Thor Sentinel LTD Roost Guard

What it is

• Minimalist roost guard with front/back protection.
• Can be worn over/under the jersey.

Thor, one of the leading gear brands in the industry, has been around for a long, long time and you don’t do that without making a worthy product. One of the newer releases in Thor’s catalog is their Sentinel LTD Roost Guard, the same piece that you see much of the Star Racing Yamaha riders wear for Supercross/Motocross.

It features lightweight, low-profile panel designs on the front and back, a press-fit molded and ventilated comfort liner, a slew of ventilation ports, adjustable elastic straps with ratcheting buckles, and adjustable shoulder straps. The Sentinel LTD Roost Guard is available in several colorways and retails for $119.95.

How it works

• Slim fitting with just enough coverage.
• Doesn't hinder movement when riding/racing.
• Ventilation is as good as any.
• Some didn't care for shoulder pads.

A decade ago, wearing chest/back protection seemed to be a thing of the past as chest protectors and roost guards were fading away amongst the pro paddock. In recent years, and most likely due to the evolution and newer designs, they have made a comeback and most all Pro riders are wearing some form of protection either under or even over their jersey. Probably the most popular form of protection amongst racers is a “roost guard.” You don’t walk around looking like the Michelin Man in one of these, but you also have a solid piece of protection over the top of your body.

Thor’s Sentinel LTD Roost Guard is one of the better feeling and fitting roost guards we’ve worn. It’s minimalist in all the right places, not rubbing or hindering our movement where needed, but offers just enough coverage to keep us out of harm’s way. It boasts a slim fit to the body, which can be adjusted by shoulder straps to move the front/back plates up/down, as well as the ratcheting side straps that are adjustable. 

The ratcheting side straps are one of the best features of this guard. Many times, the typical buckle or hook that is used can get damaged or worn out over time, but this ratched has held up very well and it is easier to fine tune the fit with it. We’ve never had it come undone while riding, and it offers a secure fit. 

With ~4 months of heavy use, the roost guard has held up well. The inner padding is still intact and like new, whereas some other guards start falling apart by now. Additionally, it’s comfortable enough and compact enough to wear under the jersey. 

The ventilation through the guard is as good as any. We’ve worn it in 100+ degree temps and didn’t feel any excessive heat/lack of airflow because of it. There is a “Race” version that comes without the back plate which would offer even better ventilation, but we prefer to have the extra coverage.

One small complaint that some, but not all, of our testers had is the shoulder pads were a bit bothersome. Being as small as they are, they don’t offer much protection, so some of our riders preferred to take them off rather than leave them on.

For sizing, we tested a XS/SM guard for our 5’7/160lb tester and it’s on the verge of being too small. For anyone larger than that, we’d recommend bumping up to the MD/LG guard for a better fit and more protection.

The Thor Sentinel LTD Roost Guard is a rock solid option for anyone looking for a minimalist roost guard. We don’t feel hindered by the guard when riding, heck we barely even know it’s there other than we don’t feel the roost, and it looks sleek under or over the jersey.