Please can I have some advice on body protectors?

Kat

Kat

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 January 2008
Messages
13,168
Location
Derbyshire
Visit site
I have a fairly old body protector which will no longer be competition legal in the new year. I want to try a few very very very small hunter trials and one day events in the future so I am thinking about replacing it.

I haven't worn my current one much since having my own horse as I hate the feel of it so only put it on when rules require it.

I obviously will try on and get fitted but I am looking for some suggestions and advice before I go hunting for ones to try on.

I'm undecided whether to get a fancy top of the range one in the hope that it might be so comfy I wear it loads or whether to go for a cheapy on the basis that I wore the last one so infrequently and don't do much xc.

I do hunt, but can't see myself wearing a BP over my jacket.

I don't have an air jacket and friends have been bugging me to get one but that would involve spending more and I still wouldn't be competition legal if I wanted to go and do a bit of xc so I am inclined to focus on getting a BP first (plus I think a BP is actually more important safety wise).

So suggestions for a suitable BP - if it makes a difference I'm 5'8" fatter than I should be and "blessed" with humongous bosoms 🙄

Thanks
 
Not going to be any help but looking forward to the responses! Mine too is now out of date and once my youngster is backed I will wear mine every time I ride ( I don't plan on falling off but I think my OH would feel better knowing i'm in one plus he's agreed to buy me one for Christmas :) )
I was looking at the Racesafe Provent 3.0 and the Dainese Balios 3one (mega bucks eak!) but to be fair I will go with what fits me best!
 
I have an overgenerous frontage and brought a new BP in May this year when at Royal Windsor.
Its the newest Race Safe one & I was properly fitted. its bloody brilliant, never notice it to ride in.
Zip can on occasions be a tad awkward to meet at the bottom if my fingers are cold and I cant see over my front to the bottom of the zip :D Initially I brought the zip half way up, re-arranged the frontage and then finished pulling zip up, this made everything fit so much better :) Its now a 3 second job to pop on.
Def worth spending on IMHO :)
 
It is hard to decide what to do for the best with body protectors I fell off with one and cracked my ribs but as they say just for organ protection We won an air vest in an competition but have never used it .

The Aero ware body protector is now more flexible so will probably get that next

As for hunting the ground is softer at that time of year I did not wear one and would have not made it back into the saddle if I did after one jump

attachment.php
 
So I tried a few on at burghley as a I have an old rodney powell and may look at getting another if I start riding more other stuff.

1) Dainese- no one had the womens shape, I didn't actually know it existed while there no chance of getting the standard one over bosoms (Im a 34F ish)
2) race safe pro vent- the fitter advised this wouldn't actually work because of the boobage, and it's true because you end up with a sort of shelf to the boobs. I've used mum's RS2000 without this issue though, I think the provent is a bit stiffer. Another booby friend put one on at the weekend at had the same problem.
3) Kan, this would work quite well but does lack any flexibility and I'd worry it would tempt me to slouch like the RP one does and give me a bad neck, you can get different cover sizes so you can make it smaller/larger a bit but I'd want to be at a point that I thought my weight was relatively stable.
4) I tried on the airowear airmesh at the suggestion of the provent lady. It did sit better but a hhoer has one and said the velcro side fastenings were proving to be a bit rubbish.
 
I have a new Airowear Airmesh and it's fab. I am also a non-conventional shape (!) and I had it professionally fitted. It's so comfy, I never hack without it now!

ETA - I've not had any problems with the velcro fastenings, as someone mentions above, but I just leave them at the right tightness and don't adjust too often.
 
I would always recommend RS - mine is so light you can easily forget it's on, however I'm not blessed in the boob area so unsure on how they'd fit in that respect!
 
Another vote for the Airowear air vest. I would love a racesafe - but the set of the arm hole is wrong for my body type (and I am very busty). No matter how many times I try them it doesn't work. Airowear have more space in front and the new airmesh is so flexible and easy to ride in!
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
I have an overgenerous frontage and brought a new BP in May this year when at Royal Windsor.
Its the newest Race Safe one & I was properly fitted. its bloody brilliant, never notice it to ride in.
Zip can on occasions be a tad awkward to meet at the bottom if my fingers are cold and I cant see over my front to the bottom of the zip :D Initially I brought the zip half way up, re-arranged the frontage and then finished pulling zip up, this made everything fit so much better :) Its now a 3 second job to pop on.
Def worth spending on IMHO :)
Click to expand...

Same!
 
GTRJazz said:
It is hard to decide what to do for the best with body protectors I fell off with one and cracked my ribs but as they say just for organ protection We won an air vest in an competition but have never used it .

The Aero ware body protector is now more flexible so will probably get that next

As for hunting the ground is softer at that time of year I did not wear one and would have not made it back into the saddle if I did after one jump

attachment.php
Click to expand...

Eek! Well sat!!!

To be honest that is why I don't wear my current BP more. When I first bought it i wore it for all jumping but then I had a couple of daft tumbles in the school that I am certain I could have saved without a BP so I started to wear it only when required.

I might need to try some on at different prices points and see whether any feel good enough that I would wear it more often.

Seems daft forking out for a Kan or Dianese that I will only wear a handful of times but if it was more comfy would I wear it more?

I think that I am leaning towards a cheaper BP with a view to maybe saving for a hit air to wear hunting and other times when I wouldn't fancy a BP.
 
ester said:
So I tried a few on at burghley as a I have an old rodney powell and may look at getting another if I start riding more other stuff.

1) Dainese- no one had the womens shape, I didn't actually know it existed while there no chance of getting the standard one over bosoms (Im a 34F ish)
2) race safe pro vent- the fitter advised this wouldn't actually work because of the boobage, and it's true because you end up with a sort of shelf to the boobs. I've used mum's RS2000 without this issue though, I think the provent is a bit stiffer. Another booby friend put one on at the weekend at had the same problem.
3) Kan, this would work quite well but does lack any flexibility and I'd worry it would tempt me to slouch like the RP one does and give me a bad neck, you can get different cover sizes so you can make it smaller/larger a bit but I'd want to be at a point that I thought my weight was relatively stable.
4) I tried on the airowear airmesh at the suggestion of the provent lady. It did sit better but a hhoer has one and said the velcro side fastenings were proving to be a bit rubbish.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed response!

1. The Dainese do look amazing but it is a lot to spend if you can't try one on. The fact that they don't need replacing is a huge attraction, and they look really neat. If only I had more money 🙄

2. Interesting, the boobs might be a problem for the racesafe (mine are huge) shame as people rave about them.

3. I tried on a Kan years ago and it felt good, I said at the time my next BP would be a can but they are a bit spendy..... Though they last longer and when I look at the racesafe and airowear I do keep thinking it is a lot of money for something to replace every 5 years or after a fall and the Kan is not much more and lasts forever.

4. Will put the airmesh on my must try on list, especially as others have said it is good.
 
I had a Rodney Powell for years (2 different versions) but this year bought a race safe in custom colours and find it so comfortable
 
I have a racesafe, youngest daughter has an Airowear, both were fitted by a proper fitter at Burghley a couple of years back. Both of us are happy with them - we are totally different shapes!
 
Do they do a women's fit? I can't see one?

scrap that, found that on the size chart! It's a shame that I have tried them on in three retailers and had the same shelving issue and no one has mentioned that..
 
I've just replaced my Racesafe 2000 with a 2010 and find it fine for a large bust - not sure about the Provent.

As they are changing from the laced sides to the bungee side, they have some laced sides heavily discounted

http://www.treehouseonline.co.uk/product_list/63

The sizing is very generous though and I easily fit into a medium despite being a size 16 on top.
 
I got mine from unicorn saddlery in Taunton, they had every size imaginable and there really was a big difference in fit from unisex to ladies. . .bit far from u OP though!
 
Another vote for the Aerowear Airmesh from me. I'm also extremely blessed in the boob department, but have a narrow back, which makes me even more difficult to fit. This not only fits really well, but is also really comfortable - and is the best sports bra ever ;o) I've not had any issues with the Velcro either.
 
meesha said:
I got mine from unicorn saddlery in Taunton, they had every size imaginable and there really was a big difference in fit from unisex to ladies. . .bit far from u OP though!
Click to expand...

Not that far from me when I am home though so I may take a trip :)

I do think the RS200 is much more flexible than the provent though, not entirely sure why it just seemed to be as I haven't had boob issues in that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top