MXA TEAM TESTED: THOR MX SENTINEL ROOST DEFLECTOR

WHAT IS IT? Sentinel is pronounced “sen-tuh-nuhl” and is defined as “a soldier or guard whose job is to stand and keep watch.” That’s exactly what this chest protector is meant to do; however, a better name for it would be “Secret Service.” Rather than a guard who stands watch, this new-age Sentinel protector is sleek and slim, and meant to fit underneath your jersey and give the impression that you aren’t wearing any sort of protection;  it works undercover. 

WHAT’S IT COST? $119.95 (Standard), $89.95 (Race).

CONTACT? www.thormx.com or your local dealer.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Thor MX Sentinel chest protector.

(1) Concept. Thor MX has offered multiple iterations of the Sentinel chest protector over the years, but this is the latest and greatest version, introduced in the spring of 2023 and used by many top riders, including Cooper Webb, Aaron Plessinger, Dylan Ferrandis, Haiden Deegan, and more. What differentiates this from the previous Sentinel protectors? It’s lighter, thinner and more breathable. The low-profile front and rear panel design is completely perforated with vent holes all throughout. The padding is press-fit molded and ventilated to allow air to flow through the plastic to your torso. It’s designed to be worn under your jersey, but it can be worn over your jersey as well.

(2) Protection. The Thor MX Sentinel is not CE-rated, and it doesn’t make any lofty promises to protect you from a major crash. This fits into the “roost guard” category of chest protectors, because it’s lightweight with a minimalist design. There are plenty of options out there with thicker plastic and thicker foam padding for more protection, but they don’t breathe as well, aren’t as light and are bulky. 

(3) Fit. The Sentinel comes with fully adjustable shoulder straps that have adjustable and removable foam shoulder pads. It also uses adjustable elastic straps on the side with ratcheting buckles. Our main complaint about the Sentinel is that the bottom two sides of the front protector don’t fit closer to your torso. The edges, where the side straps connect, stick out a little bit and didn’t conform to our bodies as naturally as we would have liked. Besides the bottom edges, the rest of the Sentinel fits close to your body and stays in position on the track and in the pits; it doesn’t hinder movement and moves with your body perfectly.

(4) Sizing. The Sentinel comes in three sizes: extra small/small, medium/large and extra large/double-extra large. Typically, when wearing a chest protector under your jersey, you’ll want to go with the smaller option, but the XS/S size is too small for most adult big-bike riders. If you are over 135 pounds, you’ll want the M/L option. 

(5) Ventilation. Any real athlete knows the importance of keeping your body temperature down. Even with the best vented jersey on the market, if your chest protector has thick plastic, foam or shock-absorbing gel material in it, it won’t breathe well. Ultimately, you have to decide which level of protection you’re looking for. Don’t just settle for the first chest protector you find. There are countless options available. This Sentinel is the most ventilated chest protector we’ve tried, and that’s saying something, because we’ve tried them all. 

(6) Options. The Sentinel is available in two different options. The standard LTD model has plastic protection on the front and the rear, while the LTD Race model has a Y-strap on the back without any back protection. This makes it lighter weight, less protective and more wallet-friendly at a $30 discount. The standard LTD version is available in black, white, red and blue, while the Race version is only available in black or white.

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? It’s a little on the boxy side. While some protectors are contoured to wrap around your body from the factory, the Sentinel is fairly flat and doesn’t conform as well on the bottom edges. 

MXA RATING: This is the most breathable plastic clad chest protector we’ve ever worn. It holds up against heavy roost, moves perfectly with the rider, doesn’t hinder movement and is comfortable to wear.

 

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