Air jacket neck support and coverage.

[Fieldlife]

Which air jacket would provide best neck and lower back coverage?

Thanks

 

[ycbm]

Hit Air comes up higher but it comes above the base of the hat and some people including me don't like that. It also has a gap in the airbag at the base of the neck which could theoretically allow you to be hit by a fence rail or jump pole.
I prefer P2 for those reasons among others.
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[Fieldlife]

Thanks, my horse is a bit careless with his feet, I worry about us both ending up on ground. He’s better than he was, but I now ride on more challenging terrain.

 

[ycbm]

I don't ride without an air jacket on since I got older and stopped bouncing
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[Fieldlife]

I don't ride without an air jacket on since I got older and stopped bouncing
.

Yes, I’ve just had a sudden wake up call.

Think I’m going to try both makes on, and wear one with BP when outside school

 

[ycbm]

It is a matter of taste. Just be aware that Hit Air apparently won't service anything over 5 years old and don't replace the air bag on service, while P2 replace the airbag on service and will carry on doing that as long as you carry on sending the jacket to them.
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[Sossigpoker]

HitAir is the only one with a piece for neck protection. I've had it go off several times and it's not gone above the base of the hat.

 

[asmp]

It is a matter of taste. Just be aware that Hit Air apparently won't service anything over 5 years old and don't replace the air bag on service, while P2 replace the airbag on service and will carry on doing that as long as you carry on sending the jacket to them.
.

my daughter recently had her Hit Air serviced and it was well over 5 years old (but she was told it could do with replacing)

 

[ycbm]

my daughter recently had her Hit Air serviced and it was well over 5 years old (but she was told it could do with replacing)

Maybe they have changed their policy since it was written about earlier this year on the forum. I wonder if it's still the case that they don't replace the airbag.
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[ycbm]

HitAir is the only one with a piece for neck protection. I've had it go off several times and it's not gone above the base of the hat.

This isn't true. The P2 comes well up the neck.
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[ycbm]

From May 22nd this year.

I've heard back from Hit Air. The air bags are not routinely replaced when an air jacket is sent in for servicing, but are replaced as necessary if the jacket is 5 years old or newer. It is not done in older jackets as 'technology has moved on'.

IMHO 5 years is a decent expected working life for an air jacket.

P2 replace the airbag on every service.

Hit Air presumable only replace it after it has failed, which is not helpful if it fails on a fall. Having taken a look at how flimsy the airbags are, it would worry me to be wearing one 5 years old.
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[Fieldlife]

I don't ride without an air jacket on since I got older and stopped bouncing
.

Anyone any advice on sizing?

I tried to measure when I bought recent BP, and despite measuring accurately there was little reliability and I had to send back and get a size which on paper shouldnt fit.

I am looking at P2 Hi Viz to go over Racesafe level 3 BP. Trying to figure out if I need Large or XL? I have seen a second hand one for under £200 posted.

Nowhere a sensible drive away seems to have them in stock to try on.

 

[Birker2020]

Which air jacket would provide best neck and lower back coverage?

Thanks

Hit Air definitely. I had chance to compare three makes when I was at Your Horse Live back in 2014 when I purchased my Hit Air, I went from stand to stand. Hit Air were definitely the best for neck coverage and I think from memory for inflation time. I also preferred Hit Air as it inflates outwards and the others inflate inwards I believe.

I think the neck inflation speed is good if you are like me and you nearly always get concussed during a fall. My body falls first and because I'm so relaxed my head just follows through.

 

[ycbm]

I think from memory for inflation time.

The P2 is named after its original inflation time, it's now quicker still and it's always been quicker than the Hit Air.


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[MereChristmas]

Would some one please explain how the Hit Air inflates outwards only. As I understand it for this to happen the inner of the air jacket would have to be rigid. The expanding air would then have to go outwards. If the inner and outer sides of the jacket are flexible surely the air would expand both ways.
Thanks

 

[ycbm]

. I also preferred Hit Air as it inflates outwards and the others inflate inwards I believe.

The Hit Air does inflate only outwards. The P2 just inflates, all round, not specifically outwards.

The positive of inflating only outwards is that you never get squeezed. The downside of that is that you have to wear it tighter, there is less air flow, and there is less flexibility about what clothes you can wear under it without adjusting it.

Many people prefer not being squeezed tight on inflation, I like it, I think it makes a safer safety "cage". Interestingly, I've only ever seen event riders wear a P2.

 

[ycbm]

Would some one please explain how the Hit Air inflates outwards only. As I understand it for this to happen the inner of the air jacket would have to be rigid. The expanding air would then have to go outwards. If the inner and outer sides of the jacket are flexible surely the air would expand both ways.
Thanks

ETA found this picture and you can see that the Hit Air airbag appears to be attached on top of an underlying carrier.

https://www.hitairuk.co.uk/FocusProtection.aspx
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[ycbm]

Anyone any advice on sizing?

I tried to measure when I bought recent BP, and despite measuring accurately there was little reliability and I had to send back and get a size which on paper shouldnt fit.

I am looking at P2 Hi Viz to go over Racesafe level 3 BP. Trying to figure out if I need Large or XL? I have seen a second hand one for under £200 posted.

Nowhere a sensible drive away seems to have them in stock to try on.

It depends how big you are
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[Fieldlife]

It depends how big you are
.

Yes I get that.

I’m size 16 with a fairly short back and 5ft6

My racesafe BP adds bulk.

Advice is up a size for BP.

I think large will be a bit long and a bit tight under BP?

But XL would be way too long? Think I’d be sitting on it.

 

[MereChristmas]

ETA found this picture and you can see that the Hit Air airbag appears to be attached on top of an underlying carrier.

https://www.hitairuk.co.uk/FocusProtection.aspx
.

Thanks
Later on the website is this photo
https://www.hitairuk.co.uk/FocusEventing.aspx
Is there a sort of rigid waistcoat under the air bags?

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Intersting. I like the look of the P2 hunter. I don’t normally ride in a BP unles xc however now that I have damaged my spine I’m going to have to think more along the lines of when and not if I get injured again. Even after I’m finished healing it will be a weak point for me and I’d rather have something I can wear to help prevent my injury again.

Bps won’t stop me Injuring again what’s I’ve done and I find them too rigid and uncomfortable for everyday use. So it looks like I’ll be buying an air jacket sooner than I thought.

ETA my spinal injury wasn’t horse related so I’ve no fear or anything of it reoccurring when riding ?

 

[Fieldlife]

Intersting. I like the look of the P2 hunter. I don’t normally ride in a BP unles xc however now that I have damaged my spine I’m going to have to think more along the lines of when and not if I get injured again. Even after I’m finished healing it will be a weak point for me and I’d rather have something I can wear to help prevent my injury again.

Bps won’t stop me Injuring again what’s I’ve done and I find them too rigid and uncomfortable for everyday use. So it looks like I’ll be buying an air jacket sooner than I thought.

ETA my spinal injury wasn’t horse related so I’ve no fear or anything of it reoccurring when riding ?

I thought the same re body protectors, and for years only used one when was a requirement. But after a fall in February, I got a new one, just planning to wear it for higher risk work. But actually it is so comfortable I wear it for all off road hacking too. I find it breathable and flexible, and means I dont need a sports bra!

 

[Fieldlife]

Anyone know if it is okay to clip an air jacket lanyard onto the central ring of the R-stor? I cannot see why not. It is very similar attachment that goes under stirrup bars.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Anyone know if it is okay to clip an air jacket lanyard onto the central ring of the R-stor? I cannot see why not. It is very similar attachment that goes under stirrup bars.

At the same time as using the R-stor?

 

[ycbm]

Yes I get that.

I’m size 16 with a fairly short back and 5ft6

My racesafe BP adds bulk.

Advice is up a size for BP.

I think large will be a bit long and a bit tight under BP?

But XL would be way too long? Think I’d be sitting on it.

I think it will be annoyingly long on you and you might do better with a gilet style one, but I don't know how that will work over a body protector. You might prefer the Hit Air, it has a tucked up tail.
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[Sossigpoker]

Anyone know if it is okay to clip an air jacket lanyard onto the central ring of the R-stor? I cannot see why not. It is very similar attachment that goes under stirrup bars.

HitAir has a clip buckle so you'd need to attach the buckle end strap to the Rstor and that would probably increase the length too much. Also ,if the Rstor attachment broke, your jacket wouldn't go off.

 

[Fieldlife]

At the same time as using the R-stor?

Potentially, I don’t use R-stor all the time but might pick it up eg if a loose race horse was heading towards us at speed.

As the R-stor has a similar attachment point under both stirrup bars as the Two point I think be okay. Attachment ring pulls tight on both sides to stirrup bars so don’t think using R-stor would disturb the air jacket lanyard clip.

 

[Fieldlife]

HitAir has a clip buckle so you'd need to attach the buckle end strap to the Rstor and that would probably increase the length too much. Also ,if the Rstor attachment broke, your jacket wouldn't go off.

Two point is a clip to a ring, the ring attaches under each stirrup bar.

R-stor uses identical attachments.

R-stor stirrup bar attachments are same thickness and design as Two point. Doubt either ever likely to break.

 

[Fieldlife]

HitAir has a clip buckle so you'd need to attach the buckle end strap to the Rstor and that would probably increase the length too much. Also ,if the Rstor attachment broke, your jacket wouldn't go off.

It’s same design ring to clip to on saddle, so won’t change length.

 

[Fieldlife]

HitAir has a clip buckle so you'd need to attach the buckle end strap to the Rstor and that would probably increase the length too much. Also ,if the Rstor attachment broke, your jacket wouldn't go off.

point two air jacket saddle strap

https://www.ashurstfarmfeeds.co.uk/...g-PX9Z7lLaPh_a23Y4Mep3kp9SEbIdnxoCTb8QAvD_BwE

R-Stor

https://www.redpostequestrian.co.uk...bbys-rs-tor-rider-security-aid--black__151577