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Cortech The Bender Riding Flannel
Cortech

Cortech The Bender Riding Flannel

$129.99
COLOR: Red Tide
SIZE
Availability: Translation missing: en.general.icons.icon_check_circle icon Only 2 left!

The Bender Flannel riding shirt has reinforcements in crash prone areas but also has an extra layer of abrasion resistant mesh material as the liner. It comes with shoulder and elbow armor and has space for a back protector.

2019 is the first year we've seen riding shirts that have been reinforced by a heavy duty nylon liner on the inside. Most shirts like this will have a layer of Kevlar fabric (or similar) in the shoulder and elbows are, or even throughout the whole shirt. This shirt does the Kevlar fabric in the shoulders and elbows and then they've substituted the regular nylon liner used in most jackets for an abrasion resistant layer. The inside liner feels like the shell material used in a typical mesh jacket. The softer material is used to form the pockets of the armor inserts so those areas that rub against your skin aren't abrasive and feel OK. Really, it's a clever design.

Flannel material isn't windproof, so air flows pretty freely through this shirt. It should work fine for temps between mild and hot, but in cold weather, the flannel shell won't give any warmth.

Like most other "shirt-jackets" like this one, there is a front zipper closure behind the snaps in the front to make it safer in case of a fall. CE rubberized armor inserts are included for the shoulders and elbows. There is a pocket for the addition of a back protector. As of this writing, Cortech hasn’t offered their own back protector option so I’m suggesting the D3O unit in CE Level 1 for the back, so take the link below to order.

The price of this shirt is attractive and it has all the basic features. One area I'd have to complain a bit about is the fit of the shirt with the stock shoulder and elbows armor inserts. That type of armor is fairly thick and makes the shoulders feel a bit snug to me, and it also has the effect of make the sleeves fit a bit shorter. Other brands with similar products have been using thinner armor such as REVIT Seesmart and Dainese Pro-Shape types. If you have average to slim shoulders this probably won't make much difference but those with wider shoulders and/or longer arms may run into this. If that sounds like you, consider another shirt and/or consider buying thinner armor to replace the stock units.

*Cortech says:* __“The Bender” cotton flannel riding shirt is not your standard-issue grunge rock shirt. Go ahead, make a ruckus. Hidden beneath the rugged exterior of “The Bender” you’ll find protective features capable of fending off even the horns of a bull.__

Chat with us

We checked the fit on these shirts with our size mannequins and we also spot checked a few different size shirts with a tape. We feel this model runs true to size. The shirts are sold in ordinary “alpha” sizes, so you can choose the size you normally wear in men’s clothing.

For those that want to check the size based upon their chest measurement, I put together the chart below. Check both your chest and belly and make sure the size you choose is big enough for both. The overall cut of this shirt is ideal for street riding. Sleeve lengths are average if not a bit shorter than average. The sleeve itself seems to be a normal length, but with the shoulder armor installed, it has the effect of making the sleeve length feel a bit shorter. If you normally have trouble with sleeves being too short, this probably isn’t the shirt for you, but if you are average or short in the sleeve length department, you’ll probably like this one.

Alpha Size Max Chest Size Max Belly
XS 38 36
Small 40 38
Medium 42 40
Large 44 40
XL 46 44
XXL 48 46
XXXL 50 48

Need help measuring? Get it here.

Our Two Cents

The Bender Flannel riding shirt has reinforcements in crash prone areas but also has an extra layer of abrasion resistant mesh material as the liner. It comes with shoulder and elbow armor and has space for a back protector.

2019 is the first year we’ve seen riding shirts that have been reinforced by a heavy duty nylon liner on the inside. Most shirts like this will have a layer of Kevlar fabric (or similar) in the shoulder and elbows are, or even throughout the whole shirt. This shirt does the Kevlar fabric in the shoulders and elbows and then they’ve substituted the regular nylon liner used in most jackets for an abrasion resistant layer. The inside liner feels like the shell material used in a typical mesh jacket. The softer material is used to form the pockets of the armor inserts so those areas that rub against your skin aren’t abrasive and feel OK. Really, it’s a clever design.

Flannel material isn’t windproof, so air flows pretty freely through this shirt. It should work fine for temps between mild and hot, but in cold weather, the flannel shell won’t give any warmth.

Like most other “shirt-jackets” like this one, there is a front zipper closure behind the snaps in the front to make it safer in case of a fall. CE rubberized armor inserts are included for the shoulders and elbows. There is a pocket for the addition of a back protector. As of this writing, Cortech hasn’t offered their own back protector option so I’m suggesting the D3O unit in CE Level 1 for the back, so take the link below to order.

The price of this shirt is attractive and it has all the basic features. One area I’d have to complain a bit about is the fit of the shirt with the stock shoulder and elbows armor inserts. That type of armor is fairly thick and makes the shoulders feel a bit snug to me, and it also has the effect of make the sleeves fit a bit shorter. Other brands with similar products have been using thinner armor such as REVIT Seesmart and Dainese Pro-Shape types. If you have average to slim shoulders this probably won’t make much difference but those with wider shoulders and/or longer arms may run into this. If that sounds like you, consider another shirt and/or consider buying thinner armor to replace the stock units. :: Paul, 09-30-19

Cortech says: “The Bender” cotton flannel riding shirt is not your standard-issue grunge rock shirt. Go ahead, make a ruckus. Hidden beneath the rugged exterior of “The Bender” you’ll find protective features capable of fending off even the horns of a bull.