A ball to the chest has to go somewhere.
Without protection, the force of an impact stays where it lands. Z-Tech foam takes that force and spreads it across the whole panel. Use the toggle and watch where the energy goes.
Illustrative visualisation of drop-test findings. Absorption figure stated as up to 75%. Substantiation on file, Deakin University / CSR.
Open cell, not closed cell.
Traditional guards use closed-cell foam. It is a wall. It stops the ball, but it is hot, stiff, and it sits on top of a body it was never shaped for. Z-Tech is open-cell: air moves through it, it bends with you, and it turns a single point of force into a wide, shallow one.
Designed for performance
Zena vs the standard guard
- Patented
- Deakin Uni
- 5.6 oz
- Open cell
- All three
- Never
- No
- All season
- No
- Rarely
- 14 oz+
- Closed cell
- Partial
- Often
- Yes
- Sport specific
What athletes say
“10/10 would recommend to anyone playing a contact sport. It is lightweight and comfortable but acts like it is iron plated. I was kicked directly in the ribs during a game and I barely felt it.”
Aisha Khalaf
Your questions, answered
What size do I need?
Measure your underbust, not your chest. If you wear a small in a crop top, you are a small in a Zena vest. If you are larger than a C cup, size up. And if you get it wrong, you have 30 days to send it back and free exchanges.
Do I wear a bra underneath the vest?
Yes. The vest protects you from impact, it does not provide bust support. Wear it over a sports bra or crop top.
Is the vest restrictive?
No. The garment weighs 5.6 oz and is contoured to the body. The patented injection moulding is extremely lightweight and flexible.
What exactly does it cover?
The panel covers the sternum, breast and rib area. That is the patent.
Which sports is it for?
Soccer, lacrosse, rugby, softball, flag football, AFL, basketball, and any other contact sport. One vest covers every sport she plays.
Can the vest be seen under a jersey?
No. The vest is developed to be as discreet as possible and is not visible under a playing jersey.
How do you know it absorbs up to 75% of impact?
Four years of development and sports science impact testing with Deakin University and the Centre for Sports Research in Australia.
Is the vest machine washable?
Cold hand wash is best. If that is not realistic, it machine washes on a gentle cold cycle inside the wash bag that comes with every vest.