Body protector recommendations please

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benz

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I want to invest in my first body protector as I'm not getting any younger and we are getting a small cross country course at work so I will be schooling them over solid fences. I think if I have one I will also want to wear it for general hacking and possibly handling - I think this is a good idea as I mostly work and ride alone.

I ride up to 4 hours a day so it needs to be comfortable, but obviously don't want something that isn't going to protect me. If it helps to know I have a short body for my height and don't have much in the way of boobs! The majority of riding is hard tracks through woods and I do plenty of galloping at the weekends. I love to be warm and wear a gilet all year round unless it's over 30 degrees so that's not really a problem, but I hate feeling sweaty in winter as it makes me cold - is it possible to have a body protector that 'wicks away' sweat (like the rugs :D)

I don't mind spending on something that is worth it, but I'm a groom so not rolling in spare cash so wouldn't want to spend £300 for fashion, but would happily spend it if it means I would be very comfortable and super well protected.

I know you have to try on to know if comfy or not but I've seen the likes of the Kanteq and Dainese which are not available in any shops near me - anyone have any reviews on the comfort factor of these? Are they really worth the extra money? My local tack shop stocks: Airowear Outlyne and Reiver, Champion Flexair, Harry Hall Zeus and Racesafe RS2010. They are all the same standard so why the huge difference in price? Is it just paying for the name?

Thanks in advance for any help, panettone on offer but you have to be quick before OH eats it all :)
 
Racesafe everytime! For one they are made to fit and secondly after a short while youll forget your wearing it . I would guess over 90% of the serious riders will use Racesafe.
 
You might find the racesafe is too long - even the short back version is too long for me (I'm 5'8, so it's torso length that's the problem). I've got an Airowear Hickstead because it fits me best, and I find it extremely comfortable and non-restrictive.
 
The Racesafe's are almost always considered to be the most comfortable - but I think many of the others are catching up in comfort.

I tried a Champion flex at HOYS and was comfortable, but felt it wasn't long enough in the body for me (another 5'8'' here)

I found the Airowear heavy and uncomfortable.

I have finally bought a Rodney Powell superflex (having previously said I wouldn't buy another RP one, my last one was a solid body and I HATE it. The new one is very comfortable to put on, have yet to ride in it. The RS was possibly slightly more comfortable, but I couldn't justify the extra £90 when it is for occasional use.
 
benz said:
I don't mind spending on something that is worth it, but I'm a groom so not rolling in spare cash so wouldn't want to spend £300 for fashion, but would happily spend it if it means I would be very comfortable and super well protected.
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If you are happy to spend £300 on one, I would put another £150 (maybe ask for Xmas money off family) and buy an air jacket instead.
I know you will have to buy a body protector at some stage if you are planning on competing for use under the air jacket, but for now the air jacket would be a lot safer for you.
 
Theocat said:
You might find the racesafe is too long - even the short back version is too long for me (I'm 5'8, so it's torso length that's the problem). I've got an Airowear Hickstead because it fits me best, and I find it extremely comfortable and non-restrictive.
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I sent my old Racesafe to them to have the back shortened, it wasn't expensive to get done.

Now I have the Provent, which I think is brilliant, and much more comfortable than the RS2010 imo.
 
applecart14 said:
If you are happy to spend £300 on one, I would put another £150 (maybe ask for Xmas money off family) and buy an air jacket instead.
I know you will have to buy a body protector at some stage if you are planning on competing for use under the air jacket, but for now the air jacket would be a lot safer for you.
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Please explain your logic! What happens on the occassion when the air jacket doesnt inflate lol they are nearly always the worse falls as well when you are between the horse and the ground.
BP first esential!! air jacket is the luxury.
 
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Theocat said:
You might find the racesafe is too long - even the short back version is too long for me (I'm 5'8, so it's torso length that's the problem). I've got an Airowear Hickstead because it fits me best, and I find it extremely comfortable and non-restrictive.
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You can get the Racesafe in any length back you want none of the others are that versatile! I suppose if you just try one on you may not be that aware.
 
My current one is a Champion Flexair, and I prefer it to the Airowear Outlyne that I had previously. I think try as many on as you can before you decide :)
 
Racesafe provent every time!! Love mine, wear it 6 hours a day, tack up in it too. I have the short back one, its fine to ride in but is restrictive when picking out feet. As its small squares you can fold up the bottom row and works a treat
 
Thanks so much everyone, I am popping into local tack shop tomorrow and will try some on.

Regarding the new version of the racesafe, would it be the same sizing as the 2010 does anyone know? As local shop doesn't stock the new version.

I am not sure about an air jacket, I thought they were supposed to be used always with a 'normal' body protector?
 
benz said:
Thanks so much everyone, I am popping into local tack shop tomorrow and will try some on.

Regarding the new version of the racesafe, would it be the same sizing as the 2010 does anyone know? As local shop doesn't stock the new version.

I am not sure about an air jacket, I thought they were supposed to be used always with a 'normal' body protector?
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Yes they are meant to be worn with a BP.

Treehouse sporting colours are one of their bigger online retailers and are very helpful.
 
Racesafe will as someone else mentioned shorten the back for you if needed. They will also shorten front and take sections out over shoulders to get a perfect fit. It is not that expensive. The most important thing when buying a body protector is have it properly fitted by someone who has been trained to do so.
 
Steerpike said:
I will disagree with you!
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So what happen when your air jacket doesnt go off and the horse rolls on you! Or even if it goes off and the horse rolls on you.yes they stop bruises if you fall off but thats about it. I have yet to see an air jacket with a BETA protection level label which im sure they would have if they could.
Theres very good reason you cannot use just an air jacket in competition. I have nothing against air jackets but always BP is the most important and cheapest protection you will get.
 
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I love my race safe provent 3 it's like I'm hardly wearing it. Before I had an aerowear reiver I think the model was. I tried a usg it may have been because the model was too big as it was the only size they had in and I only tried it to get an idea of the flexibility but it made me feel like the Michelin man.
I don't even but do tiny jumps and will gallop out hacking. I wear my BP everytime I ride always have.
I am very short!
I think if I did xc or hunting I'd want both BP and air jacket.
 
Racesafe provent 3.0 - absolutely amazing!! I used to hate wearing body protectors but had to upgrade this year due to PC rules requiring 2009 standard and made the investment - so much love, very flexible so doesn't restrict me, vented so I don't feel like I'm dying of heat stroke and just generally comfortable. I have also fallen off with it and can confirm it did reduce the impact 🙈
 
Would definitely recommend the air jacket/racesafe body protector combos you can buy. You get the protection of both with less of the bulk! You can also just not plug in the canister and use as a normal body protector.

Also for christmas maybe ask for the shoulder pads that you can attach, supposedly these have saved many of my friends collarbones!
 
XC courses won't let you ride with just an airjacket - have to have the BP with the AJ as an optional extra. SJ/hunting etc a lot of people do chose to not wear a bp with one but for solid fences you should always have a BP otherwise you may find insurance is invalid.
 
popsdosh said:
Please explain your logic! What happens on the occassion when the air jacket doesnt inflate lol they are nearly always the worse falls as well when you are between the horse and the ground.
BP first esential!! air jacket is the luxury.
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I have never heard of one not inflating. This is a video of a slow rotational fall showing an air jacket inflating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrqOS05qWOM

Here is another of falls from a 'mechanical rodeo horse' showing the air jacket in action

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cYvm-EnjWQ

In all these cases and all the other falls I've heard about and seen (at grass roots level) none have ever failed to inflate.
 
applecart14 said:
I have never heard of one not inflating. This is a video of a slow rotational fall showing an air jacket inflating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrqOS05qWOM

Here is another of falls from a 'mechanical rodeo horse' showing the air jacket in action

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cYvm-EnjWQ
another SRF video
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I've seen one not inflate in time - during a clinic, a friend came off almost in slow motion - horse was on it's knees, the jacket didn't go off until she was on the ground
 
Lanky Loll said:
I've seen one not inflate in time - during a clinic, a friend came off almost in slow motion - horse was on it's knees, the jacket didn't go off until she was on the ground
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I suppose there are always exceptions to the rule. I bought mine to prevent my head from following through after a fall which is how I always used to get concussion. Although I don't jump Bailey anymore (on vets advice) I still wear it every time I ride.
 
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applecart14 said:


I suppose there are always exceptions to the rule. I bought mine to prevent my head from following through after a fall which is how I always used to get concussion. Although I don't jump Bailey anymore (on vets advice) I still wear it every time I ride.
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In rotational falls there is a high incidence of Air jackets not inflating until after the horse starts to get up as actually happened with NWs fall the jacket was not inflated when the horse came down on her. Hence why you will never see one with a BETA test label on it! Why do you think BE insist on a BP whether or not you are wearing an airjacket?
 
Don't really want to get into a debate about air jackets as I can see both sides of the argument. My daughter wears both as I feel anything I can do to protect her is worth the money.
However we are in the market for a new body protector. Currently wearing a Racesafe and considering the Provent but I would like to ask whether anyone has a Dainese?
 
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Interesting thread to read as I will be getting a new one next year as mine is now not up to the 2009 standard and with a big youngster to break in I figured I should pay attention to the old saying better safe than sorry!
 
stevieg said:
Don't really want to get into a debate about air jackets as I can see both sides of the argument. My daughter wears both as I feel anything I can do to protect her is worth the money.
However we are in the market for a new body protector. Currently wearing a Racesafe and considering the Provent but I would like to ask whether anyone has a Dainese?
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The new Dainese comes out in March 2017 and by all accounts is going to be even better than the previous one. If I was buying I'd be getting it.
 
Hi everyone thanks so much for all replies and interesting debate on air jackets - maybe next year I will get one of those too!

So tried on lots of BPs, two they had in stock fit me - the outlyne and the rs 2010, but I felt miles more comfortable in the racesafe so went for that one.

I think the advice of 'try a few on and see' is definitely the best advice and it was great to have someone who knows what they are doing fit it as I wouldn't necessarily know how tight etc to have it.

Size wise I'm 5'7", size 12, shorter body than legs and I got the adults xs short.

Fingers crossed it's going to be a completely wasted purchase and no falls for me please! Thanks again everyone really appreciate the comments :)
 
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