Hit Air Vest, Bodyprotector or both? Advice for shortbacked person please:)

webble

webble

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Following on from the napping problems I had with my mare it turns out they are mostly caused by me being far too soft with her as YO is riding her with few/no problems and I just need to be a lot firmer with her :rolleyes: (she is a sec D x)

I am going to continue with my lessons and the firmer but fair attitude but she has made me realise that I am going to fall off sometimes and that I dont mend as well as I did when I was young!!

I have an old style body protector but it is very ridgid and restrictive and will be too hot for summer so am looking into a newer one I'm thinking racesafe or Outlyne or a HitAir Jacket. The other issue I have is that I am a size 12/14 but have a small waist and wide hips so tend to need a short back in things so getting one to fit might not be so easy. Does anyone have any suggestions of what might suit and arguments for the vest vs protector please? Cadburys Choc Fingers for the best answer :)
 
Many of the newer style BPs come in a variety of sizes including different lengths - I have an Airowear Outlyne which is fairly comfortable but it is too hot to be riding in every day in the summer.

I have just invested in an air jacket that will be used for general every day riding and will also be used over my BP for extra dangerous activities!!!!
 
I would highly recommend a Kan Teq as it's made for the female "shape". They are fantastic. I wear mine all the time and I dont even noticed it's there. They are made to measure so they take all your dimensions, and the lady is lovely. I ordered mine and had it the next day :)
 
I have had an Outlyne BP for a while which comes in lots of combinations of fits - would recommend that you have it professionally fitted if you have a short back as they can catch on the back of the saddle.

I have also just got a hit-air jacket which is brilliant!! I'm not keen on the feel and restriction of a BP for general riding but the jacket is light and comfortable. The hit-air has quite a lot of adjustment on the bottom strap - if you do XC remember to have it big enough to go over your BP and mine goes over a heavy coat in this weather :rolleyes::rolleyes: The canister makes the right side of the jacket stick out a little but I forget I have it on most of the time-nearly detonated it last time I dismounted!!:eek::eek:
 
It is warm! It's great in the winter i have to admit. Summer if it's scorching, yes it is a tad toasty!! Think that is the same for all body protectors though. I love mine, it's fab!
 
I am thinking I will buy a Kanteq as my next BP as mine is very old so i need something before I start doing any XC on my youngster. I think they look good and everyone seems to say they are very comfortable.

TBH I am rather cynical about the whole air jacket fad as I don't feel there's been enough testing of them to prove their worth and seem to be awfully expensive. I don't know how the hit air's compare to the point two and how you re-fill the canister once they go off. I understood it costs to refill/replace it each time it's gone off?

I couldn't be doing with that quite frankly. I think a BP is enough protection on it's own.
 
Right I have decided against an air vest. My thoughts being that all the falls I have had I have got back on and ridden for a bit and with a vest if I did that I would then have no protection at all unless I carried a spare canister!

I have narrowed it down to a Racesafe, Airowear Outlyne or Kanteq just need to find a way of trying them all on which is a challenge as nowhere seems to stock the racesafe or Kanteq :(
 
I have a racesafe and I find it really comfortable to wear and although it is warm in the summer it is not unbearable- and if last summer was anything to go by, then it wasnt very warm anyway!
 
webble said:
Right I have decided against an air vest. My thoughts being that all the falls I have had I have got back on and ridden for a bit and with a vest if I did that I would then have no protection at all unless I carried a spare canister!

I have narrowed it down to a Racesafe, Airowear Outlyne or Kanteq just need to find a way of trying them all on which is a challenge as nowhere seems to stock the racesafe or Kanteq :(
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If you call Wendy at Kan she will be able to help, She may well have a fitter in your area, her customer service is outstanding. They are a brill BP, IMHO you won't need an airvest on top. I was at an event recently, an air jacket went off, spooked the horse that the girl had fallen off and four others waiting in the collecting ring! I think they are dangerous!
 
webble said:
Right I have decided against an air vest. My thoughts being that all the falls I have had I have got back on and ridden for a bit and with a vest if I did that I would then have no protection at all unless I carried a spare canister!
:(
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I sewed a pocket onto my hunting saddle cloth and carry a spare cannister and the allen key for my P2 - or rather, my horse does :D
 
webble said:
Wow I love the organisation :)
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I just hate the last jump of any hunt to be a fall, so I make myself jump more fences and I figured I'd have a lot more success doing that if I wasn't also nervous about not having a full cylinder in the air jacket.

I did it after I fell off for the first time in it and felt so exposed at the next hedge I jumped.

It gives people a laugh too, they always joke "do you carry a spare?" and they are then completely amazed when I pull the cannister out and show them :D
 
Been to try a few on tonight and going to go with the Racesafe. Wondered round the shop with it on for a bit and it was sooo comfy. The airowear one felt a lot stiffer and heavier

Warning to anyone looking at buying online try on first as I measured myself for both beforehand and wrote down what I should be in both. Racesafe I came out right but I had to go up two sizes in the airowear!
 
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