air jacket - what does it not do?

ladyearl

ladyearl

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I am interested in an air jacket and looking forward to the day they become more affordable.

However, I do have a question. What is it that they do not do that means you still have to wear a conventional body protector underneath one? I can read lots about how great they are, and, having seen them in action I do believe they offer more protection. But why two? Is this just about legislation or is there a valid safety reason why you wouldn't wear the air jacket on its own?

Forgive me if this has already come up - I had a look some previsou posts but couldn't see the answer to this.
 
The organisations that require you to wear protection require it to be to a certain standard. That standard relates to foam coverage and penetration. The air jacket has no foam to cover and prevent penetration so cannot pass a BETA test. The standard BP and the air jacket do different jobs. The Exo does a different job again - neither a standard BP nor an air jacket will protect you from a horse laying across you for a couple of minutes. The Exo will, apparently. The only reason an Exo has BETA approval though is because of it's foam padding like in a standard BP, not because of the metal cage. There is no standard to test the metal cage, as there is no standard to test the air jacket.

Horse for courses I'm afraid - or you pays your money and you takes your choice.
 
In order for the air jacket to offer protection it obviously needs to inflate.
To inflate the rider needs to be thrown far enough clear for the air jacket to inflate.
There are instances where the rider remains in close contact with the horse during a fall (e.g. rotational falls) and in some instances the inflation of the jacket would not be triggered, hence the need (in competition) for a regular body protector underneath
 
Thanks for those replies. I'm still musing on things. Have now seen some riders with an air jacket on but no BP underneath. This is not in competition just riding out. Is that mad? Would thye be better just going for a decent BP if they are only going to wear one part of the combination.

Incidently not the point 2 jacket but another (apparently cheaper) brand..
 
I've been known to wear just my Point 2 hacking out. I don't wear my body protector partly because I grew up riding long before they were invented and it's just not habit for me. The Point Two is unnoticeable when riding IMHO, my BP is hot and cumbersome and I just don't think to put it on. Also so far any injuries I've had coming off a horse have not been ones where a normal BP would protect me. I land on one hip and damage my sacroiliac and jar my neck. Landing the way I do would mean that I'd be landing on a cushion of air and would have some neck support from the Point Two. So far I have not managed to fall off and have not inflated it.
 
Whats the name of the other cheaper one? I like thew idea of wearing a hi-vis air jacket for hacking, i think this is a large part of the market they should be aiming at.
 
MrsMozart said:
I was wondering that too :D. Daughter has an Exo. You have to have quite a slim, streamlined body to get and Exo to fit (they don't fit me :o).
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I wondered about that it doesn't look like a hacking option.

The vest I saw other riders wearing was just like a sleeveless jacket - look quite comfortable. I always ride in my racesafe but was thinking what I might replace it with in the future and wondering about getting one of those as I don't think they were as pricey as the point 2 one.
 
daydreambeliever said:
Whats the name of the other cheaper one? I like thew idea of wearing a hi-vis air jacket for hacking, i think this is a large part of the market they should be aiming at.
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Think it's called Hitair. Japanese brand apparently selling in the states. Not exactly sure of the price but think it's nearer £200 than £400.
 
I can't answer the original question - it seems the published independent data is not available. Just wanted to say that I have a Point Two, it has inflated when bucked off and it was like landing on an air cushion. I bought it to protect my neck as I'd just had an accident. I've worn it every time I've ridden, almost, and I don't think its expensive if it saves my neck! I calculated out the extra costs involved paying someone to look after the horses if I was injured, and other inconveniences and it looked good value. I have been bucked off wearing a conventional BP a long time ago and was very sore, with a crocked back, for 9 months.

The cheaper one doesn't seem to be buyable in this country, i.e. you have to send to Germany for it (when I was looking last year) and I wondered if then there might be problems if there were any issues with it. Again, to have hassle might not be worth saving a few hundred pounds.

Another benefit, esp this hot weather, (not connected to the company I can assure you!) is that you don't know you are wearing it but, so far, I have never forgotten to unclip
before getting off.
 
ladyearl said:
I wondered about that it doesn't look like a hacking option.

The vest I saw other riders wearing was just like a sleeveless jacket - look quite comfortable. I always ride in my racesafe but was thinking what I might replace it with in the future and wondering about getting one of those as I don't think they were as pricey as the point 2 one.
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Daughter does eveything in her Exo :D. Hacks, messes about, jumps :D. Has freedom of movement and is always happy to put it on :D. Wore it last summer okay, and wears it at shows as well :)

I like the Point 2 from the point of view of the inflation around the neck, but I like the Exo from the rotational falls point of view.
 
Oldred said:
I can't answer the original question - it seems the published independent data is not available. Just wanted to say that I have a Point Two, it has inflated when bucked off and it was like landing on an air cushion. I bought it to protect my neck as I'd just had an accident. I've worn it every time I've ridden, almost, and I don't think its expensive if it saves my neck! I calculated out the extra costs involved paying someone to look after the horses if I was injured, and other inconveniences and it looked good value. I have been bucked off wearing a conventional BP a long time ago and was very sore, with a crocked back, for 9 months.

The cheaper one doesn't seem to be buyable in this country, i.e. you have to send to Germany for it (when I was looking last year) and I wondered if then there might be problems if there were any issues with it. Again, to have hassle might not be worth saving a few hundred pounds.

Another benefit, esp this hot weather, (not connected to the company I can assure you!) is that you don't know you are wearing it but, so far, I have never forgotten to unclip
before getting off.
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My friend seems to have got one from England somewhere. I'll ask her details when I see her again. Not sure if there's a difference between the point 2 and this one. Also you don't say if you ride without the BP underneath it.
 
MrsMozart said:
Daughter does eveything in her Exo :D. Hacks, messes about, jumps :D. Has freedom of movement and is always happy to put it on :D. Wore it last summer okay, and wears it at shows as well :)

I like the Point 2 from the point of view of the inflation around the neck, but I like the Exo from the rotational falls point of view.
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Yes I think the EXO looks good but I've heard it is better for the slimmer model of rider!!
 
The difference between the Point Two and the HitAir is that the Point Two goes off faster - in half the time.
 
I hardly know squat about air jackets. :-(
Just heard they are step forward in the prevention of serious injuries to riders.

What happens when they have been inflated by a fall?

How do you deflate them?
How is the inflation triggered?
 
Inflation is triggered by a lanyard attached to the saddle and a gas canister.

They deflate by themselves through leakage through the seams - which is why no-one would claim they prevent crush injuries in the event of a horse lying on you for any length of time. System is pretty much like car airbags, they inflate very fast and deflate slowly.
 
jemima_too said:
Inflation is triggered by a lanyard attached to the saddle and a gas canister.

They deflate by themselves through leakage through the seams - which is why no-one would claim they prevent crush injuries in the event of a horse lying on you for any length of time. System is pretty much like car airbags, they inflate very fast and deflate slowly.
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Thanks for that, i am wiser now and they seem a good safety option.
 
jemima_too said:
The difference between the Point Two and the HitAir is that the Point Two goes off faster - in half the time.
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Oooo now that is good information!! Half the price but half the time but is it still fast enough?

Yes, just in case anyone is wondering I was the most annoying "but why" kid in the world!!
 
ladyearl said:
Oooo now that is good information!! Half the price but half the time but is it still fast enough?

Yes, just in case anyone is wondering I was the most annoying "but why" kid in the world!!
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Both jackets have reduced their time to inflate in recent months. So the HitAir is now where the Point Two was last year. Last year that was as good as you were going to get and I haven't got round to upgrading mine yet to the faster speed.

The time it makes a difference is when you and the horse are very close to the ground as you part from the horse. At 0.1 of a second after the lanyard triggers you will be fully inflated with the Point Two, with the HitAir you need to be hoping the horse isn't going to land on you for another 0.15 of a second. Those figures are taken from their websites today.
 
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In answer to the OP, i would imagine a point 2 will not keep your spine straight like a BP will. It's purpose seems more to stop you being crushed by the horse and to absorb some impact. Whereas a BP doesn't absorb much impact, but stops your back from being bent at a horrible angle when you land. The air jacket is also said to provide neck protection, a bit like one of those things racing drivers wear i suppose to keep the neck straight/ avoid whiplash.

From what i have read about the exo cage, it does stop you from getting crushed unlike a conventional BP which will collapse in with the weight of a horse. So it sort of does the same job as an inflatible jacket in that way, although it may absorb less impact so you might hit the floor harder than you would in a point 2 etc.

I'm no expert, these are just things i have picked up from reading the websites and about the design, and from experience with conventional BP's. They all seem logical points to me though. If i had infinate money and the need for great protection i think i would go for the BP + air jacket combo as it seems the least bulky and probably least likely to affect my riding.

As it is though, i rarely wear back protection, so i would rather wear an inflatible jacket which does not look at all inconvenient than my usual nothing. The only down side to that is the cost :rolleyes:

Then again, i have a spine reinforced by 18 inches of metal either side so would hopefully withstand slightly more. Not that i intend to test it lol :D
 
Well just to take it on a bit further and my poor friend had to test hers out in anger, at a cross country, yesterday. It inflated so fast and so quietly that she can't remember the exact moment it happened. She's totally fine (thank goodness) and the first aid guy was very impressed!

Obviously, at this stage it's still necessary to wear the two for competition but in all honesty after doing a bit of research I'm now fairly convinced that:

a) the Hitair one is as effective and far cheaper
b) in terms of what can happen out hacking I think it might be better wearing that than the BP if I'm only going to wear one
c) I'm saving my pennies!!
 
Oldred said:
it seems the published independent data is not available.
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I have a copy of the summary of the test data carried by the Transport Research Laboratory. Message me if you'd like a copy.

I emailed Point Two asking them if you need to wear a body protector with their jacket. This was their response:

With regards to the ProAir jackets being a standalone product, it was actually designed for use with motorcycles. Obviously you would not use a body protector whilst riding a motorbike. The reason we recommend you use the ProAir in conjunction with a body protector is to ensure you are as safe as possible at all times whilst you are around your yard and horse. The ProAir jacket is designed to offer support to the rider in a fall situation, once it has been inflated. However it will only be able to offer you a minimal amount of protection whilst you are walking around your yard, if your horse was to kick you for instance. Where as a standard body protector would be able to offer you this protection. Secondly if in the very unlikely event that your air jacket was to fail the standard body protector would be there as a backup.
 
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