Some friends have got injured while riding, The last accident involved a Stealth 800 and a wall.
My fiend got banged up pretty bad and ended in tha Hospital with his head squashed and some broken ribs.
I since then have been more carefull, speccialy since I LOVE riding fast and technical stuff. but I rarely use helmets, I only use it when I know im going to be eating allot of dust specially in long trips.
So, considering that Im not made of iron , I want to purchase some body armor.
Im looking for something that wont incinerate me in the extreme heats of texas and mexico, help with dust and be lightweight.
Something like a "suit" that has elbows, chest, back and shoulder protection all in one.
Can anybody reccomend anything.

Rockgardn Flak Jacket. (Yeah, that's Rockgardn, not "Rockgarden.")

http://www.rockgardn.com/items/body-armor/flak-jacket-flak-jacket-detail.htm

(The "flak vest" is similar, without elbow and arm protection.)

However, like a helmet, you gotta wear it for any benefit.

Respectfully, if you won't wear a helmet, don't know if an investment in other protective gear is meaningful or not.

You'll probably live from other injuries, but head injuries are the major cause of fatalities in ATV accidents.

Not intending to be preachy, and certainly not trying to put you down; just sharing my perception of reality.

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Then again, you're from Texas; "sandy land, down by the Rio Grande," you might check out some of those protective vests rodeo bull riders wear; although that gear's likely pretty warm, if you wear it down where you live for more than 8 seconds . . . the Flak Jacket is mesh-backed, and thus ventilated, to a degree . . .

I got the helmet when I bought my ATV but now after 6 months Im starting to get cautious and will be using the helmet allot..

If you ride aggressive in anyway... over 40 mph.. it is stupid not to wear a helmet... just putting around the yard...no,... but... the trails I ride ... I can reach 65 mph in a hurry... no way I ride without one.....