Mobius Wrist Brace X8 in review
A nasty crash caused Lars to rupture the SL ligament of his wrist. While at first he didn’t realise how much damage the crash had caused in his joint, overtime the untreated injury forced him to hold his hand in unusual positions, which in turn lead to irreparable cartilage damage between the scaphoid and radius. Riding mountain bikes on challenging terrain without feeling pain became almost impossible. It was time for Lars to get his hand into a Mobius X8 Wrist Brace.
Alongside the feet, our hands are the most important contact point with the bike. But since in our sport they’re also one of the most exposed and thus vulnerable part of our body, injuries can sometimes force us into taking a longer break from riding. To help riders alleviate the pain, shorten the time off the bike and minimise the risk of injury, American manufacturer Mobius developed the “X8 Wrist Brace”. An easy-to-wear wrist brace designed to prevent hyperextension and thus injury. In Lars’ case, the Mobius X8 Wrist Brace allowed him to take some load off his wrist and suppress some of the pain caused by the nasty cartilage damage.
The brace comes in two different sizes and colours. Due to its symmetrical structure, you can wear either on the right or left hand. Lars used a size L in grey. Upon unpacking the box, the first impression is very positive. The processing is of good quality, only the translation of the instructions could do with some proofreading – we admit we had to laugh a little. However, this isn’t relevant because the system is pretty much self-explanatory.
The Mobius X8 Wrist Brace can be pulled over a glove or worn directly on the skin.
Since the palm of the hand remains free, you can grip the handlebars as normal
With the help of the ratchet wheel you can adjust the tension of the cable for a perfect fit. Our recommendation: don’t overdo it.
The brace relies on a soft, chunky neoprene liner that hooks over the middle finger and sits on the back of the hand. This holds the brace in place and acts as a cushion between the back of the hand and the brace itself. An additional 2-finger liner is included in the scope of delivery. The tightness of the brace can be adjusted with a ratchet wheel that pulls on a BOA-like cable system, while a small Allen bolt lets you set the maximum opening degree. The one big advantage of this system is that it leaves the palm of your hand completely free – which means, there’s nothing between your hand and the grip. Also, the brace can be comfortably worn over a glove. While after a short familiarization time you won’t even notice the Mobius X8 anymore, you’ll notice a substantial relief in your wrist. Having said that, make sure you don’t over tighten the tension dial, as the brace could cut off your blood flow and leave you with a numb hand. If your hand goes funny, just release some tension. Throughout our testing period, the Mobius X8 Wrist Brace worked reliably and never let us down.
The Mobius X8 Wrist Brace wrist brace is a great tool for people who’re dealing with the aftermaths of a wrist injury and want to get back on their bike quickly. Not only does it reduce the risk of injury but also stabilizes weakened joints. We fully recommend it!
Tops
- The palm of the hand remains free and allows you to hold your grips as usual
- Solid construction
- Comfortable and easy to wear even with gloves
- Noticeable relief and protection
- Materials are easy to clean
Flops
- Rather expensive
Tester Lars Arendt
Duration about 3 months
Price € 199
More info mobiusbraces.com
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Words: Lars Arendt Photos: Benjamin Topf
