No.
But I'll qualify that. There's no substitute for the hard-shell plates of spine armor in a rock-filled environment (like a ski area) at high speed, with the potential for a high-energy crash. Besides the hard shell, the articulation is such that there is a degree of hyperflexion (well, over-arching your spine, whatever you'd call it) protection as well. Plus the spine armor goes lower, down into the lumbar vertebrae area.
On the flip-side, there have been times when I have my amor on, plus my Leatt and a jersey over all of that and I'd still like to wear my Dakine. But the whole package feels a bit awkward and bulky; and I wonder, like you, if I'd get enough back protection just from the pack just for hitting the bike park for the day.
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Originally Posted by Mark Twain
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Last edited by dminor; 08-17-10 at 04:30 PM.