Air jackets

Ok-reading all the posts above, I think I've missed something! I'm coming at it assuming that people are using them to ride fast cross-country. I hadn't even considered that people were using them for hacking/other leisure riding.

So I'll shut up!
 
ycbm said:
I forgot that one! Weird, eh, do they still sell it? I saw someone fall off (at Badminton?) in one. Feel straight into his unprotected side and bruised his ribs!
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Yes I saw that fall and I had to then find out what he was wearing as it looked so pointless. I don't think they are available now. I do tend to land flat on my back so perhaps it would still be better than nothing!

Anyway I've given up falling off it's too expensive :D
 
Hoof_Prints said:
I wore a P2 for a couple of months, and then bought my own Hit Air. I have fell off in both and the P2 was horrible, I could still move my neck quite freely and it actually hurt as it inflated inwards. A lady out hunting cracked her ribs after falling in a P2 and was airlifted to hospital. I have fell off a few times in my hit air and it's certainly saved me! and I can still easily roll away in it. The hit air certainly feels nicer to hit the ground in :D The P2 looks messy in my opinion and flaps around, the hit airs fit snugly and are very smart.

I wouldn't use a P2 without a body protector as they can crush you, but for showjumping and hunting where I would never usually wear a BP, my air jacket is brilliant and so comfy. I should add that the hit air is pretty easy to wipe clean when plastered in mud ;)
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Only a seriously badded fitted P2 could possibly crush ribs. If it was a feature of the jacket they would have been sued out of businessor changed the design by now.
 
Auslander said:
Ok-reading all the posts above, I think I've missed something! I'm coming at it assuming that people are using them to ride fast cross-country. I hadn't even considered that people were using them for hacking/other leisure riding.

So I'll shut up!
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I literally wear mine every single ride (even trying a saddle!) and I actually got the use of it while walking out a quiet fairly bombproof horse, so not even going fast. I fell off at a saddle fitting before I bought it and broke all my ribs on one side, hence once I was able to walk never mind ride, I bought one.
 
FfionWinnie said:
Yes I saw that fall and I had to then find out what he was wearing as it looked so pointless. I don't think they are available now. I do tend to land flat on my back so perhaps it would still be better than nothing!

Anyway I've given up falling off it's too expensive :D
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It really helps doesn't it? I've been close to falling off out hunting and said 'twenty quid if you fall!' and clung on.
 
FfionWinnie said:
No where near. I bought a P2 a few years ago and took it back the next day because I knew I wouldn't wear it as it was so hot, flappy, unflattering and heavy. I never ride without my hit air.
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Good to know, I would just predict they would set my neck off if wearing one a lot. The reason I stopped wearing my BP much too (though that was probably restriction based too)
 
Auslander said:
Ok-reading all the posts above, I think I've missed something! I'm coming at it assuming that people are using them to ride fast cross-country. I hadn't even considered that people were using them for hacking/other leisure riding.

So I'll shut up!
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Ah, that explains it :)

I've got one 'spinner' of a spooky horse who I never ride without it on and we only hack and school. I've never fallen off him in three years, but it gives me a lot of confidence. I also used to hunt on mine and I would have boiled in a body protector (I've got heat control problems).
 
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ycbm said:
Ah, that explains it :)

I've got one 'spinner' of a spooky horse who I never ride without it on and we only hack and school. I've never fallen off him in three years, but it gives me a lot of confidence. I also used to hunt on mine and I would have boiled in a body protector (I've got heat control problems).
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Fair enough. Alf is a demon spinner too, but it's never occurred to me that I might fall off him. The only bad fall I've had with him was when we both went, so an airjacket wouldn't have made any difference.
 
It's kind of why I would be interested if/when I get a new beast. Riding in a BP can hurt/causes me other issues so this might be something rather than nothing!
 
Daughter has a Hit Air after trying other makes - the most comfortable. I'm hoping to buy one after painful fall the other week. Hit Air was advertising interest free credit on their ad in the Riding Club magazine recently but I can't get hold of the company to find out more information. I've emailed and phoned but no one has come back to me. Am wondering whether to do a thread to see if there's a reason why.

Although leisure riders seem to prefer the Hit Air, I did note that whilst watching eventing on TV recently that all the pros seem to wear Point 2s.
 
asmp said:
Although leisure riders seem to prefer the Hit Air, I did note that whilst watching eventing on TV recently that all the pros seem to wear Point 2s.
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I have noticed pros wearing hit airs recently, I think I saw some going round at Burghley if I remember correctly ! They seem to be getting more popular now.
 
Auslander said:
Fair enough. Alf is a demon spinner too, but it's never occurred to me that I might fall off him. The only bad fall I've had with him was when we both went, so an airjacket wouldn't have made any difference.
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I don't know how old you are, but after the menopause or the first really damaging fall, it seems many people get a lot more risk aware. I couldn't do now what I'm doing in my avatar!

If you reach that point, I couldn't recommend any make of full air jacket highly enough.
 
I bought the air jacket that fitted the best and felt most comfortable. It is the Helite air gilet. Yes it is hot in summer but I do not care. You can wash the outer easily though! It has saved me in about 4 falls in 2 years. The worst injury I had was a bruised leg! I felt the neck support was good. I wear mine for every ride as I am now classed as elderly! I add a Racesafe body protector when on a new horse or for SJ on grass and XC.
 
ycbm said:
I don't know how old you are, but after the menopause or the first really damaging fall, it seems many people get a lot more risk aware. I couldn't do now what I'm doing in my avatar!

If you reach that point, I couldn't recommend any make of full air jacket highly enough.
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I'm 45. Having a child made me more risk aware/less gung ho, but in a "I just won't ride lunatics" kind of way. I'm sure I will get more careful as I get older, but I'm not quite there yet.
I've had plenty of bone crunching falls, but they were mostly years ago, when I rode the sort of horses that had very little trouble torpedoing me into the ground. Current horse is sharp, spooky and sensitive, but we've reached an agreement
 
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Thanks for all the replies! From what I have read apart from the canister fitting the p2 and helite are the same? It's the designs of the interchangeable outters that I like about the helite but from the photos I have seen of both inflated the hit air seems like it offers more protection? I would be using it for every time I ride and I compete at low riding club level currently. I always wear my racesafe any way at the moment.

Do people wear them with both a bp underneath or just the jacket on it's own?

Thank you :)
 
I thought they were talking about being told they were designed to be worn with bp underneath but I thought the op came back and said she misread. I will give it another read. Thank you
 
cobsarefab said:
I've got a hit air resererved for me to pick up now. .......
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I'm betting you have ordered the Hi Viz version!? :D

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I have found this a very interesting thread, my thanks to the o.p. for starting it.

After reading, I have also decided to opt for the Hit Air. Can't decide between the Hi Viz or black though.

My OH said whichever I choose I had better order in loads of gas - oh nice - cheers for that OH!!! :eek:

:)
 
The hi viz is a nice idea but you can't wash it so it's going to look tatty quite quickly and not suitable for shows. We wear hi viz under it.


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Long sleeves hi viz is better and what we use on dull days but I was wearing a motor bike protective top that day as it's a new and young horse and unfortunately it's black. I'm building up a collection of suitable hi viz undergarments for all weather! Also the back of my chaps are hi viz which you can't see in this pic.
 
The very simple reason BE insist on BPs is they are tested to a standard that Air jackets cannot pass and its not for lack of the manufacturers trying and its got nothing to do with puncture protection . Its because BPs work in any situation without fail and air jackets dont . Usually when they dont its when you need protection most ie rotational falls. I am sorry for all you who swear by them its the truth.
 
FfionWinnie said:
The hi viz is a nice idea but you can't wash it so it's going to look tatty quite quickly and not suitable for shows. We wear hi viz under it.


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Long sleeves hi viz is better and what we use on dull days but I was wearing a motor bike protective top that day as it's a new and young horse and unfortunately it's black. I'm building up a collection of suitable hi viz undergarments for all weather! Also the back of my chaps are hi viz which you can't see in this pic.
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Cant take my mind off the Hi viz under garments and their purpose! :-)
 
Are the air jackets adjustable? What I mean is: will they fit as well over winter clothing as over summer clothing?

I tried on a Helite recently, and it was very light and comfortable. However, currently I mainly ride either in group hacks or at a riding school, and neither will allow air jackets to be worn - something to be aware of.
 
popsdosh said:
Its because BPs work in any situation without fail and air jackets dont . Usually when they dont its when you need protection most ie rotational falls. I am sorry for all you who swear by them its the truth.
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Failure to inflate is very rare and the only cases I know of were where someone was using the wrong canister or the early screw fixing worked loose (that's now a clip on a P2).

A standard body protector will do little to protect from crush injury in a rotational fall. An air jacket, however, disperses the impact and can offer a lot of protection.

Keep up with the times PD, you're showing your age in your continued hostility to air jackets :)

Have you lost your apostrophe button :D ?
 
jellybean09 said:
I thought they were talking about being told they were designed to be worn with bp underneath but I thought the op came back and said she misread. I will give it another read. Thank you
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i think that was me, rather than the OP. I think of them as being reserved for use when eventing/racing, and hadn't cottoned on that people wear them for hacking. I stand by my opinion, which is that they are supposed to be used with a BP (I was told this by a nurse who works in racing) but I wasn't up for getting into an argument.

I guess anything that gives people confidence whilst hacking/schooling has to be a good thing.
 
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