POC VPD System Chest Protector

The POC VPD System Chest is a standalone chest plate — not a vest, not a jacket insert — built around POC's VPD visco-elastic foam, held in place by adjustable shoulder straps and a waistband rather than a full garment. VPD sits soft and pliable against your body at rest, conforms to your chest as it warms up, and stiffens on impact to absorb and distribute force. POC lists it as a CE Level 1 chest protector certified to the EN 1621-3 chest-impact standard — though we'd point out that some POC and retailer listings print the cert as "EN16213," so check the exact standard and level printed on the current hang tag before you rely on it, since the level can change by model year. Because there's no bulky vest around it, it layers cleanly under a shell. POC tests its VPD material down to -20°C, so the foam keeps its flex in real cold instead of going stiff and board-like — a genuine plus for a body protector you'll wear on a winter day.

One thing to be clear about before you order: this is a chest-only module. It does not protect your back, and it is specifically designed to be paired with the POC VPD System Back — together they form the VPD System Torso. If you buy the chest piece alone expecting full torso coverage, you will be disappointed and underprotected. POC catalogs this chest module on the MTB side, but the VPD System as a whole is built for snow as well as bike, and the System Back is sold explicitly for skiing — so if you already run the VPD System Back, or plan to buy both, this is a clean, low-profile way to add front-impact protection that disappears under a jacket. It suits riders who want modular body armor without a bulky vest and who've taken a hit to the sternum and decided once was enough. If you'd rather make a single purchase that covers both front and back, look at the POC VPD System Torso or the VPD Air Vest, which build the protection into a wearable vest.