Without knowing what you’re looking for, it’s easy to spend a small fortune on a go-kart rib protector. Whether you’re a beginner looking to pick up your first pieces of safety gear or a more advanced racer looking for a new one, it helps to check out a list of the best cheap karting rib protectors.
The 4 best cheap karting rib protectors are:
- K1 RaceGear Pro Lite Rib Protector
- Alpinestars Bionic Rib Support
- Ribtect 4 Protection Vest
- Forcefield Rib Protector V2
Through my wealth of karting experience and first-hand knowledge, I’ll be reviewing these kart rib protectors in more detail below, and I’ll also offer some advice as to what you should look for in each one.
- • Budget friendly
- • High level of protection
- • Very comfortable choice
- • Half-vest style
- • High-quality construction
- • Very breathable
- • High-quality materials
- • Molds to your body shape
- • Can be used for other sports
What To Look For In A Good Karting Rib Protector
Go-Kart Specific
Probably the misconception I hear the most from new kart drivers is that rib guards from other sports will do the same job. People really want to believe this fact because, for example, a lacrosse rib protector is way cheaper than a karting-specific one, but they really aren’t comparable.
For karting in the United States, equipment should always be developed to the SFI certificated standard. In Europe, you should look for CE certification. The purpose is the same, as these certifications are designed to show that the quality of safety equipment has been tested and reaches a required quality assurance.
There are some products that reach SFI guidelines within dirt biking and other such sports, but they usually operate with different guidelines and quality assurances. So, always make sure to get a karting-specific rib protector.
If you’re just getting started in karting and don’t have the cash to blow on a full kart-ready rib protector, using an old lacrosse guard or roost guard is fine as a stop-gap, but you definitely won’t be able to enter karting races with these bits of equipment!
SFI certification is more than a quality assurance, as it also dictates which safety gear is deemed acceptable and safe enough for use in internationally-recognized kart racing.
Choose The Right Material
Beyond the required safety certification, it’s also important to remember that karting safety vests are worn underneath a race suit. Because of that, plastic armor simply isn’t practical.
Rib and chest protectors that are made of softer, lighter materials with high impact protection are used due to the comfort of wearing them beneath a suit, while also keeping the driver lightweight for optimal race performance.
Choose The Right Style
I’d recommend spending some time in a local kart gear store trying on different rib protectors in varying styles. You can choose from a full vest variety or a rib/kidney protector with differing armor levels. Some protectors are stiffer than others, and these provide more protection, but some racers find them obtrusive.
The 4 Best Cheap Karting Rib Protectors
1. K1 RaceGear Pro Lite Rib Protector
The true aim here is to find and review the best, most affordable karting rib protectors on the market. My personal favorite of the bunch, the K1 RaceGear Pro Lite rib protector, is not only the best value for money, but it also has an impressive host of amazing protective features too!
A Great Brand
K1 RaceGear is a reputable brand that designs and makes affordable kart racing products, so it’s unsurprising that they’d appear on this list.
On a more personal level, I prefer the style of this rib protector compared to full vests. During my karting career, I always had protectors like this, which protect the ribs and kidneys, due to the freedom and comfort they allowed me to have behind the wheel.
A Comfortable Choice
The inner lining of this protector is made of a lightweight foam mesh, providing the comfortable, cozy fit that you’re really looking for in protective gear. And as for the outer barriers that actually do the impact absorption, K1 have used an integrated hydro-foam.
Each padded ‘barrier’ area on the outside of the rib protector is made up of Jumbolon sheets, which is a material licensed to K1 that meshes high-density padding with a thin, lightweight sheet-like construction. Although the outer protection pads protrude from the garment, they aren’t obstructing the driver due to how they’re placed and how smooth they are.
The Back Panel
The back panel of this protector is also padded using the same multi-layered approach, and it extends higher than the rest to truly cradle and comfort the spine. A lot of rib protectors designed like this neglect a protective back panel, which is instead just viewed as a means to attach everything together.
The straps of this protector are fully adjustable so that you can properly align all of the protective areas to where they’re supposed to protect. There’s nothing worse than a rib protector that sits too low to do much protecting!
Designed By Kart Racers, For Kart Racers
Perhaps one of my favorite aspects of this rib protector is the fact that K1 designers made it as a prototype for themselves, as they’re all avid kart racers. They were sick of being fatigued and bruised in long races or otherwise during rough outdoor sprints, and used the facilities at K1 to make something that they wanted to wear.
Any company that truly understands what kart drivers want will get my vote, and this rib protector is immensely attractive from a price perspective as well as for its comfort and lightweight composition. If a rib protector can be both soft and do its job, it’s a good choice in my book!
PROS:
- Jumbolon sheets pack together for high-density padded protection
- Half-vest style gives ease of movement while driving
CONS:
- Not entirely suitable for long endurance racing due to ‘thin’ padding
- Half-vest style isn’t for everyone
2. Alpinestars Bionic Rib Support
If you’re looking for high performance and affordability, Alpinestars products should definitely be a brand that you check out! They’ve been making motorcycle and racing gear for years with a good understanding of what petrol-heads want, and their aptly-named Bionic Rib Support is a good example of this.
Half-Vest Style
This bit of gear fits the half-vest style of rib protection, which is usually preferable due to how much more freedom of movement is afforded when compared to a full vest.
Overall, Alpinestars wanted to provide kart drivers with a comfortable, supporting and customized fit – something you don’t typically get from a rib protector, especially not one with hardened armor portions. I’m normally against these sorts of designs, because it can often cause more discomfort than the protection is worth.
However, through years of designing and knowing what drivers are looking for, this half-vest rib protector has struck the perfect balance between rigidity for protection and absolute comfort.
Solid Construction
The outer protection portions of this rib protector feature ‘dual-density’ due to the fiberglass core and a PE hard-shell outer portion. All of the inner areas for the half-vest are made from high-density poly-foam, which doubles as an extra protective layer but also smooths over the hardened, business-end parts of the protector.
The lining of the Alpinestars bionic rib protector is a poly-lycra composition, designed for the whole garment to be worn under or over a race suit with ease due to the stretchy fit. Pretty much every part of the half-vest is adjustable, even the back portion, so that you can find the absolute best fit for you.
Speaking of the back section, Alpinestars have integrated perforation within the material in order to allow for breathability in the garment, which is not something seen in most rib protectors. A lot of drivers don’t wear them specifically because of how hot they become, so this problem is eliminated with the Bionic Rib Support.
Good Range Of Movement
All adjustment straps are partially elasticated to allow for greater range of movement and less chance of the ‘scratchiness’ that every driver dreads. Having this level of freedom when wearing a sometimes-restrictive article of protective clothing is a breath of fresh air!
I was very close to having this become my top pick, due to the wealth of features that eliminate normal driver woes altogether, but the price did hold it back a bit. It’s price isn’t too high considering everything you’ll receive with this half-vest, but this list is specifically for the cheapest kart rib protectors.
PROS:
- Hard shell exterior on rib protection portions
- Breathable fabric for more comfort
CONS:
- On the higher end of the budget range
- Outer armor can be restrictive depending on the fit for some people
3. Ribtect 4 Protection Vest
Let’s move onto the first full vest rib protection product that I’ll be reviewing, the Ribtect 4 Protection Vest. Within the world of racing, Ribtect is a brand that specifically designs and produces protective garments for the ribs and kidneys, and this specialization results in high-quality all round.
Based On Customer Feedback
As you can likely tell from the number 4 in the product title, this is the 4th iteration of the Protection Vest that Ribtect has made. A lot of improvements have been explored, and feedback from buyers has been taken into account for the latest rendition of the fully protective, comfortable vest.
There’s two notable parts of the vest’s composition that you can see from looking at it: the vest garment itself, and the protective panels on each side. The vest is made from high-tech material that is uniquely designed to flex around the driver for a perfect fit.
Oftentimes, a vest can be uncomfortably stiff because the whole thing is made to protect the driver, which leads to harder materials being used. So, it’s refreshing to see that this vest is made of a flexible yet very protective material.
Strong & Durable
On the sides, you’ll find very sturdy panels that have proven to be stronger and longer-lasting than all previous Ribtect vests through their “hammer tests.” This vest is extremely effective for guarding against bruising and fatigue.
These panels rise quite high to ensure that all of the sensitive side-areas of a driver are fully protected, and due to how thin the panels are compared to many other products, they won’t feel bulky under your arms while steering and making inputs.
The Perfect Fit
You can buy this vest in small, medium and large sizes. But over time the general size will become better tailored to fit your chest area specifically due to how the polycarbonate vest is injected. One of my biggest gripes with vest-style rib protectors is how inhibitive and ill-fitting they can be. Ribtect have solved these issues with style!
The Ribtect 4 provides affordable rib protection, especially when you consider the carbon fiber used to construct its protective panels. The vest style isn’t for everyone, but as far as vests go overall, I’d wear this one for races any day!
PROS:
- Polypropylene vest adds protection and comfort
- Great shock-absorbing foam
CONS:
- Adjustable shoulder straps are hard to reach while wearing it
- Armor panels protrude from the rest of the vest and can become slightly inhibitive
4. Forcefield Rib Protector V2
If you’re somebody who likes to buy for multi-purpose usage, you’ll love the last item on my list of the best cheap karting rib protectors! The Forcefield Body Armor V2 not only meets SFI certification requirements, but it can also be used for a multitude of other sports and uses, making it a worthwhile spend if you’re a football or lacrosse enthusiast off the track!
Excellent Construction
The Forcefield V2 is made entirely of DRI-M materials, something that has won many awards over the years and is loved by a lot of sports professionals. It stands for dynamic, reactive, intelligent material and it’s made up of technically-designed base layers and performance textiles.
It looks pretty unique to say the least, and the visual design serves as much of a purpose as the material used to make it. The varied triangular designs all over the exterior are meshed together to provide extra stability and impact absorption.
Slipping it on, the insides of the vest are well-padded without feeling over-the-top. Remember that you need to wear a race suit overtop of this protective garment, so the last thing you want to feel is like you’re wearing a puffy winter coat!
Heat-Activated Molding
It’s recommended that you wear this rib protector off the track at least a few times first, and this is due to the heat-activated molding properties that it possesses. The product designers have included this to allow the vest to shape itself to the wearer perfectly, and it takes time to do so. But it’ll be well worth it when you hit the track!
While a lot of vests feel cumbersome and ill-fitting even when you get the proper size, the Forcefield V2 has eliminated that issue. It’s on the more expensive side when you consider the others on this list, which is part of why it’s lower down the pecking order.
That, and although it’s SFI-certified, it isn’t a specific kart racing rib protection vest. This lack of specialization is more of a detriment than a benefit. But if you’re really affected by rib bruising and discomfort, this vest of armor will do its job and then some.
PROS:
- Can be used for a lot of different sports
- Heat-activated molding contours it to fit your chest
CONS:
- Jumping straight into a race without wearing it beforehand is very uncomfortable
- Heavy compared to every other vest on this list
Final Thoughts
It can be tough to choose a budget friendly go-kart rib protector, but as long as you buy from a reputable manufacturer and buy one specifically for karting, you can’t go far wrong. The absolute best cheap karting rib protector is the K1 RaceGear Pro Lite Rib Protector.
I created and have been writing on this site since 2019, collaborating with drivers, coaches, engineers and manufacturers to provide you with the most reliable information about motorsport. Find out more about me here.