Scars and bruises may be good for impressing friends, but some of us have to go back to work on Monday – preferably in one piece. Protection is essential if you're doing demanding mountain biking. Modern safety jackets and upper body protectors for back and chest are not only safe, but also light, well ventilated and comfortable. There's a difference between back and upper body protectors, which also protect the chest and collarbone, and so-called protector jackets, which also have protective zones on the shoulders and sometimes on the elbows. You'll find hard-shell models as well as those with soft foam or gel padding, which absorbs shocks and sometimes hardens on impact.