More XC Safety thoughts - how old are your hat/bp/boots?

kerilli

kerilli

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I think most people now realise that if they've dropped or had an impact on their hat, they should replace it. The foam compresses ONCE and that's it, it won't do it again for you, so its protective ability is seriously compromised. (Having said which, I've seen a rider take his hat off and literally throw it into the lorry living...!)
BUT, did you know that the foam in Body Protectors is the same, and also that it degrades over time:
BETA - Safety Standards Explained- What To Wear Guide (Pg 76 in booklet, sub heading = Other points.)
"BETA recommends that BP's are replaced at least every 3-5 years as the impact absorption properties of the PVC nitrile foam used may start to decline then."
Hmmm. So, really, we should all be replacing our bps approx every 4 years. I know I didn't, I wore my old Rodney Powell one for about 10 years!
Also, did you know that there is one bp on the market that uses a sort of 'smart foam' developed for motorbike riders, which has a skin which hardens with an impact to give you more protection over that area, and then 'relaxes' back to its original form (like memory-foam mattress stuff, i think) so it doesn't degrade over time, or get 'used up' after one impact?
Do you know which one it is?
Btw, this isn't promotion, I'm just trying to find out if other people know. I thought all the foam bps were much of a muchness, but apparently not...
btw, the 'boots' bit was a red herring.
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But it amazes me that we'll spend £300 on a lovely new pair of long leather boots, but cavil at the thought of spending 1/3 of that on a new hat or bp... i value my brain a bit higher than my feet, in the big scheme of things...!
thoughts...?!
 
i have just replaced my hat after falling off on the road, getting fly bucked onto my head and finally having a fall on the flat xc schooling.

obviously should have replaced after first incident at xmas but you are so right- i spend money on the horse's without a second thought but am very stingy with money on myself!

i AM going to replace it after every fall where my head connects with the ground now- i was just a bit irked about this time as hat was only 3 weeks old at time of first impact!

my body protector is about 8 months old and only come off in it once- i'm afraid i won't be replacing that now as i really can't afford to replace BP after every tumble. A proper smashing fall onto a fence or similar i would, but this fall was very slow motion and i didn't hit the floor very hard at all.

and my boots are 7 years old and not looking to replace them anytime soon!
 
My BP is only 6 months old, I have come off while wearing it, but landed on my feet in a ditch, so no replacement required!

Hat is also only 6 months old, previous hat was replaced after about 3 years, but I think 2 years is a better "shelf life" to have a hat for and will look to replace this one (unless required sooner!
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) in 18months time.

Don't have long boots, but my gaiters are about 18months old and now very comfy, I don't want a new pair as the pain of getting them to comfy status was horrid!
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millitiger, i can beat that - i bought a new crash cap years ago, someone borrowed it when it was brand new (i hadn't even worn it yet but i'd stupidly left it hanging up in the tackroom) and managed to fall off straight onto her head and concuss herself.
i was LIVID, and no, of course she didn't replace it...!
i agree about bps, thought, a minor fall isn't a reason to replace, imho. i didn't know that the foam deteriorates with time, though.
 
My BP is only a few years old, my crash hat is only months old having totally mushed the old one at Brigstock, before that it was only a few years after falling off on the road and had torn silk and scratched shell so god knows what the foam looks like.
But, my showjumping hat was bought when i was about 14/15??
Boots fall to bits so need new ones!!

I think the BE hat tagging system is hugely floored when it comes to this topic, all you have to do is show them the numbers, the hat may not fit you at all and may be damaged, nothing actually stopping me wearing mine from after Brigstock!!
 
I am guessing its the Kantec BP?

I am guessing that just because its a bit more solid and heavier.

My hat is 2 years old will probably need replacing soon. My BP is about 4 years old and has never had a fall in it.
 
I defo invest in good hat, but didn't realise there is a self life was so short? 3-5 years
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As for bp mmmmmmmmmm

I need to be convinced about life of foam, is the industry working to the lowest common demoniator, so if you look after, don't drop, allow to dry out slowly, clean etc...

But would defo spent money in head first, then bp, then boots
 
MaryMoo you naughty person, go and get a new sj hat right now, or swap silks from your xc one, it only takes 5 secs! stick an axe through the old hat (very satisfying, btw!)
yep, lec, it is the Kan-Teq. i haven't seen one 'in the flesh' but it's interesting technology, might look into one as my next 'breaking' one at home.
 
My BP is nearly 13 years old
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Really must replace it soon. My hat is 6 years old, and has been thrown about/dropped a lot. But I did buy a new hat at christmas, but it slowly became bigger and bigger and is now far too big for me. I'm so disapointed with that I've been reluctant to fork out for another one .
My boots are a year old ! only cos the old ones were unusable!

I know the hat and the BP must be replaced, but decent stuff is SO expensive now... , what would it be for a decent BP and hat now... £500??!!
 
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My BP is nearly 13 years old
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Really must replace it soon. My hat is 6 years old, and has been thrown about/dropped a lot. But I did buy a new hat at christmas, but it slowly became bigger and bigger and is now far too big for me. I'm so disapointed with that I've been reluctant to fork out for another one .
My boots are a year old ! only cos the old ones were unusable!

I know the hat and the BP must be replaced, but decent stuff is SO expensive now... , what would it be for a decent BP and hat now... £500??!!

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nah, really good hat is about £120 isn't it (Charles Owen HS1 price, for e.g.) Rodney Powell bp is about £100 to £125 depending on whether you have colours made to order, and add shoulder pads. Kan-Teq is £225 ish, but prob well worth it as it lasts longer and gives more protection.
so, £220 - £350 ish, depending on makes etc.
 
Mmm, ok, not as bad as I thought!! Maybe I can ask my Dad if I can buy those instead of giving him back the £500 I owe him
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i think i should replace my hat :S my competing hat is only about 1.5 years old and i havnt fallen off with that so that will be ok - BUT my schooling/hacking hat i have had like 5years nd have fallen off with it and dropped it LOADS!!
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i think i should replace it...

xxx
 
The Kan-Teq ones are the ones that are moulded aren't they, so if you have boobs its actually moulded in, so your BP doesn't become so kind of massive compressive sports bra.

If those are the ones, I saw them at Bramham, and my local saddler has them. They do seem very nice, and look wonderfully comfy, although have only had my current BP 3-4 years, and have never fallen in it (cursed myself now of course!
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).

I think when it does need replacing I would look at one of those due to their shape, elasticky sides and looks of flexibility and toughness, although their current price tag put its out of the 'impulse buy' category for the moment.
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Not ever fallen on my head (well, not since I was 3!) - again have obviously cursed myself now - but my hat is only a couple of years old, had to get it when they brought in the non0fixed peak thingy
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My hat is relatively new - got it at Christmas and not had any nasty's in it yet!
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My bodyprotector however must be at least 12 years old (had it since Pony club days) and i have fallen off in it many many times. I keep on meaning to buy myself a new one but never quite get round to it, or can't quite afford it..........

I did have quite a crashing fall xc a couple of months ago and threw my old hat (which luckily i was wearing and not my xmas one
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!) out (i landed on my head!) BUT not my body protector (which hit a tree and a step up). it is so old now, i really must get my a**e in gear and get a new one
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. I wouldn't dream of competing in a hat i have fallen off in so many times but i will do in a body protector.
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This might be the thing to finally get me to get a new one.
 
All my competition hats are less than 18 months old, that includes my XC hat. I only wear these once a week so I'll be hoping to have them a bit longer than 3 years tbh. I have only fallen while wearing my XC hat and landed on my feet on each occasion - sounds good until you hear all 4 falls were this season on the same horse at the smallest of the practice fences for Intro
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The other hats I have yet to fall in.

My hat I wear at home will be 5 years old next June and I'll probably replace it - it's an original ventair and a funny browny beige colour now
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. I had this when I had my chestnut pony and fell off weekly though
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My boots I wear at home are ancient - 9 years old I think! Comp ones less than 12 months.

My Rodney Powell BP is 2 years old although I only wear it about 15 - 20 times a year, mine seem to get replaced every couple of years as I either grow out of them or my mum runs them over!
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I'm looking to replace it now with one of the new champion ones as either my current one has grown or I have shrunk.
 
My hats are both under 18mnths old, although i do need a new Jockey skull really. My BP I brought when I brought Goddy, so is 4yrs old. Not too bad really, but i do want a new one at some stage.
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All my competition hats are less than 18 months old, that includes my XC hat. I only wear these once a week so I'll be hoping to have them a bit longer than 3 years tbh.

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But the issue is not really how much you wear them, more that after 3 years, the foam inside your hat/BP is towards the end of it's "shelf life" and will not offer as much protection as new foam. Old foam will become brittle and less able to squash and disperse energy if needed.

This is why I buy a hat to wear on a daily basis as well as competition, means I "grudge" replacing it less as I feel I've had my money's worth by wearing it so much!
 
My showjumping/dressage hat I bought in 2005

My xc/jumping hat (HSI) I bought it in easter this year, I had to get it specially ordered as I have a teeny tiny head
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I bought it after my last hat flew off my head when i fell off, very very lucky that it happened in an arena otherwise I may not be here...!

My BP is a racesafe, bought in 2003.

My boots are boots and gaiters - the boots and original pair of gaiters bought in 2004, since then im on my 3rd pair of gaiters - the dog has developed a taste for them
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Re BP - the foam in most will start to disintergrate after about 4-5 years. UV radiation causes the decomposition of the chemical compounds in the foam. Can provide journal references if you like.
Therefore a BP you only wear at comps and keep in a dry, dark place the rest of the year will last longer than one that is used daily (and gets wet, kicked around, and lives on your back seat.

Sorry boring internal science nerd coming out...


My BP is about 18mnths old and only sees the light of day when I go XC (competing).
Hacking hard hat is ....hmm 10years old whoops!
Comp hard hat is 3/4 yrs old but used 1 a month max.
Boots 6 and going strong! Though I did have to get them resoled after having danced holes in the soles =)
 
[ QUOTE ]

But the issue is not really how much you wear them, more that after 3 years, the foam inside your hat/BP is towards the end of it's "shelf life" and will not offer as much protection as new foam. Old foam will become brittle and less able to squash and disperse energy if needed.


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thanks, sciencenerds! i didn't realise that UV light made the foam decompose, interesting...

so, all those with ancient hats and bps, consider yourself duly warned and blinded with science!

btw i don't really care how old everyone's boots are, but Felicity gets the top prize so far for having DANCED through the soles of hers...
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We had motorbikes before I got back into horses and got husband to buy a horse too.. We did the full motorbike training and they told us that there is shelf life on helmets as the fibres start breaking down after a couple of years.

I would always replace my hat and bp if had a bad fall whatever the cost as what price do you put on your life? Falling off a motorbike and sliding down the tarmac is not a nice experience and makes you realise how fragile your life can be.

I need to get onto my husband though. He recently bought a £300 pair of DeNiro boots and rides around in an old £45 hat. He is going for the HS1 though to upgrade.
 
I have KanTeq BP and it is bloody brilliant - a right faff to get on but once it is on you really do not notice it - also, i got the OH too punch my body in it and I really could not feel a thing. I actually feel a lot more confident in it.

Need to replace hat though after dropping it on concrete floor - v v annoyed!!!!
 
If it wasn't for my sponsors Charles Owen *plug plug plug*
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I would be competing in my old J3 which is 3 years old but instead I have 2 new hats both under 6 months old
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but I have fallen off in the skull onto a surface but the head wasn't the first point of contact the arse was as usual!!!

I have a very old Rodney Powell BP that I saved all my pocket money to buy when I was 14!!! I got it custom made in green and cream and it still fits because I have let the sides out!!!! I have actualy *touches wood* never landed on it I always seem to land on my side/hip/arse area and am pretty good at rolling so haven't noticed any damage to it. The only thing that is a bit gross is that it now has salty sweat stains on the back I'm guessing these are my precious electrolytes! that I have transfered to my BP when sweating in hot weather! Gross!!! so to try and get rid of those I have sponge washed it, would that damage the foam?....mayeb the salt would damage it?..

I know my BP is outdated and well past renewal so I am keeping in mind that I need to save up for a replacement and have my eye on the racesafe but in cutom colours it's about £150.... and I would rather spend that money on an entry than my own safety I know that's mad but that's the reality of a competitive amatuers bank balance vs desire to compete
 
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so to try and get rid of those I have sponge washed it, would that damage the foam?....mayeb the salt would damage it?..

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You do know you can remove all of the foam pieces and wash the external part properly to get rid of the sweat marks
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Also, make sure you don't let the sides out too much - one the new versions they have marks saying what the maximum "let-out" is...any more and it doesn'tprovide sufficient coverage as there has to be sufficient overlap to provide full protection.
 
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