Bodyprotectors and Skull Caps

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mypegasus

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My faithful body protector finally needs replacing, really should have replaced it sooner, but it's very good and fits me wonderfully. But after ....well far too many years it's time for a new one. I currently have a Rodney Powell body protector (old style... ok so it was bought in the mid nineties).

I am thinking of possibly a Racesafe one. But thought I would ask the good people of H & H their thoughts.

I am not currently competing, although do ride other peoples horses and next year am hoping to get out and about on them.

Also my skull cap will need replacing soon too. I currently have a Champion Ventair. I know that with hats it depends on your head shape as to which one fits the best.

So H & H'rs your advice and words of wisdom would be appreciated, but please don't berate me for having left changing my body protector for soooo long.
 
I have a race safe body p and the champion v hat and velvet blue riding hat all v comfy

My vote goes for race safe bp and the champion air vent hat x
 
Racesafe body protectors are brilliant - really lightweight and flexible, but also extremely protective (speaking from experience!). I wouldn't have any other type.
The HS1 skull caps are supposed to be really good, I bought one at the end of last year but sadly the horse has been out of work all year so I am yet to ride in it! Not sure how they compare to the champion hats though.
 
If you are intending to affiliate a lot of the skull caps are going to be banned and only those of the same standard as the HS1 are going to be allowed. Racesafes are very comfy but realistically don't offer the same protection as some of the others but give you more freedom.
 
Squeak said:
If you are intending to affiliate a lot of the skull caps are going to be banned and only those of the same standard as the HS1 are going to be allowed. Racesafes are very comfy but realistically don't offer the same protection as some of the others but give you more freedom.
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If they did that then the HS1 would be the only hat suitable for use in the UK - its the only one that passes the SNELL E2001 safety standard... would cause a riot with UK skull cap designers if they did. Especially since it's an American safety standard not a British one...

And when did BE say this was going to happen? The last press release on the matter said a hat meeting *any* of the following safety standards was acceptable:

• British –ALL PAS 015, BSEN1384(if kite marked/sei)
• European – EN1384 (if kite marked/sei)
• American –all SEI ASTM 95, ASTM F1163 2004 and SNELL E2001
• Australian & New Zealand – ALL AS/NZS 3838 2003.

I compete quite happily in my champion ventair skull, also have the riding hat.
 
Another vote for Airowear Outlyne body protector :) And hat, i'd go and just try a load on at your local tack shop, have them fitted, see what's best then :)
 
khalswitz said:
If they did that then the HS1 would be the only hat suitable for use in the UK - its the only one that passes the SNELL E2001 safety standard... would cause a riot with UK skull cap designers if they did. Especially since it's an American safety standard not a British one...

And when did BE say this was going to happen? The last press release on the matter said a hat meeting *any* of the following safety standards was acceptable:

• British –ALL PAS 015, BSEN1384(if kite marked/sei)
• European – EN1384 (if kite marked/sei)
• American –all SEI ASTM 95, ASTM F1163 2004 and SNELL E2001
• Australian & New Zealand – ALL AS/NZS 3838 2003.

I compete quite happily in my champion ventair skull, also have the riding hat.
Click to expand...

I believe the protector skull also has the same standard after all protector are the company invented the hs1 then sold it.

You need to try a few hs1's they are hand finished and sizing can vary, I like mine but my previous hs1 was much more comfy. I would get a protector (has a collapsible peak) or the skull version when my hat is next due for a change.
 
Squeak said:
If you are intending to affiliate a lot of the skull caps are going to be banned and only those of the same standard as the HS1 are going to be allowed. Racesafes are very comfy but realistically don't offer the same protection as some of the others but give you more freedom.
Click to expand...

Hi can I just ask, as I am due an upgrade...... Why do the Racesafes offer the same protection? Thanks
 
McW said:
I believe the protector skull also has the same standard after all protector are the company invented the hs1 then sold it.

You need to try a few hs1's they are hand finished and sizing can vary, I like mine but my previous hs1 was much more comfy. I would get a protector (has a collapsible peak) or the skull version when my hat is next due for a change.
Click to expand...

Excuse me, you are correct, the protector does as well... I read some incorrect information about HS1 being the only hat on the UK market that met it.

However, just because a higher level standard is now in play, doesn't mean it will become the ONLY standard that can be met - and it is still an American standard, trying to beat the fact that the British PAS standard was higher than the ASTM... so I wouldn't worry about BE changing their hat standard policy any time soon OP.
 
Official standards do change. Body protectors got thicker a few years back. Hats change too. The latest improvements should not be despised. Even if you dont compete.
I came off last week from canter when the horse ahead spooked, and I clonked my head on tarmac alongside the track. I couldnt understand why I wasnt hurt.
Then I bought a replacement hat and read on the label that Gatehouse had added more padding to the back of the head and neck edge. That was my first fall wearing the latest version. Coming off in the earlier Gatehouse, I never had major damage but falling off, with ones head tipping backwards to hit the ground could always bruise one's neck. I may have a guardian angel and I was riding a good horse - but I am pretty sure that my lack of injury this time (my first fall in my 70s) was due to improvements in rider protection.
You have to choose the brand that fits your own head and figure - but I guess that all brands increase their highest standards. And the changes may seem superfluous till you actually need them.
 
You also want a hat with the newer PAS 2011 as it has increased crush resistance (30%) and protection against hitting your head on an edged surface. One shop I visited tried to sell me a CO J3 with the 1998 standard. You really do have to be careful, hats can be sat on their shelves for years! Wonder what PAS standard the HS1 is, it doesnt specify on there website.
 
Skib said:
Official standards do change. Body protectors got thicker a few years back. Hats change too. The latest improvements should not be despised. Even if you dont compete.
I came off last week from canter when the horse ahead spooked, and I clonked my head on tarmac alongside the track. I couldnt understand why I wasnt hurt.
Then I bought a replacement hat and read on the label that Gatehouse had added more padding to the back of the head and neck edge. That was my first fall wearing the latest version. Coming off in the earlier Gatehouse, I never had major damage but falling off, with ones head tipping backwards to hit the ground could always bruise one's neck. I may have a guardian angel and I was riding a good horse - but I am pretty sure that my lack of injury this time (my first fall in my 70s) was due to improvements in rider protection.
You have to choose the brand that fits your own head and figure - but I guess that all brands increase their highest standards. And the changes may seem superfluous till you actually need them.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree that a high safety standard is *desirable*, I just disagreed that BE was about to change it's hat policies and disallow hats with a lower safety standard. That was the claim I disagreed with.

And BPs for example - yes, there are loads of new ones with higher safety specs, but the old BETA 2000s are still acceptable for BE use. Wouldn't argue that there are safer models, but what it does mean is my old BETA 2000 RP BP isn't illegal in competition.

I had a bad fall in 2009 where I was severely concussed and was in hospital fro days being scanned for brain damage. My old C&O skull cap cracked right down the middle - on getting back on I upgraded to a Champion, which had a much more secure harness. So I do know how important it is to keep your head safe!! I was only disagreeing about the previous post claiming that only the new SNELL standard hats would be BE legal.
 
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