I’ve taken some pretty spectacular slams over the years. A few of them were entirely avoidable. Others were the inevitable result of deciding that relearning backflips in my thirties was a sensible idea.
The Demon FlexForce X V6 has been along for a lot of that.
I’ve worn it for years, both snowboarding and mountain biking. It’s taken an absolute beating. Plenty of crashes, plenty of awkward landings and more than a few occasions where I’ve been very glad I had something between my ribs and the ground.
It’s not subtle though. It’s bulky, gets warm and makes you look vaguely ridiculous before you put your jacket on. But I love the thing.
So when Demon released the V7, I was keen to see what they’d changed.
I’ve now had it out for a week of pre-season glacier riding, plus some nighttime park sessions in the indoor dome. I’ve also got the old V6 here to compare it against, so I’ve been able to get a proper look at what’s different.
First impressions? It feels remarkably familiar.
That’s not a criticism. The V6 was already bloody good at what it did, and I’m glad Demon hasn’t tried to reinvent it for the sake of having something new to sell.
There are some changes worth talking about, though. And while I’ve got years of experience with the V6, I’m not going to pretend I’ve put the V7 through the same punishment just yet. That’ll come as the season progresses.
For now, here’s what I’ve found, what I still love about this armour and whether the newer version actually brings anything worthwhile to the table.
Demon V6 & V7 Impact Tops
I've absolutely battered my V6 over the years and it's still one of the bits of protective gear I trust most. The V7 feels reassuringly similar, with some useful changes to the padding and fit.
It's expensive, bulky and probably unnecessary for anyone who rarely falls. But if you're spending a lot of time learning tricks, riding park or crashing on your bike, I highly recommend it.
I've only had a week on the V7 so far. I'm impressed, but I'll reserve judgement on its long-term durability until I've given it the same abuse as its predecessor.
Years riding the V6 • First week testing the V7
Check Price at Demon ↗Full Review
The first time I put the V6 on, I remember thinking it was a ridiculous amount of armour. Shoulders, ribs, elbows, chest, back. Pretty much everything covered.
I was already used to wearing back protectors, but this was a different level of padding altogether. It felt a bit excessive (which it definitely is most days). Until I started taking some proper hits in it.
What I’ve come to appreciate most is the coverage around the ribs and lower back. I’ve had a few crashes where I’ve landed awkwardly on my side and that’s exactly where I’m glad to have the extra protection.
I’ve also used it mountain biking, although most of its punishment has come from snowboarding. The V7 is now taking over from my rather battered V6, so I’m interested to see whether the changes make much difference in practice.
Comfort & Fit
For something with this much padding, the FlexForce is surprisingly comfortable.
I’m around 5’10”, 200 lbs and wear a large. It fits snugly without feeling like I’m being squeezed to death, and the adjustable straps help keep everything in place.
The articulated padding makes a big difference. You can bend, twist, crouch and generally move around without feeling like you’re wearing a solid lump of plastic. I’ve never found it particularly restrictive when snowboarding, even when throwing myself around in the park. I definitely wouldn’t wear this on a powder day though – I value movement and flow far more on days like those.
It’s still a fairly substantial thing to have underneath your jacket. You look like Robocop when you’re wearing it on its own and you’ll want a little extra room in your outerwear. I wouldn’t fancy squeezing it under an already tight-fitting shell.
The V7 fits much the same as my old V6. It keeps the same chest-plate cinching straps, which I love (but are removable if you prefer). I’ve had no issues with the pads shifting during my first week of riding, and the updated padding hasn’t noticeably restricted my movement. If anything, I’m pleased they haven’t messed around too much with the fit.
The main downside is heat.
I’ve spent some very sweaty afternoons hiking park features in the V6. It has ventilation, but there’s only so much you can do when you’re wearing padding across most of your upper body.
The V7 still uses ventilated Lycra and mesh, although I haven’t noticed much difference in breathability so far. It’s been fine for my preseason riding, but I’d expect it to get pretty warm when spring rolls around.
Protection
This is where the FlexForce impact top really earns its keep.
The back protection has taken the worst of my crashes, particularly when I was relearning backflips. I’ve landed flat on my back a frankly stupid number of times, and while some of those impacts still hurt, I’ve been very grateful for the padding.
The rib protection is just as important to me. Landing awkwardly on your side can ruin the next few days and I like having coverage that wraps around my torso rather than stopping at my spine.
The chest protection is removable, which I really like. You can run it as the D30 insert (bright orange), the standard padded insert or even both together.
I tend to keep the D30 insert in for park riding, learning new tricks, and biking, and take it out occasionally on mellower days. It’s proper impact protection, not just padding, and having the option makes sense.
Shoulders and elbows are well protected without killing mobility. You can still move naturally, but when you catch an edge or go down awkwardly, you don’t get that sharp, bone-on-snow hit that lighter protection lets through. The hard, plastic outer-layer feels pretty bulletproof.
This is absolutely more protection than most skiers and snowboarders need. But if you’re crashing regularly as part of progression, it lets you keep riding instead of backing off because everything hurts. For mountain biking, this level of protection is extremely smart.
It doesn’t make you invincible. You still feel impacts. But it turns big, session-ending hits into something you shake off and keep riding from.
What's Changed on the V7?
I’ve had both tops laid out together, and the overall design is pretty familiar. In fact it’s quite hard to see any differences. Demon has kept the same basic idea rather than completely reinventing it.
The changes are mainly in the padding construction, and fine-tuning some of the adjustment systems.
Updated D3O Protection
The V7 uses D3O T6 protectors at the shoulders and elbows, a BP4 back protector and a CP1 chest protector, with additional padding around the ribs, collarbones and abdomen.
The V6 already used D3O and XRD, so the materials themselves aren’t some revolutionary development. Yes, they’re slightly different this year – but the principle is the same.
The pads and strap arrangements do feel a bit different too. But they function essentially the same.
Keeping the padding around the collarbones is particularly welcome. I’ve always thought this was an awkward area to protect, and plenty of otherwise substantial back protectors leave it completely exposed.
There’s also a thin protective shell over the shoulder and elbow pads, along with articulated padding around the ribs and abdomen.
Despite the reported changes, the V7 feels very similar when I’m riding. I haven’t noticed any additional restriction through my shoulders or torso.
Whether the new arrangement performs noticeably differently in a heavy crash is something I’ll have a better idea of after more riding. I’m certainly not planning to recreate all my old backflip disasters for the sake of testing it (sorry guys).
Back and Chest Protection
The V7’s BP4 back protector extends down the spine, while the CP1 chest protector covers the sternum. Both can be removed.
I’ve always liked having removable inserts on the V6. It makes washing the garment easier, and occasionally I’ll take the chest protection out when I don’t want quite so much padding.
One detail worth mentioning is the certification. Demon lists the individual D3O protectors as meeting the relevant EN 1621 standards, including EN 1621-1, EN 1621-2 and EN 1621-3.
That doesn’t mean every bit of padding on the garment has the same certified performance. The certifications apply to the specified inserts.
This doesn’t make any difference to me personally, just thought it was worth mentioning in case it does for any of you.
X-Connect
I’m glad they’ve kept this.
X-Connect lets you attach the top to compatible Demon impact shorts using a Velcro connection around the waist. For the V7 they’ve extended the velcro section higher to allow more adjustments.
This helps stop the armour riding up and leaving a gap around your waist. I’ve used it with my older Demon setup, and it’s particularly useful when you’re spending a lot of time falling over.
The V7 works with Demon’s V4, V5, V6 and V7 X-Series impact shorts, so you don’t need to replace your existing shorts just because you’ve upgraded the top.
Given how much this stuff costs, that’s a relief!
Other Bits and Pieces
There’s still a side zip for getting the top on and off, adjustable straps around the chest and elbows, and the same general Lycra and mesh construction.
The side zip is useful. Wrestling a heavily padded top over your head after a long, sweaty session isn’t particularly enjoyable.
The straps are more important than they look, too. Being able to position the elbow protection properly makes a difference, especially if you’re between sizes.
None of these features is particularly exciting, but they’re the little things that make substantial body armour easier to live with.
Durability
For how much you pay for this, durability matters.
My V6 has been absolutely hammered. Several seasons of snowboarding, plenty of mountain biking, countless crashes and a fair amount of time being stuffed into gear bags.
The stitching has held up, the zips still work and the padding hasn’t started wandering around inside the garment.
I bought the V7 for testing purposes, rather than because my V6 has fallen apart. It feels equally well made, and I haven’t noticed any issues during my initial riding. But a week of use doesn’t tell you much about long-term durability.
I’ll update this once I’ve had a proper season in it.
Is the V7 Worth Buying If You Already Have the V6?
Nope. I wouldn’t rush to replace a perfectly good V6.
The slightly updated padding and adjustments are welcome, but the overall riding experience hasn’t changed dramatically.
My V6 still does everything I bought it for. It’s comfortable enough, offers extensive protection and has survived years of abuse.
If yours is in good condition, I don’t see much reason to spend several hundred dollars replacing it simply because there’s a newer version.
Obviously, that’s assuming the protective inserts haven’t been damaged in a crash. If you’ve taken a particularly serious hit, inspect the armour and follow Demon’s replacement guidance rather than assuming everything is fine because the fabric looks intact.
If you’re buying your first FlexForce top, I’d be looking at the V7. I like the updated coverage, and it’s the version I’ll be spending most of this season riding.
But I wouldn’t feel particularly hard done by if I was still using my V6.
Nerdy Talk
A quick section for anyone interested in the tech (like me).
The core of these tops is the mix of D3O and XRD. They’re doing slightly different jobs.
D3O is used in the main impact zones like the back, shoulders, elbows and chest. It stays flexible while you move, then stiffens on impact to spread force. This is why the armour doesn’t feel like hard plastic when you’re riding but still takes the sting out of proper hits.
XRD is added in key areas to back that up. XRD is a high-energy absorbing foam that compresses on impact and dissipates force rather than rebounding it straight back into your body. In real terms, it’s there to deal with heavier, sharper impacts and repeated hits.
The V7 seems to have formally dropped XRD, but uses essentially the same material which seemingly performs the same. I wonder if this was just a licensing/IP issue?
Coverage is extensive, but the important part is that it’s articulated. The rib and abdomen padding is segmented so it moves when you twist or bend, instead of acting like one stiff block. That’s a big reason this is wearable at all.
Anything I Don't Like?
The bulk, mainly.
You can make body armour flexible, ventilated and reasonably comfortable, but you can’t completely disguise the fact that you’re wearing padding across most of your upper body.
It’s not something I particularly enjoy wearing for casual resort riding, and I certainly don’t bother with it every day.
The heat is another issue. When I’m hiking park features or riding in warmer weather, I tend to get pretty sweaty. I’ve had some fairly unpleasant spring sessions in the V6, and I don’t expect the V7 to be dramatically different.
Then there’s the price.
This is expensive equipment, and for plenty of riders it’s probably unnecessary. If you’re spending your days cruising groomers and rarely falling over, there are lighter options that make more sense.
I’ve also been using the Demon Ghost back protector, which is considerably less substantial.
The Ghost D30 doesn’t offer the same extensive protection around your ribs, chest, shoulders and elbows, but it’s much easier to wear when you don’t want full body armour.
I actually think having both options makes sense if you ride regularly. Some days I want all the padding I can reasonably wear. Other days I’d rather not feel like I’m heading into battle.
Who I'd Recommend It To
Riders who accept that falling is part of progression and want to keep pushing without constantly nursing injuries.
If you’re learning tricks, riding park or progressing aggressively, this kind of protection makes a real difference. Same goes if you ride MTB – most mountain bikers would benefit from the protection provided by the V6 or V7 top.
It’s also a solid choice if you’ve had rib, shoulder, or back issues in the past and don’t want one bad slam to take you out for weeks. This is the sort of gear that lets you ride harder, more often and with less hesitation.
It’s probably unnecessary for someone who spends most of their time cruising around the resort, although that’s ultimately a personal decision. There are plenty of lighter back protectors and padded tops available if you want some protection without quite so much bulk.
Final Thoughts
The Demon X Impact Top is not trying to be subtle, and it’s not pretending to suit everyone.
It’s expensive, bulky and unapologetically protective. But if you are the kind of rider who crashes as part of learning, it does exactly what it’s supposed to do. It takes hits that would normally end a session and (hopefully) turns them into something you shake off and ride away from.
I don’t wear this every day. I wouldn’t want to. But on days when progression matters more than comfort, this is the kind of armour that lets you commit without holding back. I would never have landed my first backflip or tamedog without this little beauty!
If you need this level of protection, it’s worth the money. If you don’t, you’ll know pretty quickly that it’s not for you.
Personally, I love mine. Hope that helps.
