HIPLOK RIDE SHIELD REVIEW

Words & Photos by Robert Johnston

Hiplok is all about keeping your bike safe. Their product line extends outside of bicycle locks these days though, with products like their Ride Shield that are designed to keep your bike safe in different ways. In the case of their Ride Shield car bed protector, your vehicle is protected from the damage that loading and unloading a bike can do when you’re going riding, and they’ve included a clever cover to hide your bike from sight to prevent its theft, too. After being abused for the majority of this year, find out how the Hiplok Ride Shield performed.

ABOUT THE HIPLOK RIDE SHIELD

Hiplok designed the Ride Shield to protect both cars and bikes. It lines the boot (trunk) area of a car with a water-repellent toughened nylon liner, which is designed to be universal for most cars. This thick nylon liner offers some padding to prevent damage to the vehicle. Since it’s likely to see a lot of sunlight (when used outside of Scotland), it is also UV-resistant.

Velcro patches are fitted to the bottom of the Ride Shield to keep it in place in use. An integrated boot flap folds out when the boot (trunk) is open, preventing damage to the rear bumper when loading and unloading the bike. This flap features a self-sealing pocket designed to safely store gear.

A security cover is included, keeping your bike out of sight when deployed. It features pockets large enough to store a 29” wheel with a tire fitted, keeping the frame and wheels separated to prevent damage and noise.

Hiplok’s Ride Shield is available in one-size-fits-most and black only, and retails for $145 /£119.99.

THE DIRT

Getting the Hiplok Ride Shield installed to my VW Golf Estate couldn’t have been easier. Once the rear seats were laid flat, it was simply a case of sliding the Ride Shield into position, and pressing down to ensure the velcro hooked on. The velcro depends on a textured material surface being present in the boot (trunk). However, it would be fairly easy to stick female velcro onto any smooth surfaces if required.

Once in place, the Hiplok Ride Shield offered great coverage, both for the length of the rear of my car, but also up the sides. The boot (trunk) flap was perfectly placed to offer meaningful protection for my bumper, without being overly large and bulky. With the Ride Shield fitted, sliding a bike into and out of the car was that little bit easier, as it prevents it getting caught on anything in the boot. Similarly, you don’t need to be so careful of your car or bike, so can load and unload with a little less caution. Having a barrier against mud and moisture makes the cleanup easier following a ride, too.

Having the peace of mind of the security cover was much appreciated for times I was leaving the car with a bike in the back of it. That said, it is no substitute for a solid lock or physically being with the bike, and should be used with caution. The cover had a tendency to snag on grips and brake levers when being fitted and removed because of its thin material. However with a bit of coaxing, it did the job well. Being able to roll it up and stow it on the headrests helped to keep things neat when it wasn’t in use.

During the abusive half-year testing period of loading and unloading countless bikes, the Hiplok Ride Shield held up well. There are a few cuts in the fabric here and there from pedals snagging, but they’ve only caused a small amount of damage to the upper fabric layer and are no concern. Otherwise, it’s going to continue to keep my cheap car looking every bit as abused as the day I got it…

The Wolf’s Last Word

Though my car is hardly worth protecting, the bike security and easier loading and unloading that the Hiplok Ride Shield offered makes it a product worth considering for mountain bikers looking to transport their bikes in the rear of their cars.

Price: $145 /£119.99
Website: Hiplok.com

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