Body Protectors /Air Jacket

[Stenners]

I need a new body protector so looking for recommendations and also would like to get an air jacket too. Who uses an air jacket?

 

[Widgeon]

I do. I have a HitAir, I wear it every time I get on, it's very comfortable and I don't notice I'm wearing it. My real worry is a freak accident and breaking my neck or back, and the air jacket gives decent protection against that (in so far as anything can). I "only" hack though - if I did a lot of jumping I'd probably wear both.

 

[Skib]

My elderly OH wore an air jacket. But one should wear a bp as well. An air jacket can suffer mechanical failure.

 

[Britestar]

I have a helite air jacket. It has saved me many times.

I have a helite gilet for sale in Large, just because I also have an xc one, so one must go.

 

[Birker2020]

https://www.hit-air.com/en/horse/system/

I have a hit air, had it go off with a simple fall, when horse slipped and I toppled over the edge going through a gateway. Really stopped me hurting myself.

I bought it the month after a nasty fall out SJ and always wore it after that even when I was just hacking. In the 8 times I rode my new horse I wore it each time. I won't ever ride without it now.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I have a Point two which I wear every time I ride whether hacking or schooling but not in showing or dressage comps. I also have a Racesafe Provent but I can’t see myself ever wearing it daily but obviously when required for XC and maybe jumping generally.

 

[Annagain]

I have the Helite gilet one because I'm vain and wanted one that looked as 'normal' as possible. I've never tested it but it's comfy, looks ok (if a bit bulky) easy to wash (you just zip out the outer part) and if you have a stash of gold bullion in the attic or a spare kidney to sell you can change it for a soft shell jacket or even a show / hunting jacket as and when required. I wear it every time I ride and don't really notice it.

I got a size bigger to fit it over my body protector for XC (but haven't actually made it XC in the year I've had it!) I've worn it over my BP for show jumping and it's fine even if I do look like the Michelin man.

 

[QuantockHills]

I have a hit air jacket that I wear every time I ride. They inflate outwards not inwards so you can wear them without a traditional BP underneath. It's so comfortable, i forget i'm wearing it and luckily have only had it go off when my horse slipped on the road....Some air jackets have to be worn with a BP as well so make sure you do your research. I also have a racesafe BP that I wear for xc with my air jacket.

 

[Birker2020]

I have a hit air jacket that I wear every time I ride. They inflate outwards not inwards so you can wear them without a traditional BP underneath. It's so comfortable, i forget i'm wearing it and luckily have only had it go off when my horse slipped on the road....Some air jackets have to be worn with a BP as well so make sure you do your research. I also have a racesafe BP that I wear for xc with my air jacket.

I bought mine from YHL and was lucky enough to be able to compare the Helite, the Hit Air and the Point 2 as I walked between stands.
Although slightly more expensive the Hit-Air was better as it had more coverage of the body as the airbags are tucked away, secured with press studs, waiting to open and so you can't see them when worn normally.

I was particuarly impressed that the neck opens within 0.4 of a second which is enough to help prevent whiplash and the head from striking the ground when following through from a fall - this is a major thing for me, concussion prevention having suffered rather a few in the past.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I have a hit air jacket that I wear every time I ride. They inflate outwards not inwards so you can wear them without a traditional BP underneath. It's so comfortable, i forget i'm wearing it and luckily have only had it go off when my horse slipped on the road....Some air jackets have to be worn with a BP as well so make sure you do your research. I also have a racesafe BP that I wear for xc with my air jacket.

I don’t think that’s accurate you can wear a Point Two with or without a traditional BP underneath for everything except XC. For XC you always need a traditional BP or combined air and traditional regardless of make of air jacket.

 

[Birker2020]

I don’t think that’s accurate you can wear a Point Two with or without a traditional BP underneath for everything except XC. For XC you always need a traditional BP or combined air and traditional regardless of make of air jacket.

It was Hit-Air that QH was referring to and I think they are getting confused with the pony club rule change.

 

[Littlebear]

I would try and borrow one first, I bought one for a lot of money knowing it is a great idea and I cannot get used to being clipped onto the horse, I know it shouldn't matter but it really bothers me.

 

[Birker2020]

I would try and borrow one first, I bought one for a lot of money knowing it is a great idea and I cannot get used to being clipped onto the horse, I know it shouldn't matter but it really bothers me.

But its such a little lanyard and you know it will un attach in the event of a fall, it really will, there is no way it won't - trust me!
Mine never went off for two years after I bought it (because I didn't have a fall) so one day I got the YO to hold my horse whilst I put my leg over the front of the saddle and jumped off. The landyard stretches quite a lot so I had to bend my knees on landing as I'm quite tall but it went off, so did it when I fell off on my 'nothing dopey fall' out hacking!

 

[oldie48]

I have a helite gilet which I always used to wear when riding Rose. It's smart and comfortable.

 

[flying_high]

I recently updated to a racesafe provent BP which is very comfortable. I mostly wear it for hacking and fast work. I have had an air vest but didnt take to it, and I am slightly put off by a friend's not coming detatched when she fell. The biggest downside for an air vest, is once it goes off, what do you do then, you might be a long way from home and you no longer have any protection. I found combining air vest and body protector too bulky.

 

[dixie]

I also have a Racesafe body protector, which I wear occasionally.

I have a Helite gilet which I wear all the time, and then I zip it into a blouson if I want to compete SJ. Its very comfortable, once you have got used to the gas cannister.
Mine has got off all the time apart from when I had forgotten to actually put a cannister in (for quite a few months !) There is the problem, as mentioned, above that once it has gone off you are potentially faced with the rest of the ride without protection.

 

[sbloom]

This looks super interesting https://www.facebook.com/armaros.equestrian but not when it will actually be out.

 

[Birker2020]

I recently updated to a racesafe provent BP which is very comfortable. I mostly wear it for hacking and fast work. I have had an air vest but didn't take to it, and I am slightly put off by a friend's not coming detatched when she fell.

Not doubting what you say, but I don't get how they don't become detached?? You'd have to weigh less than the lanyard trigger point which would be something like a stone! Weight not pebble.

 

[Squeak]

I have a hit air jacket that I wear every time I ride. They inflate outwards not inwards so you can wear them without a traditional BP underneath.

I used to believe this too until it was pointed out to me that an airbag is an airbag and expands out in all directions. Unfortunately it's just a marketing ploy.

But its such a little lanyard and you know it will un attach in the event of a fall, it really will, there is no way it won't - trust me!

I saw a very scary thread on FB where someone had witnessed a horrible fall where the riders airjacket hadn't detached and they were then dragged. A few other people responded having had the same problem so it is unfortunately possible. However a couple of them were due to the rider falling so that the strain of the lanyard was taken by the saddle somehow and so the jacket couldn't release. Complete freak chances and the small number of reports of them in comparison to the number of times they do release should still mean that it is safer with one.

OP if you're wanting to wear the at the same time there are some Body protectors that now have an air jacket built in and it might make the combination a bit easier to wear?

 

[bouncing_ball]

Not doubting what you say, but I don't get how they don't become detached?? You'd have to weigh less than the lanyard trigger point which would be something like a stone! Weight not pebble.

It did happen and they took it up with the manufacturers who investigated. It was something about how she fell I think. Landing on her feet, I think. Still pretty dangerous. And I’ve heard of other incidences.

 

[Birker2020]

It did happen and they took it up with the manufacturers who investigated. It was something about how she fell I think. Landing on her feet, I think. Still pretty dangerous. And I’ve heard of other incidences.

It won't break if the lanyard doesn't reach the break point, and by landing on her feet it won't have. But maybe its true if you have heard other instances of this happening.

It was never that effective for motorcycle riders because most often cyclists slew on the road so they are already very close to the ground when they lose their bike, again for the same reasons as the person landing on their feet, if there is not the distance required then the air jacket won't inflate.

 

[flying_high]

It won't break if the lanyard doesn't reach the break point, and by landing on her feet it won't have. But maybe its true if you have heard other instances of this happening.
.

I cant quite remember why my friend was so upset, I think because it didnt detatch in a jumping fall, and whilst she (I think) landed on her feet, she was still attached to the horse which as moving and which is not ideal! I think the way the fall unfolded was pretty dangerous.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I love my racesafe provent as a BP. I don’t wear it every day, but always for XC/fast work, sometimes for jumping.

I’ve got a point 2 air jacket which I use for XC. I have had a rotational fall where the horse landed partially on top of me while I was wearing it, walked away with mild whiplash and some bruising on my legs. I think it would have been an awful lot worse if I hadn’t been wearing an air jacket, even though I had a BP on too. Plus mine is at least 6-7yrs old now, and looks as good as new, so they do last! I’ve had it serviced regularly, and they clean it and replace the air bags/other parts as needed, so I’m not concerned that the safety is affected by the age.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'm a Hit Air convert. I'm wearing it out hacking in my avatar.

However, I've recently also bought a Racesafe Provent body protector after recommendations on here. They come in a huge range of sizes. I bought it to wear in my refresher lessons at a riding school on a school horse, as it would not be appropriate to keep fitting and unfitting the air jacket lanyard to a riding school saddle. When I first wore it, it seemed very restrictive compared to the Hit Air, but by my third ride in it I could forget that I was wearing it.

I also note that the facility where I hope to eventually get fit enough to go on a multi day trail riding holiday with specifically forbid the use of air jackets ?.

 

[Littlebear]

But its such a little lanyard and you know it will un attach in the event of a fall, it really will, there is no way it won't - trust me!
Mine never went off for two years after I bought it (because I didn't have a fall) so one day I got the YO to hold my horse whilst I put my leg over the front of the saddle and jumped off. The landyard stretches quite a lot so I had to bend my knees on landing as I'm quite tall but it went off, so did it when I fell off on my 'nothing dopey fall' out hacking!

It isn't logical at all, I don't worry I will get stuck, I guess after 30 plus years of riding it is an odd feeling that's all, I would like to get over using it as I do realise I am much safer with it on, I wont sell it and I do fully intend to get used to it! I doubt I am alone in feeling this way though.

I know several places that don't allow the use of them (seems to be in group environments) I guess so you don't send others flying if you come off. So a racesafe is a great option for a body protector otherwise.

 

[Melandmary]

I have a hit air which i have had for about 5 years and never ride without it. I love it because i don't feel constricted. Prior to buying it i tried a bosy protector but couldn't bend down in it, i actually thought it was more risky for me wearing it than not! I am also just a happy hacker though ?

 

[ycbm]

I have a Point two which I wear every time I ride whether hacking or schooling but not in showing or dressage comps. I also have a Racesafe Provent but I can’t see myself ever wearing it daily but obviously when required for XC and maybe jumping generally.

Ditto. I have the Provent in case people don't want me riding in an air jacket in clinics.
.

 

[ycbm]

Some air jackets have to be worn with a BP as well so make sure you do your research

I don't think any air jackets have to be worn with a body protector as well.
.

 

[ycbm]

I saw a very scary thread on FB where someone had witnessed a horrible fall where the riders airjacket hadn't detached and they were then dragged. A few other people responded having had the same problem so it is unfortunately possible. However a couple of them were due to the rider falling so that the strain of the lanyard was taken by the saddle somehow and so the jacket couldn't release. Complete freak chances and the small number of reports of them in comparison to the number of times they do release should still mean that it is safer with one.

I don't believe this is physically possible unless the jacket itself is caught on the tack and that risk is the same with any relatively baggy clothing.
.

 

[Squeak]

I don't believe this is physically possible unless the jacket itself is caught on the tack and that risk is the same with any relatively baggy clothing.
.

I wouldn’t have believed it either but the accident had happened at a BE event and a few people commenting had witnessed it. I tried to find the fb post again, it was on one of the eventing groups but failed.

I imagine the more normal scenario it wouldn’t go off would be the one mentioned above where you fall on your feet and so don’t have enough distance to trigger the air bag.

In perspective, I still think the amount the air jackets have saved people they’re worth wearing, I do for xc, but as with everything possibly just worth being aware.