible mesh, which is both light and highly breathable, in combination with the back protector which has a low profile. The VPD Air + Tee also incorporates the lightweight VPD Air sleeve and chest comfort padding which offers a minimal level of padding and reinforcement, but with highest levels of comfort, compression and ventilation. The sleeve and chest comfort pads offer enhanced flexibility and freedom of movement and ensure a precise and secure fit even through rough riding conditions.

Build extra: 

VPD AIR
Lightweight and impact absorbing comfort pads covering the back, chest and shoulders.

ZIP-FREE CHEST
A single VPD plate covers the whole chest; there’s no break in protection for a zip.

SIDE ZIPPER
A side zipper makes it easy to get the tee on and off.

3D MESH
A 3D mesh material enhances ventilation for extra comfort.

WICKING FABRICS
Allow moisture to move away from the body for dryness and comfort.

REMOVABLE PROTECTORS
The chest and back plates are removable, making it easier to wash the t-shirt.

Product construction 


Product construction extra: 

Great finish and well built

Product performance 


Product performance extra: 

Comfort is excellent
Impact protection works well

Product durability 


Product durability extra: 

No concerns

Product weight 


Product weight extra: 

Certainly not lightweight but also could be a lot heavier

Product comfort 


Product comfort extra: 

Pads mould well to the body as they warm up
Fit is excellent

product value 


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Product value extra: 

Competitively priced but still a lot of money to invest into armour

Overall performance: 

The POC VPD Air+ Tee body armour offers comprehensive protection for the shoulders, chest and back. The VPD pads are soft and compliant enough to not be restrictive yet also hold up well under impact providing the protection needed. The full suit of armour doesn’t get as hot as other offerings whilst the material works well to breathe, wicking heat and moisture from the body. I found the backplate to ride up a little and the style of armour is on the bulky side but overall an excellent product. 

Product likes: 

Comprehensive protection
Non-restrictive
Comfortable

Product dislikes: 

Back plate rides up
Bulky

Enjoy: 

Yes

Buy: 

Yes

Recommend: 

Yes

Conclusion: 

POC’s VPD Air+ Tee body armour is a full protection offering comprising of shoulder, chest and back plates. The armour proves to be comfortable, non-restrictive and manages heat surprisingly well but is also bulky due to the nature of being a full torso suit. The backplate tends to ride up a little but its a great offering if you’re looking for maximum protection.