Choosing the right motorbike gear can be a challenging task, especially for women, as most options available are designed with the male figure in mind. Even I wear mostly men’s gear, the aesthetics are generally better and there’s not a whiff of pink or hibiscus – praise be.
Acknowledging the growing presence of women in the riding and racing community, Fempro has emerged as a trailblazer in designing armour and chest plates tailored specifically for boobs (women’s or men’s, they don’t discriminate and after all that Christmas pudding I’ve seen quite a few man boobs at the beach that could do with some support).
Beginning in 2019, Fempro Armour was started by Australian ex-professional swimmer, adventure nut and entrepreneur Stephanie Bofinger. After she obtained her motorcycle license at 46 to find freedom from domestic violence at home, Stephanie crossed the Simpson Desert with minimal off-roading experience to raise money for Dolly’s Dream, an anti-bullying charity. Hitting the sand with 12 other women, she witnessed their discomfort from wearing gear designed for men and saw a gap in the market.
Made in Germany and boasting CE level 1 or 2 approval, the hero item is suitably called the ‘Xena’ and with a bit of leather and a battle axe this chest plate works well for off-road riding and halloween.
The Xena chest plate sits in either a Fempro jersey undergarment, which also allows for other armour such as back protector and elbow armour, or the soft stretch singlet option, which the chest plate slides into. The latter is far less bulky, making it incredibly easy and comfortable to wear for other sports such as boxing.
They have also designed some handy protection pants for men (Bropro) and women. The shorts contain armour that sits in the major contact area around the hips and are comfortably worn under garments such as motocross pants that generally don’t contain any armour.
While Fempro focus is heavily on motorcycle riding, the versatility of the gear means it’s appropriate for a variety of high impact, contact sports such as football, horse riding or mountain bike riding. Police and army frontline personnel have found the gear to be of great value and, somewhat incredibly, even the elderly. Falls happen, and Fempro gear can help protect those that are vulnerable to the odd stack with frail bones for example hips. Stephanie’s grandmother died in surgery from a broken hip – impact that perhaps could have been reduced wearing protect armour.
Stocked across the country and online, Fempro not only meets safety standards but also embraces diversity and addresses the specific needs of women in the motorcycle community – well worth a look if what’s on offer in the mainstream doesn’t suit.
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