Are Racesafes safe?

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TheFizzPony

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So I want to get a new body protector, partly because I have started playing polo (yes I am probably the only person that plays polo in one!) and find it rather restrictive, but also because I have probably had my current one too long now.

I like the idea of the racesafes but do they actually protect you? I am so used to the ones that you cannot move in. Obviously any body protector I will get fitted etc, I just wanted some opinions :)
 
The level three one will protect you as well as an Airowear level 3, or a Dainese level 3. If you're looking at the level one, there's a reason only jockeys can ride/race in them.


(As an aside, I had a couple of polo lessons a few years ago and the main safety aspect that went through my mind was how vulerable my eyes were! I'd be looking at eye protection too if you're worried :smile3: )
 
I use a Racesafe :)

All I can say is that they meet the standards required for competition.

Nothing is going to protect you if your horse squishes you unfortunately - a lot of the new protectors you can move in comfortably :)
 
Yes I love my Racesafe. I hardly know I'm wearing it and I've fallen off a couple of times on the road in it and it's done the job it is there to do!
 
The point of a BP is to absorb shock and make you less likely to be impaled on things. Modern foams are designed to be the safest they can be, and also be more comfortable to wear.

My daughter has a racesafe, I have an outlyne. I would say the racesafe has better longevity in the closures. My outlyne Velcro is not wearing as well as you would expect. The laces on the racesafe are better to get a neat fit as well.
 
teapot, I currently can't hit the ball at all so not worried about it being in the air at this stage :P I am currently rubbish but enjoying it which is the main thing!

Thank you for all your comments, I currently have a Rodney Powell although not sure on the model. I have never actually seen a racesafe in person which is why I am not sure about it I think
 
Racesafe are like wearing a body warmer! Well mine is a level one that is well used and abused at work but it fits like a glove. I really should break in my new one but my.old one is so comfortable for someone who hates the things with a passion!
 
TheFizzPony said:
teapot, I currently can't hit the ball at all so not worried about it being in the air at this stage :P I am currently rubbish but enjoying it which is the main thing!
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Hahaha, not just balls you have to watch, mallets hurt too! Enjoy it, I really miss it.
 
Four years ago I got thrown onto tarmac by a broncing pony. I landed heavily on my side, broke and displaced 6 ribs, damaged my spleen and spent four days in hospital. The docs reckoned my Racesafe saved my life as my organs would have been mushed otherwise....so that's good enough for me!!!
 
BETA (British Equestrian Traders Association) created a Body Protector Standard and there are the following levels:
Level 1 (Black Label)
Level 2 (Brown Label)
Level 3 (Purple Label)
Level 3 is the highest level of protection and Level 1 the lowest level of protection.
Please note that no 'air vests' or 'inflatable' body protectors conform to the BETA standard.
 
Choose the level 3 protection that fits your body shape best. I wear Airowear but my OH has Race safe. But I too once wore a bp that laced up the sides. For a woman there is a difference between wearing one with two separate adjustments for waist and bust, and wearing a bp that laces up the sides.
But as regards polo, we watch a lot of polo and it seems a special situation.

I have never seen anyone playing polo in a body protector and wonder if you would be better in an air jacket?
I always ride in a bp and tho I dont notice it when riding, I do think wearing a bp makes it harder to turn round and look at traffic directly behind one -the mobility of one's shoulders and upper body is reduced as you cant rotate as freely from the waist.
That is as true in a race safe as in airowear.
In polo you need to be able to see what is going on on the field behind you and the whereabouts of the ball - not least so that you can get out of the way and position yourself. Or look over your shoulder to take a pass. You say you find your bp restrictive and my own feeling is that this would be the same, even with a new one.
My bp has always protected me from injury in a fall - but it will depend on your age and how you fall. And whether you put out a hand to save yourself. My OH was bruised on one vertebra in an area covered by his Race safe but we are in our 70s and he has a very curved spine. The remedy was to buy him an air vest which he now wears over his bp. He chose a Hit Air because there is less fabric, just like wearing a waistcoat.
If I wanted protection playing polo I would probably consider an air jacket on its own - no body protector underneath. I never thought I would advise against wearing a bp, it is just that I find it hard to picture myself being able to play polo as well in a bp as the rest of the team not wearing them.
 
Skib, I currently wear a bp every time I ride so polo is no different to me. I have only had 2 lessons and it is more for the fun rather than to do competitively! Playing polo is only part of the reason I want a new bp, I was thinking about a new one a while before I even started :)

I will have a look at the hitair, thank you for the suggestion.
 
Long shot but has anyone seen or tried one of these? http://www.decathlon.co.uk/flexible-back-protector-id_8305451.html

I am not thinking instead of a normal body protector, but might be better for polo. However I am also thinking that I might try going without when I do play. My back is sore today and I think it is from being restricted and trying to twist at the same time if that makes sense. I wear one because my mum tells me to (I am an adult) so it is her that I need to talk to about the whole thing
 
TheFizzPony said:
Long shot but has anyone seen or tried one of these? http://www.decathlon.co.uk/flexible-back-protector-id_8305451.html

I am not thinking instead of a normal body protector, but might be better for polo. However I am also thinking that I might try going without when I do play. My back is sore today and I think it is from being restricted and trying to twist at the same time if that makes sense. I wear one because my mum tells me to (I am an adult) so it is her that I need to talk to about the whole thing
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Nope but suspect as it states is provides a light protection.

I would maybe ask advice from someone who rides polo. I have a RS BP and find it less cumbersome that some BPs but whether or not you still could do all the movements playing polo. All I could suggest would go to a big equestrian store and try a whole lot of different makes on and take a polo mallet or something to act in its stead so you can sit in the saddle they have fro trying BP on and do your movements that you need for polo to see which is going to be the least restrictive.

I suspect you are going to have to compromise somewhere
 
PeterNatt said:
BETA (British Equestrian Traders Association) created a Body Protector Standard and there are the following levels:
Level 1 (Black Label)
Level 2 (Brown Label)
Level 3 (Purple Label)
Level 3 is the highest level of protection and Level 1 the lowest level of protection.
Please note that no 'air vests' or 'inflatable' body protectors conform to the BETA standard.
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Yes there are. Point 2 do a Racesafe version air vest that is Beta labelled.
 
ycbm said:
Yes there are. Point 2 do a Racesafe version air vest that is Beta labelled.
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Isn't that the one where it's literally a Racesafe with an air vest attached, though? The P2-RS Hybrid? The BETA label on that applies because it's a proper body protector underneath the air vest bit, as far as I'm aware.
 
pennandh said:
Isn't that the one where it's literally a Racesafe with an air vest attached, though? The P2-RS Hybrid? The BETA label on that applies because it's a proper body protector underneath the air vest bit, as far as I'm aware.
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I'm not quite sure what your point is?

There are no BETA labels for air vests alone because the body protector testing is not appropriate for air vests alone. Peter said there were no air bag body protectors which conformed to the standard, and this is not correct, as I said. The Racesafe version does.
 
ycbm said:
I'm not quite sure what your point is?

There are no BETA labels for air vests alone because the body protector testing is not appropriate for air vests alone. Peter said there were no air bag body protectors which conformed to the standard, and this is not correct, as I said. The Racesafe version does.
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No, fair enough, I was just getting a bit bemused by the whole debate, I think. Tbh I think I may have misinterpreted the phrase 'inflatable body protector'.
 
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