Air jacket recommendations

[LFD]

Hi - I've decided to splash out and get an air jacket for xc but wanted to know if which people think is better - the Point Two ProAir or the Original Air Jacket by Helite? Or if there is another one I should consider?

Thanks in advance

 

[Attie]

I had the point two which I love and it's saved my bacon a couple of times! I wore it over an airowear outlyne for competitions and just on its own out hacking. I then upgraded it to the point two hybrid which is brilliant and so comfortable and I now wear just this competing which personally I find much more comfortable. I'm sure there's little to choose between point two, the Helite or the hit-air brands....but definitely worth trying them on...I take a medium in the point two ordinary but and XS in the hybrid!

 

[noname]

Hit air also worth a look. Seen a lot of falls caused by the point 2. I don't wish to reignite the debate just seen them go off when they shouldn't!!!!
Think it comes down to personal preference.

 

[LFD]

Thanks both - I should have said it would be going over my airowear outlyne. I'll have a look at Hit Air too.

 

[Daytona]

Hit Air

A better design I think due to inflating outwards rather than inwards , means you can wear it tight to your body instead of loose like the others you mention

 

[Stroppy Mare]

I have a hit air. They're more slimline and neater than the P2 and are the original air jackets (motorcyclists) so are designed for faster work sitting closer to the body. They explode rather than implode, so they're comfier on blow up than P2 and also considerably quieter.

Having fallen off twice in my hit air, it has a good neck, rib and coccyx protective mechanism (more so than the P2) and I walk away without even a sore muscle. Very impressed with mine.

 

[LFD]

Just reading about the Hit Air and they do sound good. I certainly prefer the idea of it inflating outwards rather than inwards.

 

[Cragrat]

Hit air are quite adjustable - we have a medium which is used by my son, my daughter and myself, usually over an outlyne BP, sometimes without a BP. The salesperson showed us how to properly adjust it for each case.
It's only been set off once- when my daughter failed to undo herself horse wasn't bothered, and I was very impressed by speed of it, and the way the airbags went up round her neck and down below her coccyx.

 

[ArcticFox]

I don't know about anyone else but there are so many threads on HHO about air jackets. The debate is massive and everyone likes the one they own (mine is a P2 hybrid).

People will slate company marketing. Inflation speeds. Inflation direction, what fall did or didn't save the rider, price etc.

My advice would be to do a google search for 'Horse and Hound forum air jacket' and see how many threads come up and read them. (Or search for HH forum hit air, helite point two etc).
Then go to a stand and try them on. I have my reasons for liking the P2 and not others but the debate is too tiring to get involved in!

Sorry that hasn't been helpful, but it really is worth seeing them in real life and having a sales person let you feel the inflation etc before you buy. I hope this doesn't come across as a mean response. It's not meant to be. X

 

[Shay]

Articfox is right about seeing them for yourself. It is also really informative to have them blown up on you (but it will cost you the price of an air cylinder each time). My personal preference is for the original jacket now marketed as Helite - but there are advantages to each make. From experience the back lengths are slightly different and you may find one make snugs onto your hat and protects your neck better than another. The only caution I would offer is that the pro 2 safety reports actually relate to the jacket now called helite rather than to the new pro2. PRS2 is not affected.

 

[LFD]

Thanks all - I didn’t realise this was such a hotly debated topic! I'll arrange to try them on at the next event I’m at with decent trade stands and I’ll also have a read of the older threads so I know a bit more about each of them before trying them on.

Thanks for all the advice

 

[KarlyHT]

Something to consider. I would have gone for the P2 hybrid as it seemed much less bulky than wearing a separate BP and air jacket but bear in mind that the foam in normal body protectors degrades and will need replacing after 3-5 years so works out very expensive if you're not at the top of your game.

I went for the Kan (never needs replacing) and a P2 so you also have the option to wear them separately.