Need a New Body Protector Apologies to make another thread

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Carlosmum

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I am in need of a new Level 3 2018 BP. Currently wearing my elderly Racesafe every time I ride. When I bought it years ago I believe it was 'short' however it constantly catches the cantle when I am sitting upright in the saddle, it is incredibly annoying and I feel a little less safe like this than I would if there was no contact.

So.... I need recommendations of makes, to look at, that are short in the body. I am a 'normal' size and shape, boobs not big, but perhaps I am short in the body! Plan to try on in shop so bonus points if you can recommend a tack shop in the central south midlands/cotswolds or Hampshire.

Thanks all, have a glass on me!
 
Race safe was always wrong for me, but fitted OH well.
I had a champion bp years ago which laced up the sides, (as Race safe do) but I prefer one with separate fasteners at bust and the bottom edge.
One needs to try the bps on and find the right brand. I wear an airowear, women's, medium short. But one needs to take the saddle into account as well. We RS riders have to ride in the saddle we are given. The BP design with the foam panels inside means that if it catches the saddle, one could at a pinch, trim them off at the bottom, by cutting the foam and then sewing the cover so the foam is still held in place.
Please note I am not recommending this. My bp has never fitted well. I have narrow shoulders. The sides of my ribs are unprotected and when I fall, the bp tends to slide up.
On the other hand in the days when I was learning to ride out hacking and fell once year, my falls were all onto my back and I was well protected.
 
Carlosmum said:
I am in need of a new Level 3 2018 BP. Currently wearing my elderly Racesafe every time I ride. When I bought it years ago I believe it was 'short' however it constantly catches the cantle when I am sitting upright in the saddle, it is incredibly annoying and I feel a little less safe like this than I would if there was no contact.

So.... I need recommendations of makes, to look at, that are short in the body. I am a 'normal' size and shape, boobs not big, but perhaps I am short in the body! Plan to try on in shop so bonus points if you can recommend a tack shop in the central south midlands/cotswolds or Hampshire.

Thanks all, have a glass on me!
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Why do you need a level 3 BP? I’ve recently changed to a HitAir, l don’t do anything now that makes it compulsory to wear a level 3 BP and l feel the HitAir offers much better protection. It’s comfortable to wear and very bouncy once inflated! You really have to fall in order to inflate it but once it’s blown up it feels very safe.
 
Race safe have never fitted me & still don’t (I’ve got hardly any waist and the bottom of my ribs is very close to / more or less touching my hips which even short backed models seem to struggle to accommodate) which is unfortunate when they seem to have squeezed most other options out of the market!

Managed to order a new standard aerowear outlyne in same size as my old standard one which I hope is still the right size as couldn’t find anywhere carrying stock of them I could try on.

God knows what I’ll do when standard next updates as think they’ve ceased production.
 
I’ve got the latest race safe as I’m feeling my mortality at 61 but only hack. It was ridiculously uncomfortable for the first three weeks and really regretted buying it initially. It was over £300 too!
On week four however things changed dramatically and I really don’t mind it now at all. I have a short I think even though I’m quite tall. The sizing is weird.
 
I bought a champion panelly one, and to be fair it’s much more flattering and comfortable than the old body protectors. I did cheap out and buy an xl child’s one and feel free to do so, but be aware it’s tighter under the arms and consequently can cause pressure on the shoulders. I’m in denial though and refuse to acknowledge that I should have bought an adults one.
 
Have you thought about swapping to an airbag vest? I think when I pick up my next horse I may do this as found body protectors never fitted that well. Airbag vests are heavyish but flexible & comfy.

In fact I was wondering if I could use my helite motorbike airbag vest, however it works on sensors so maybe a tethered one would be better for riding.
 
Another vote for an air vest - tried a modern body protector (supposedly professionally fitted) but felt like wearing a turtle shell, very uncomfortable and nearly made me fall backwards off a mounting block 🙈 🤣, my Hit Air vest I don't even know I'm wearing and it protects so much more of my knackered body!!
 
I’m a big fan of RaceSafe. I’ve got the provent 3 and it’s far comfier than the older style (in my opinion). They do have a guide on their website for helping to find a size which might be handy to see if they do one short enough for you?
Otherwise I did look at the Champion Titanium (I think) which looks similar
 
It's worth going to a fitter that's really good as you can try different makes and also I know racesafe have a huge variety of options. If you can get to one of the big shows with tradestands then I would highly recommend Treehouse for a fitting.
 
Squeak said:
I would highly recommend Treehouse for a fitting.
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Not my experience. It may be different now, but some years ago at Olympia, I was very pressured by Tree House at their stand to buy a bp which in my opinion did not fit. It was a youth fit. If you go to the stand of a good retailer at the Horse show, rather than the brand, you can try on a variety of makes and at different price levels. Same goes for boots and jackets.
 
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