Need some advice regarding air jackets

cobsarefab

cobsarefab

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So my parents have said they're going to buy an air jacket for my birthday so what models/makes do people have and what experiences have they had with them?
 
.Hit Air. Thought it was the most comfortable when trying different ones on. I don't notice I'm wearing it.
 
I have a hit air as well, have started to wear it all the time and it is very comfy. I have the all in one lanyard which is mega easy to just clip in and out.
 
cobsarefab said:
Have either of you had a fall while wearing the hit air? If so how was it?
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Daughter has only fallen off once while wearing it but it was a slow slide into a water jump when she lost her balance jumping in (a bit of a waste of a £17 cartridge!)

A friend came off while we were XC training while wearing hers - unfortunately she had forgotten to plug it in. Lesson learnt especially as she fractured her pelvis (although not sure the air vest would have prevented it)

I would find a good shop that has at least two makes and see which one you like the most. We had to go quite a way to find a shop (Aivly in the New Forest). Also get one fitted rather than buy online as my daughter needed a different size to what we thought she would.
 
I've fallen off 3 or 4 times with my hit air jacket. It has inflated before hitting the ground, the bottom of the jacket flips down to cover your coccyx and the neck support is great as well. I have no doubt that it has protected me and I've got up unharmed every time. The noise is equivalent to the ring pull on a coke can, maybe a bit louder. My horse has always galloped off but he did that before getting the jacket!! He gets a bit panicky with Mum on the floor.
I haven't had a Point 2 but I'd recommend the hit air.
 
It's definitely louder than opening a can and that goes for all makes of jackets. I would agree however you don't hear it going off when you are wearing it.

Here is my daughter firing hers off. My poor horse (ex pro SJer) who had had to deal with me falling off him 2 weeks previously, is getting used to his new unpredictable life of crazy kamikaze children and ponies doing unexpected things thankfully and didn't react very much even though the pony crashed into him (it hadn't experienced an exploding child before either!). It is slightly amplified due to being inside as well. Helpfully we've had a bird scarer right beside the fields recently and they are all now used to bangs!
 
I have a hit air that I wear without a BP for things like gallops, hunting, getting on new/young horse. Really just as a safety blanket psychologically! I chose it over P2 as it was just a bit neater and more comfortable.

I haven't fallen off with it but did trigger it once accidently without unclipping. I was riding my quite sensitive reactive mare and it took me a couple of seconds to realise what I had done, mare barely blinked.
 
Well that's an increase on the bottle of fly spray :D. I'd have a hit air if I had one. What's the plan with the pony at the moment then?
 
I have a hit-air and I love it! It's very neat and lightweight, which was important for me. I mainly use it for jumping and it's great because it's so unrestrictive. I've come off once with it and landed heavily, had a concussion because I smacked my forehead but my body was absolutely fine with no soreness. Noise-wise, it's not too bad - my wimpy horse didn't get spooked by it. Would highly recommend the hit air :)
 
ester said:
Well that's an increase on the bottle of fly spray :D. I'd have a hit air if I had one. What's the plan with the pony at the moment then?
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The fly spray thing was a joke. I got told told it was a joke on my birthday on Friday. We've decided to carry on the training by starting to back her as though she's never been backed before. It's going quite well on the ground ATM and she's let me pick out all four hooves without kicking or biting for the first time yesterday.
 
We've had several threads on this topic this year. Normally they are much more balanced between hit air and P2/Helite, the other design.

I have a P2 and wear it a lot. I've come off in it four times, I think, and bounced each time. Once was on a tarmac road and quite possibly prevented a serous injury. I would not swap to a Hit Air even if it was more comfortable, because it has a gap in the air bags just where a fence rail would hit the base of your neck if you spun and hit it backwards, a common fall.
 
I too have the P2 and have recently tested it. :D

I find it comfortable and easy to use. The service , when you send it back to be checked is simply amazing and quick. I didn't hear it go off and and I only knew it had because I could hear it venting. There is a myth that the P2 is uncomfortable, even painful when it goes off. This is not true , correctly fitted it does not hurt in any way. I went out the side door over the fence of a school. I walked away with a broken hand, where I punched the fence mid air. I had no pain in my neck or back, thanks to the jacket.

Whatever one you get, I'm pretty sure they will all do a good job. I would go and check out several types and see what you feel fits you the best.
 
I have the helite gilet, and have lost count f the number of times fired.

Love it, really comfy - if a little warm at this time of year. Have been dropped on roads, tracks and schools, no injuries sustained.
 
Britestar said:
I have the helite gilet, and have lost count f the number of times fired.

Love it, really comfy - if a little warm at this time of year. Have been dropped on roads, tracks and schools, no injuries sustained.
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This for me too. Have the gilet and the show jacket outer, so can zip the air liner between which ever I need to use.
 
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