You know the drill. It's 90°F, the humidity is thick enough to chew, and you're standing in your garage staring at your heavy riding jacket. You have two bad choices: wear the jacket and risk heat exhaustion, or leave it behind and ride in a t-shirt, praying that today isn't the day gravity wins.
I've been a rider for decades, and I've seen too many friends make that second choice because their gear was simply unbearable. At Bohn Body Armor, we decided 25 years ago to stop fighting the heat and start working with it. We built a system that strips away the bulk, keeps the protection, and disappears under the clothes you actually want to wear.
Invisible protection—CE-Level 2 armor worn discreetly under everyday riding clothes.
If you are looking for a "Bohn armored shirt review" to see if this system is right for you, this guide covers everything—from our massive armor coverage to why we intentionally didn't make these shirts abrasion-resistant.
Quick Verdict: Which Shirt Do You Need?
If you want to solve your specific riding problem right now, here is how our customers choose:
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Bohn Cool-Air Mesh Armored Shirt: The ultimate solution for high humidity and temps over 85°F. It feels like wearing a screen door—maximum airflow to your skin while keeping CE-Level 2 armor locked in place.
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Bohn All-Season Airtex Armored Shirt: The “Daily Driver.” Made from a soft, athletic Lycra™ blend, it’s great for commuting and touring in 65°F to 90°F. You can layer it under leathers or hoodies, or wear it as an outer layer on the hottest days because it has a jacket-like look.
Cool-Air Mesh (left) for extreme heat, All-Season Airtex (right) for versatile daily use.
3 Controversial Truths About Motorcycle Shirts
Before we get into the specs, let's clear up a few misconceptions about armored shirts that most manufacturers won't tell you.
"Abrasion Resistance" can be a trap.
Many brands try to make a single shirt that does everything—impact protection and slide protection. The result is often a thick, heavy garment that doesn't breathe. We believe in separating the layers. By making our base layer purely for impact and cooling, we keep you comfortable. You can add the abrasion layer over it when you need it.
Your elbow pads are probably too small.
Check your current jacket. The elbow pad probably covers just the point of your elbow. But in a crash, your forearm takes a beating. That's why Bohn uses massive 5 x 12-inch CE-Level 2 elbow/forearm armor from SAS-TEC that covers your entire forearm and elbow.
If it's loose, it's useless.
Armored flannel shirts and mesh jackets are popular. But if they fit loosely like a regular shirt, the armor will rotate away from your elbow the moment you hit the asphalt. Armor must be held tight to the body to work. That's why our shirts fit snugly like compression gear—to lock that protection in place.
The "Invisible" Factor
The biggest selling point for our riders is that once you put a jersey or flannel over a Bohn shirt, nobody knows you're wearing it. You don't look like a spaceman when you walk into a restaurant. You just look like you, but you have CE-Level 2 protection hugging your spine, shoulders, and elbows.
Worn under a Bohn flannel shirt—armor stays invisible while providing full protection.
The Armor: Coverage King
We don't skimp on protection. Every Bohn armored shirt comes with:
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CE-Level 2 Back Protector: Not a flimsy foam pad, but a substantial viscoelastic protector that covers a large portion of your spine.
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CE-Level 2 Shoulder Armor: Contoured to cup the shoulder joint.
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CE-Level 2 Elbow/Forearm Armor: This is our secret weapon. At 5 x 12 inches (width x length), it extends halfway down your forearm, offering coverage that most track suits would envy.
Customers wearing the Airtex Shirt with CE-Level 2 Shoulder, back and arm/elbow protection.
Note on Comfort: The armor is made from a viscoelastic foam from SAS-TEC that feels soft and pliable against your skin but hardens instantly on impact. It molds to your body as you ride, so you genuinely forget it's there.
Cool-Air vs. Airtex: The Showdown
This is the most common question we get: "Which fabric should I buy?"
The Cool-Air Mesh (The Heat Killer) This shirt is 100% open-weave mesh. If you hold it up to the light, you can see right through it.
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Best For: Riders in the Deep South, Florida, or humid climates.
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Why: In high humidity, sweat doesn't evaporate easily. The Cool-Air mesh allows maximum air velocity to hit your skin, forcing that sweat to evaporate and cooling you down. It's a game-changer for preventing heat exhaustion.
Open-weave Cool-Air Mesh construction allows direct airflow to skin.
The All-Season Airtex (The Smooth Operator) This shirt uses a mix of Lycra™ and mesh panels. It feels more like high-end athletic wear.
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Best For: Riders who want a versatile base layer that can also work as an outer layer
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Why: It’s comfortable as a base layer during cooler summer mornings under a shirt or jacket, and it looks great on its own once that outer layer comes off in the hot afternoon heat. We always recommend pairing it with an abrasion-resistant layer, but let’s be honest—when it’s 90°F, many riders choose comfort and ride without a jacket.
Addressing the "No Abrasion" Concern
We are transparent about this: Bohn armored shirts are not abrasion-resistant.
Some riders see this as a negative. We see it as a strategic choice. If we lined these shirts with an abrasion layer, they would be twice as heavy and half as cool.
The Solution:
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For City Riding: Wear a denim shirt or jacket over it.
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For Highway: Wear a leather or textile jacket over it.
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For Off-Road: Wear a lightweight jersey over it.
This "layering" approach helps provide comprehensive protection: the best impact protection (Bohn) close to your skin, and abrasion protection (your outer layer) taking the slide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I size this?
Our sizing is inclusive, running from 3XS to 5XL with options for Tall riders. The shirts are stretchy, so trust the chest measurement on our size chart. It should fit snugly to keep the armor in place.
Is the armor removable?
Yes. You can pop the armor out in less than a minute. This makes washing the shell incredibly easy (gentle cycle, hang dry), and it allows you to swap armor between all three fabrics: Cool-Air, Airtex and Thermal.
Can I wear it as an outer layer?
You can—we have customers who wear our shirts as their only layer when the temps are too high to be comfortable in anything other than a T-shirt. Just remember that you are sacrificing abrasion resistance for maximum cooling. For off-road riding, this is standard practice.
Does the back protector make you hot?
Any back protector will trap some heat, but our armor has ventilation holes molded into it. Plus, because the fabric holds it steady, it doesn't flap around and create friction heat.
How long does the armor last?
Our armor is rated to last 10 years before the material begins to degrade. It is multi crash compliant so unless you tear it, you can use it for at least a decade.
Will it fit under my tight leather jacket?
Because the armor is low-profile, it fits under most standard jackets. However, if your leather jacket is already "race fit" tight, you might need to remove the stock armor from that jacket to make room for the Bohn system (which is actually an upgrade, as our armor likely covers more!).
