Air Jackets - have done some research but I'm even more confused

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PercyMum

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Can someone clarify some things for me on Air Jackets?

- I thought I wanted a Point 2, but it seems they are no longer supplied by Helite, and its confusing about who services what without invalidating warranties.

- Local tack shop won't stock Hit Air as 'they are not reliable, and aren't the best' but couldn't quantity further. They stock Point 2, but would order a Helite or Hit Air if I wanted. So which one???

- Can you buy online or do you have to get fitted like a back protector? Again, it seems a bit ambiguous about what you should do.

- I assume you can wear them in competitions, in which case, which one is the most discreet? And are the gilet-style ones better in this instance?

I know this has been covered alot but the more I try to look for answers, the more confused I am getting. Hope someone can advise me! Thanks :-)
 
I would have thought that both the HitAir and Point 2 have undergone testing to EU/ British standards so should both meet at least the minimum legal safety levels. I actually thought the HA was supposed to be better because it has better/ more neck protection...

I would get it fitted in a shop, not buy online. I bought mine at Blenheim last year, tried on both the P2 and HA, saw both inflated then bought the one I preferred. I have a HitAir, it's far more discrete as it's quite fitted. I found the P2 baggy and felt it might catch on things. HA fits easily over BP and underneath a number bib. I've worn it for team chasing too and didn't find it got in the way.

Yes you can wear in competitions. When you are doing XC you have to wear a BP underneath but pretty sure you can wear without the BP for SJ and DR. I wear mine for XC, XC schooling and SJ practise/ training but not always SJ comp as find I get too hot with it over my tweed (not that that's a good reason TBF!).
 
I'd be very interested in exactly why the supplier said Hit Air is not the best & unreliable....I'd also suspect Hit Air would like to talk to them 😂
I wear Hit Air & have done for nearly 5 years. Hit Air are actually the longest running of the companies & more popular in pretty much every country other than the UK....point 2 were just quicker & more savvy with their marketing.
At the end of the day, they are both basically very similar in how they work, similarly tested etc & it's just personal choice.
 
I went for a hitair too, very discrete in comparison.

I'd definitely recommend having it fitted as when I had mine fitted they told me most women have a medium, Tried it and it ws huge on me. I have a small. I'm 5ft8 and a size 6-8
 
I am going to be opposite to everyone else.

I have the point 2

If I were buying again I would buy online as so easy to fit.
Also I would buy the gillet (if allowed in sj)
 
I have the Hit Air and love it. I tried it on whilst at Your Horse Live 2014 and felt it justified the £425 I spent on it, after all what price your back/neck/life? Its amazingly light, comes up clean quickly, dries quickly and is well worth the money (its not gone off yet). I am tempted to try it out and waste a canister to see if it really does work but would only jump off the horse not plan a 'test fall' as I am not that brave!

The reasearch I did at the time came out as the Hit Air giving better protection than the Point 2 especially over the neck.
 
I have a Hit-air and it has worked brilliantly twice. In May, I fell off at a Jumping
Competition and the gas canister didn't activate and I fell on the canister, hurting myself. When I got home I realised that the canister was not screwed in properly and it wouldn't then screw in.
I contacted Hit-air by email and their service was excellent. They contacted me immediately and they wanted the full story. They suggested servicing the jacket but I wanted to wear it!! They then sent me 2 extra canisters for free. I couldn't fault the service. I do check the canister every few weeks now, even though it could have been my fault.
 
I have a Point 2. It is one of those "each to their own" things, but I love mine. :)

I do not find that it winds me, which is apparently what switches some people off them.

I just send mine to Point 2 for servicing (although last year I just dropped it off at their stand at your horse live, very simple!!). I had mine fitted at Badminton and would definitely advise that whatever you get, you get it fitted properly. I only really use mine for XC (schooling or competing, I event) so I use it over a body protector.
 
I don't have an air jacket (mainly due to the cost) but I would buy a Hit Air by choice, I looked at both and I prefer the idea that Hit Air inflates outwards and also seems to cover more of the body.
 
I have a Point Two, I loved it until I did an accidental inflation (I was very pleased with my horse at the end of XC, and jumped off to congratulate the horse, BANG!). It had been fitted correctly at a trade stand, and it did crush my chest, it shot my head up, my hips down and I was gasping for breath. I was interested to see that after, the horse did initially jump at the bang but then stood still, good job as I could not have done much to sort him out.

Since then I am very aware of it being on. It was not pleasant.

In fact I had put some weight on, so thought it maybe was too small, but I went back to a supplier and they said it did fit.

I would not mind trying a Hit Air, but having forked out for a Point Two, could not justify the expense.
 
I often think having had my point two fitted that many people appear to be riding with their much tighter than mine .
 
Goldenstar said:
I often think having had my point two fitted that many people appear to be riding with their much tighter than mine .
Click to expand...
I agree. Mine was directly fitted by point 2 themselves and is relatively loose and doesn't really wind me when it blows up.
I wonder if some of the tack shops that stock them might fit them tighter?
 
Having looked into them the Hitair canisters aren't as big as the Helite or Point 2 canisters. In their adult XS to M it's only 48cc compared to 60cc for the other brands. Possibly less protection?
 
There may well be a difference in volume. And in distribution of protection too. My OH tried on both and bought the Hit air as it was less bulky to wear. He had it inflated on him in the shop - which I was informed by the makers of Point 2 everyone really should do.
But if you look at the diagrams on line you will see that the hit air is a bit like a long tube coiling up the body. As OH and eventers wear their air jackets over a BP, the body has added protection from protruding objects in any areas not covered by the inflated vest.
You will not end by sorting out all the conflicting information about these air jackets. I could not. All one can do is note the differences and weigh up the pros and cons. My OH had been badly bruised in spite of wearing a bp. He needed an airjacket very specifically to protect his spine when falling onto a flat surface. Either air jacket would have done that job - he simply bought the one he felt most comfortable in.
And he has worn it ever since. I know other people who have bought an airjacket or been given one for their own protection and then not worn it because it is too much hassle or too cumbersome.
 
After research we went for the hitair over the point two for two main reasons:
- they inflate out the way rather than in the way meaning you're not winded, and if need be you can whack it off easier and jump back on to finish the xc (you either go to hospital or finish the course kind of mentality 😂)
-two being they have the extra neck and lower back inflation
Hope this helps ☺
 
We just bought a Hit-air. Tried it on along with the Point 2 but preferred the fit of the hit-air. Found the Point 2 was too long at the back (daughter's short) plus it felt bulky around the neck. Shop set the Hitair off on daughter to show her how it feels.
 
I got hit air because of the extra protection areas. You can wear in dressage over your jacket. I am only get hit air anyway because point 2 don't go buy enough for my chesticles :)
 
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