Anatomical Considerations
There are distinct anatomical differences between males and females, which are key in designing protective gear. That’s because protective gear can only work effectively if designed with the respective user in mind.
As such, protective gear designed with a male’s body as a template will typically be ineffective for a female athlete. For instance, due to a woman’s body shape, there’s a greater emphasis on chest protection for female athletes than for males.
Wearing the correct sports body armour doesn’t just enhance safety and reduce the risk of injury. It also significantly impacts overall control and performance. This is especially evident in sports where body alignment and balance are key to success, such as motorcycling and mountain biking.
Improved Performance
Body armour provides physical protection for athletes, but that’s not the only goal. In fact, the purpose of body armour is to provide protection while enhancing performance. For instance, a person playing rugby would be well-protected if they wore a suit of armour. However, it’s unlikely that they’d play all that well!
The best protective gear allows maximum range of motion and flexibility while keeping the participant safe. This can only happen if the protective gear can fit the athlete properly. Body armour for women has been specifically created with the female shape in mind, ensuring that female athletes can perform well in sports where range of motion and flexibility are crucial, including rugby, AFL, and martial arts.
Enhanced Comfort
Performance isn’t the only consideration when participating in sports — comfort is, too. It’s difficult, or perhaps impossible, for an athlete to perform at their highest level if they’re experiencing discomfort. This is true of all sports. But it’s crucial where athletes spend a long time wearing their gear, such as downhill riding and motorcycling. With properly-fitted gear, athletes can focus on their performance without worrying about their comfort levels.
Specific Impact Protection Needs
Sporting injuries appear the same to the spectator. However, they affect people differently, proving that no two injuries are exactly the same.
Studies suggest that males and females likely experience different outcomes from the same sporting incidents. Hence, while some women wear male protective gear — not knowing the available alternatives — they remain vulnerable to experiencing an injury. That’s because the protective gear designed for males prioritises the protection of other body parts.
For example, in sports where falls are common, such as horse riding and motorcycling, female athletes tend to receive injuries to their hips and chest. Body armour for women is specifically designed to protect these vulnerable body parts while ensuring they’re comfortable to wear.
In addition to protecting specific body parts, women’s protective gear also tends to feature higher levels of padding and armour density. In line with female physiology, it absorbs and distributes impact forces differently from how men’s protective gear handles impacts.
Enhancing Confidence and Providing Psychological Assurance
Participating in sports, especially competitive sports, requires mental focus and confidence. This can’t happen if the athlete is concerned that their protective gear is inadequate for the sport they’re playing.
As such, you can think of women-specific protective gear to offer a psychological boost alongside physical safety and comfort. It’s much easier to fully commit to a sporting performance if you rest assured that you’re well-protected from injuries. It applies to all sports. However, it is vital for athletes participating in high-impact sports, such as martial arts, AFL, and rugby.
Worrying about injury or pain diminishes a person’s ability to focus on the task at hand. And in the sporting world, that can make all the difference between success and failure. Wearing the correct protective gear empowers female athletes to perform at their best, removing the discomfort and distraction associated with ill-fitting gear.
Tailored for Multiple Body Types
So far, in this article, we’ve talked about women-specific protective gear in contrast to male-focused protective gear. But actually, women’s body armour gets even more specific than that.
Women’s protective gear rarely follows a ‘one size fits all’ approach. It acknowledges the tremendous diversity in female body shapes and sizes better than generic unisex gear. Hence, it allows more females access to the protective gear they need, enhancing inclusivity and participation in sports.
Besides giving women the protective gear they need, it also encourages enhanced performance, particularly for sports where agility is key, such as downhill riding and mountain biking.
Advancements in Material and Technology
The protective gear industry has made great strides forward in recent years, and that includes women-specific protective gear. Advancements in design technology and materials have made it possible to produce gear that is high on protection, simultaneously being lighter and more breathable than the protective gear of the past.
These upgrades have been welcomed in all sports that require protective gear. But they’re especially important for long-lasting, high-movement sports such as off-road and adventure motorcycling. Fully protective yet comfortable protective gear ensures female athletes can compete for longer and with better focus, resulting in improved performance.
Buy Quality Women’s Protective Gear From Fempro Armour Today
If you’re a female athlete, don’t settle for using men’s or unisex protective gear. Instead, get the protective gear that you deserve. Here at Fempro Armour, we specialise in offering body armour specifically designed with female anatomy and requirements in mind.
We’re proud to stock a wide range of top-quality body armour for women athletes, warranting the utmost protection and comfort. Hence, wearing these armour empowers you to compete with confidence and peace of mind. Check out our range of protective gear by clicking HERE.