Point two - are they truly worth it?

S

Stroppy Mare

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 October 2007
Messages
1,212
Visit site
Are the point twos truly worth forking out for, even for a low level competition rider like myself? I generally jump up to 75/80cm, do a little xc but not a great amount due to available dates when I can take my horse out and competitions on those dates. Even less dressage, mostly SJ I'd say. And hacking.

Finally, can anyone recommend anywhere 'cheap' to get one? I've had the trial test so know what size I need, but at that point couldn't justify the full price of one, and tbh still can't. I'd ideally want a pink one.
 
I would say that if you're seriously considering it and do XC on a fairly regular basis, then I would recommend them. Friend of mine had a horrible rotational fall doing XC in a completely freak accident but says her point two saved her life! I personally can't afford it and hardly ever go XC or do rounds of jumps, but it's something I'm definitely saving for. Looks worth it to me, and they're so light to wear!
 
I recon it depends what you do, what your horse does and what you do for a living, especially sick pay etc.
I only compete up to 90cm WH, 80cm xc but I like mine. It's saved me from broken ribs twice and would probably have been a broken neck/back once, so for me the cost is worth it. It is expensive when you forget to unhook and activate it dismounting!
I don't know of anywhere to buy them cheap and would just buy direct from them as they are very helpful.
 
I have recently bought one but haven't ridden in it yet. It appealed to me to provide me with some protection when I ride away my youngster in a couple of months time. I can't get on with wearing a normal bp for everything and as the point two is so light I won't notice it so much
 
It depends entirely on how you feel. If you feel you need it, and that it may help to save you from serious injury, as I do out hunting, then it's worth every penny.

There were also days when it made the difference between me getting on my feisty then-five year old and not riding him at all.

I'd buy the cheaper Hit Air now though.
 
I would love the Hit Air, but i cant afford one! I saw them advertised for £375, i know my life is worth more but its still alot to pay out in one go, wish there was somewhere you could pay in installments!
 
I know it's easier said than done when something is so expensive, but you can't put a price on your safety - or even your life.

I don't own one (for the same reason as you) but it is top of my to-buy list, especially as I have a rather unpredictable 6 yr old. My BP saved me from 2 broken ribs last year and I always wear that when out and about. I recommend anything designed to keep you in one piece.
 
JJones said:
I would love the Hit Air, but i cant afford one! I saw them advertised for £375, i know my life is worth more but its still alot to pay out in one go, wish there was somewhere you could pay in installments!
Click to expand...

The point-two is now available to pay in installments of £28.60 over 10 months with an initial payment of £152 :)
 
Main differences:

Hit Air is cheaper

Hit Air has a tucked up tail, so that it is shorter, when not blown up, than the P2, which can catch on your cantle.

Hit Air is reckoned to have better neck protection but I don't know if it really does.

Hit Air does have airbag cover right across the coccyx whereas the P2 has a channel up the middle but I am not sure it actually makes much difference unless you slam absolutely upright into a verticle post less than 2 inches wide.

Hit Air is designed to fit closer and therefore less easy to use with thicker and thinner amounts of clothing. Some people like the closer fit, I like the amount of fresh air I get in my P2 on a warm day.

Cylinders are not interchangeable. Currently I think the HA is marginally more expensive than the P2

Hit Air is reputed to make less of a bang. I don't know if this is true but my horse didn't care anyway :)

Hit Air is reputed to inflate marginally quicker but I'm not certain that the measurement was being done the same way, and in any case it's so quick it won't, in my opinion, make any real difference.
 
Last edited:
I have a P2 and I only hack! However, last summer I was bucked off (into a tree - which a whole 'nother story) and the orthopaedic surgeon reckoned it save me from breaking my collar bone and, what could have been, a neck injury. As it was, I chipped the corner of my shoulder and damaged all the ligaments, etc.

I came away with no neck pain or a sore back and, considering I am in my fifties - that isn't bad!!!

I won't hack out without it. But then, I have a young Welsh D who could win the gymnastics in the Olympics.
 
I was just looking at the Hit Air website, what worries me is that i like to wear hi viz, you have to wear the hit air over other clothes, so i was thinking how would i wear my hi viz out hacking etc. This is probably a silly query but i never ride out without either my equisafety jacket in winter or my tabbard in summer.
 
cptrayes said:
Main differences:

Hit Air is cheaper

Hit Air has a tucked up tail, so that it is shorter, when not blown up, than the P2, which can catch on your cantle.

Hit Air is reckoned to have better neck protection but I don't know if it really does.

Hit Air does have airbag cover right across the coccyx whereas the P2 has a channel up the middle but I am not sure it actually makes much difference unless you slam absolutely upright into a verticle post less than 2 inches wide.

Hit Air is designed to fit closer and therefore less easy to use with thicker and thinner amounts of clothing. Some people like the closer fit, I like the amount of fresh air I get in my P2 on a warm day.

Cylinders are not interchangeable. Currently I think the HA is marginally more expensive than the P2

Hit Air is reputed to make less of a bang. I don't know if this is true but my horse didn't care anyway :)

Hit Air is reputed to inflate marginally quicker but I'm not certain that the measurement was being done the same way, and in any case it's so quick it won't, in my opinion, make any real difference.
Click to expand...

Just to add to that list - Hit Air inflates outwards, whereas P2 inflates inwards I think. Meaning if you didn't have a big enough size for P2 you could get winded.
 
You can get a yellow/reflective Hit-air. I went for the black one and ride with a tabard over the top of it which has velcro tabs at the sides (so it would pop open if the hit-air went off).
 
HorsesHavingFun said:
Just to add to that list - Hit Air inflates outwards, whereas P2 inflates inwards I think. Meaning if you didn't have a big enough size for P2 you could get winded.
Click to expand...

That isn't strictly true, which is why I put it the way I put it. The Hit Air is designed to fit tighter, with the airbags inflating away from the wearer. The P2 just inflates, not in any specific direction, so if you like half in and half out. So you don't fit a P2 tight, and would be advised to be fitted in a shop if anyone isn't sure of their size.
 
JJones said:
I was just looking at the Hit Air website, what worries me is that i like to wear hi viz, you have to wear the hit air over other clothes, so i was thinking how would i wear my hi viz out hacking etc. This is probably a silly query but i never ride out without either my equisafety jacket in winter or my tabbard in summer.
Click to expand...

Buy hi viz a size too big and you'll be fine :)
 
cptrayes said:
That isn't strictly true, which is why I put it the way I put it. The Hit Air is designed to fit tighter, with the airbags inflating away from the wearer. The P2 just inflates, not in any specific direction, so if you like half in and half out. So you don't fit a P2 tight, and would be advised to be fitted in a shop if anyone isn't sure of their size.
Click to expand...

Ok, sorry :o
 
I guess its all down to personal choice wether or not you get one - there is nothing to say that being at such and such a level or whatever means you should use one.

I have one and admittedly I do only use it for xc but I guess thats all down to risk assessment etc although really I should use it more - maybe that can be my thing to do for this year.

I havent come off in mine yet (frantically touches wood) but I did have one set off on me at the tradestand and although it does take your breath away a bit you really do feel covered.

Before taking the plunge to buy mine I showed the videos of them to my colleagues (Intensive care Doctors) who believe that they are the best thing since sliced bread so take from that what you will.

If you know which size you require though they do come up on ebay and there is the option to pay by installments too so there are a few ways of making them more affordable. I bought mine by going through horsey gear and selling stuff I no longer wanted/needed on ebay x
 
HorsesHavingFun said:
Just to add to that list - Hit Air inflates outwards, whereas P2 inflates inwards I think. Meaning if you didn't have a big enough size for P2 you could get winded.
Click to expand...

That appeals to me, when I tested a point two, despite there being plenty of space when deflated, it almost hurt when it inflated due to the extra pressure around the body. I've just had a look, and ATM treehouse have the coloured P2 for the same price as hit air, and black for marginally cheaper than hit air. Hit air appears to inflate slower by 0.15secs than the point two.

I like the extra neck support the hit air appears to offer, but I wonder whether that's just the style, as I know my neck was pretty supported within an inflated P2.
 
georgiegirl said:
If you know which size you require though they do come up on ebay and there is the option to pay by installments too so there are a few ways of making them more affordable. I bought mine by going through horsey gear and selling stuff I no longer wanted/needed on ebay x
Click to expand...

The cheapest on eBay ATM is £345 in my size (medium). But I will keep an eye out for cheaper ones, I know you can't put a price on your safety, and I've more or less decided that I want one, and now concluded that navy would be the better colour to go with as I could then SJ in it (navy jacket).
 
Wear mine hunting-xc, but wear a BP show jumping, as I think there is less risk (soft surface,collapsing jumps & I don't jump big. HUGE fan. Half our hunt wears them. I came off hunting onto a Tarmac road - it inflated so quick & I did not notice noise nor did horse, too busy looking at me in surprise! Loved neck support - it's a Hit Air. I read Melanie Reid's column in Sat Times so in my view worth every penny!
 
I have had both the HA and the P2 set off on me, they do feel different. I preferred the neck on the HA and the sides of the P2!

Sometimes I wear a body protector underneath, sometimes not.

My decision was made by how they fit. The P2 fitted me with a body protector on and off. The HA small fitted on its own fine, but too tight with a bp on, but the Medium was fine with a bp on, but too big on its own. I am a size 12/14. Make sure if you get a P2 its the newer style with adjustment on both sides of the straps.

They say they both fit everyone, but I found this was not the case for me. I think the HA looks neater, but it didn't fit me for what I needed it for. :p
 
Can I ask quick question. One poster has mentioned it is expensive if you forget to disconnect and get off. Now I was told when fitted for my point 2 that they only go off if you jump off rather than dismount properly. I have got off a couple of times and it hasn't gone off has anyone else done this? It did go off when I fell off so don't think it is faulty or anything!
 
Tilda said:
Can I ask quick question. One poster has mentioned it is expensive if you forget to disconnect and get off. Now I was told when fitted for my point 2 that they only go off if you jump off rather than dismount properly. I have got off a couple of times and it hasn't gone off has anyone else done this? It did go off when I fell off so don't think it is faulty or anything!
Click to expand...

They go off when you reach a certain pressure or speed when falling off, it is possible to dismount with them not going off, slowly and on a small ish horse I have found ;)
 
My horse is 15.2 but I do stay very close when I get off I don't jump away or anything I guess it's a slide off :) I might have to send mine for a service!
 
Absolutely!

Would never get on my coming 5 year old with out it, even wear it at dressage competitions on him at the moment. On the (supposedly ;) ) more sensible ones I just wear for XC or if hacking on a very windy day.

I broke my back 6 years ago, and believe if I had my air jacket then I would have been fine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top