Air jackets-worth investing in one?

[Sukistokes2]

I rode in a point two and how baggy it was, drove me nuts! Much prefer the slim fit of the hit air, they also look so much smarter when hunting or showjumping. Out hunting someone fell off in a point 2 and an ambulance was called as the jacket itself hurt the lady by crushing her, she couldn't get up for a while, the inflation inwards completely winded her and hurt her ribs without a body protector underneath ( not sure exactly how) but that really put me off them. We did a lot of research and tried them on a few times. We were buying two, so had to be sure! And the hit air won by far.

Badly fitted.

Its made clear you need 4" for it to expand inwards. It only does so to stop the canister hurting your ribs. Correctly fitted it simply does not crush you or wind you in anyway, In fact the only reason I knew mine had worked was because I could hear it venting. For any safety item to work as it should, it needs to be fitted correctly. I am pretty sure all the jackets have been well thought through and well tested and meet all the appropriate standards. Which one to buy is a matter of personal choice and what fits.
I wear my point two for dressage and it looks fine. They come in all designs now, not just the standard one.

I would head to a shop that sold a few sorts and try them on and see what suits.

 

[shirl62]

Thinking of getting one myself...One thing I thought about...Has anyone who wears an air jacket forgotten to 'unhook' themselves from the saddle and the jacket went off ? I am thinking when you don't have your own horse and are at a riding school.

Shirl

 

[FfionWinnie]

Thinking of getting one myself...One thing I thought about...Has anyone who wears an air jacket forgotten to 'unhook' themselves from the saddle and the jacket went off ? I am thinking when you don't have your own horse and are at a riding school.

Shirl

At a riding school it would be a bit of a faff as you'll need to take the stirrups off twice per ride to put the saddle strap on. Also I'm not sure if a RS is going to want an air jacket potentially going off during a group lesson. Might be ok private lessons.

I have got off my 14.2 without unhooking and got away with it as I am tall but that's the only time in a year I've forgotten. I wear it every day often twice.

You can adjust the jacket to fit on it's on or over a BP.

As for being injured or winded by a point two I have also had my coach tell me about someone breaking their ribs from it in a lesson. I don't really care for people ridiculing the user as having it incorrectly fitted -I really wonder how you know that as fact any more than I know what I know!

Personally I prefer the fact my hit air isn't going to do that regardless of how it's fitted. I would feel very nervous if I could cause myself injury by not having it properly adjusted. As you wear it as an outer layer this could mean it needed adjusted daily in Scotland and I don't want the responsibility! Plus in my experience P2 are far heavier and flap around. I bought one a few years ago and took it back because it was enormous to fit round my chest correctly, and I knew I wouldn't wear it.

One thing is for sure I won't ride without mine on!

 

[shirl62]

At a riding school it would be a bit of a faff as you'll need to take the stirrups off twice per ride to put the saddle strap on. Also I'm not sure if a RS is going to want an air jacket potentially going off during a group lesson. Might be ok private lessons.

I have got off my 14.2 without unhooking and got away with it as I am tall but that's the only time in a year I've forgotten. I wear it every day often twice.

Thanks for that info ..I had a feeling that it might be a bit of palaver..and being vertically challenged might be a problem. After breaking ribs/head injury just over 3 weeks ago ( wearing a BP ) I am a bit scared and want to have the optimal protection to minimise injury.

Shirl

 

[Hoof_Prints]

If the jacket itself damaged her then it was ludicrously badly fitted. I believe that the buckles would snap before the air expansion could actually cause anyone any physical damage. I'm sorry, but I just don't believe that this woman was actually hurt by the jacket; more likely that she was in shock from the fall. I've seen a riding club member screaming in pain, after pain relief, as she was put into an ambulance and we all feared the worst. She was released from hospital an hour later with mild bruising to the ribs. And she wouldn't have had those of she'd had an air jacket on.

Just repeating what is saw out hunting and what I heard second hand from the paramedic. I'm not a fan of the baggy fit, but that's just personal opinion! Each to their own I wanted full neck support and could easily move my neck back when the point two was inflated. Best thing to do is try them and get each one blown up on you.

 

[horselady]

Thanks for all the replies guys I will definitely be investing in one just trying to decide which. This is just me but I never by safety gear second hand so would be fine. I am thinking either P2 or hit air atm.

 

[BBP]

I bought a hit air at Burghley last year (having spent the previous 12 months with a serious neck injury - not horse related but made me realise how much I value my neck!). I know what I'm like (vain!) and knew that I wouldn't wear a Point 2 as I think they look like giant body nappies, and I already had a body protector that I don't wear routinely for hacking, so i wanted something neat and tidy that I wouldn't really notice. I get on really well with it, its very compact so looks tidy, and im pretty good at remembering to wear it. I haven't set it off yet which is good...although I have jumped off 4 times wearing it! Luckily my pony is small and I have been able to unclip just at the critical moment. I can't wear it for trec and there is too much getting on and off and I know i'd forget.

As I dithered over getting one last year, someone asked me if I would dither as much if I was lying in hospital on a spinal board and was told for £400 I could get up and go. I figured I would find the money in that circumstance, so i could find the money to help prevent going to hospital in the first place! I also bought a Champion body protector which is the most comfortable one I have had so far, I wore both on my first ride on the beach and even with both on it looks fairly neat. That's obviously vanity though, Im sure Point 2 is great as well.

 

[BigPony]

I love my HitAir, I bought it second hand but sent it for servicing straight away for peace of mind.

I have dismounted without unclipping and my friend had a slow slide to the ground upright type fall and it did not go off.

I've been bucked off at a show and aside from the embarrassment of landing in a cowpat and everyone turning to look at the bang, walked away uninjured

I would say that although it might be a bit of a faff, it shouldn't be too much trouble for an RS to allow a customer to use one.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Thanks for all the replies guys I will definitely be investing in one just trying to decide which. This is just me but I never by safety gear second hand so would be fine. I am thinking either P2 or hit air atm.

As the manufacturers all provide servicing which makes them as good as new again, I don't think there's any need to be snifffy about second hand when it comes to £400 quid items. Not everyone can afford new!

 

[Annagain]

Good point.

They did a buyback on mine and I paid half price for the new one. Worth asking if that still applies of anyone has got one.

Buy an old one for less than 1/2 price, trade it in and you've saved on a new one!

 

[shirl62]

As the manufacturers all provide servicing which makes them as good as new again, I don't think there's any need to be snifffy about second hand when it comes to £400 quid items. Not everyone can afford new!

It kind of makes me mad that safety equipment comes at a price..I go fly fishing and have a great bells and whistle flotation vest which works on the same principal with the gas cannisters ( although you have to be in contact with water for it to go off ) Mine cost about £130 ..

Rant over..

Shirl

 

[dixie]

Thanks - would a gilet like this provide enough protection and neck protection? http://www.treehouseonline.co.uk/product/248

It looks easy to wear?

I am separately thinking about getting one of these - http://www.treehouseonline.co.uk/product/392 Racesafe Provent 3.0 Adult as I need one to visit local gallops (and don't have one)

But am thinking about using an air jacket for more local faster hacking.

Thinking about investing in both. But want to be something that is safe, comfy and lasts next ten years

It looks like I couldn't sensibly combine air jacket and body protector. If wanted to ride both separately, most of the time. As I'd need a very loose air jacket to do this, likely to be bulky.

I have the Gilet and also the jacket in this. The gilet us very easy to wear and also stretches over my XC back protector. I also had a P2 but much prefer the Helite for comfort

Oh and I've fallen off in it and it gave plenty of protection

 

[horselady]

Buy an old one for less than 1/2 price, trade it in and you've saved on a new one!

How much do they cost to trade in? I'll probably do this.

 

[ycbm]

It kind of makes me mad that safety equipment comes at a price..I go fly fishing and have a great bells and whistle flotation vest which works on the same principal with the gas cannisters ( although you have to be in contact with water for it to go off ) Mine cost about £130 ..

Rant over..

Shirl

I agree they seem expensive but these are very, very specialist items of equipment that have to trigger at a very precise pull strength, not just dissolve a salt tablet; inflate before the rider reaches the ground, rather than before you drown; to a pressure high enough to prevent injury not just keep you afloat.

There are three very competitive companies making them but they all retail at around the same price, suggesting that's just what they cost to make to such precision tolerances.

 

[buddylove]

I have one, I have 3 kids, husband, job and 3 horses, I can't afford to get an injury that could have been avoided if I was wearing proper protection. I know it won't protect against all injuries, but I certainly prefer the odds to be stacked in my favour 😉

 

[pepsimaxrock]

I'm sorry, but I just don't believe that this woman was actually hurt by the jacket; more likely that she was in shock from the fall. .

Couldnt agree more. I'm sure the company could take that original post as libel ...

Both jackets are almost exactly the same. I can't believe how defensive folks are about the one they happened to spend their money on ........

 

[Northern Hare]

I no longer compete my horse and just hack round the farm where he's at livery. However as there's miles of off-road hacking and we spend a lot of time cantering or faster (with plenty deer and hares springing out of the hedgerows to surprise us!), then I invested in a Hi-Viz Hit-Air air jacket.

It's BRILLIANT! It is worth every penny. I've put it to the test once and it was great - I fell off and it worked very well - not even any bruising. I don't wear it on top of a BP for hacking, but obviously I would definitely put the BP on underneath if I was doing any XC.

 

[adsthelad]

I have a Hit-Air and I absolutely love it, I mainly use it for jumping and the occasional beach ride. I prefer the way it looks to the Point 2 because it's much neater, as the protection for the back of the spine and neck only pops out when the air jacket inflates. I barely notice I'm wearing it because it's so light, and I find it gives me peace of mind because I know that if disaster strikes I am protected. I've only tested it once, I came off quite badly but only walked away with a headache from where I smacked my head - my body was absolutely fine, no soreness.

 

[case895]

I never ride without one now.

 

[JustMe22]

I am newly converted to air jackets and love mine. I was doing a lot of hacking and schooling on newly backed horses straight off the farm, including one (sort of) youngster who after 2 years under saddle has perfected the art of bronc and spin, and regularly ditches everyone who rides him if the mood takes him.

Invested in an air jacket and I use it every time I ride now. In fact, the first ride after I bought it I fell off my showjumper and was catapulted. Have never had such a soft landing in my life.


I wear mine without a body protector underneath. Purely for the reason that I feel it offers me enough protection and I will actually use the air jacket as they're comfy. Unlikely to ride regularly in a body protector, especially in South African heat. I picked up a reconditioned one directly from Point Two for 150 when I was back in the UK. I also prefer how the point two feels. The hit air bounces on my shoulders too much for some reason and it annoys me! Though they are less bulky

 

[Rowreach]

Point two are no longer going to be servicing their older style jackets so be careful if you buy second hand!

This comes in January 2018 so if you have an old style jacket (ie with the screw in canister) then P2 recommend if you don't want to upgrade, send it in for service around December this year and then it will do you for a bit longer.

The upgrade offer will still be available going forward apparently, currently £200 discount off the range of new air jackets.