Recommend me a body protector, please?

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Polo*Pony

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This is also in Competition Riders, hope you're allowed to post things twice.

Having read a thread in CR about a week ago about someone having a really nasty fall, it got me thinking I really ought to get myself a body protector. I do a lot of hacking and jumping so need something I can wear for a couple of hours but move in - I used to ride in one when I was about 11, but it made me hunch as it used to rest on the cantle and then push up, and it was really uncomfortable so I gave that up (with hindsight, I think it was a bit big! :o).

I looked up Kan Teq (the one mentioned in the thread earlier) and it's beautiful but pretty expensive - I know my life is worth more than £200 etc etc but I just wondered, before I splash out, whether anyone can recommend another make/convince me the Kan's are worth twice the price of all the others? I'm considering the Champion FlexAir if anyone has used this?

Thanks!
 
I have a racesafe body protector, with my own colours :D I think they're £100 for a solid colour, £115 for two standard colours and £130 for two very pretty colours :) I think they're fab! Very flexible and super comfy, I forget I have mine on sometimes :rolleyes: deffo value for money. I got mine from treehouseonline xx
 
I use Champion Flex air and it is really nice and quiet comfortable (if you can get comfortable body protectors! :p ) for an adult I think they are from £65-£70 I'm not too sure you'll have to reasearch :D
 
horselover360 said:
I use Champion Flex air and it is really nice and quiet comfortable (if you can get comfortable body protectors! :p )
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I'm hoping you can! Thanks - I like the colours of the Flex Air (such a shallow reason for wanting it!) and it's on Amazon for £80 (inc. shipping).

Thanks ISH Lover - I hadn't heard of that one before but I'll go and have a look. Flexible is definitely good - my old one made me feel like I was wearing a cardboard box with arm holes... :(
 
I just bought a Rodney Powell one on ebay for about £61. It's the older style which I wanted because it's plain and could be worn over a competition jacket and supposedly slight seconds although I'm damned if I can find the fault. Very pleased with it.
 
The Kan is shaped to fit womanly curves, and, unlike other BPs the foam does not degrade over time, so there is no need to routinely replace it after 3plus years. Also, the customer service is second to none!
 
Another fan of the Racesafe here. I hardly know I am wearing mine, and it doesn't squish my (ample lol) chestage like others have in the past! It's rather like wearing a padded gilet.
 
Seriously, buy the Kan. You won't regret it. The problem is that unless your body protector is so comfortable that you forget your wearing it (and that Kan is) you'll always be in two minds about whether to put it on. Then it'll be the one day that you decide not to wear it that you have a nasty fall. You can afford to scrimp on rugs and boots and jackets etc, but it's worth getting the basics right - hat, BP, saddle - even if it costs more.
 
I cant reccomend my Kan enough!
Comfy - Fits - Not hot - Going to last a while - Industry leader.
Customer Service is one to one - I got a personal hand written note from Wendy the designer / Director.

Honestly - When you find yourself mucking out after a ride still in your Kanteq you know its comfy!!! :D

As others have said - the one day its 'too hot' or you dont want to be 'restricted' thats the day you fall off.
I never think that with my Kanteq.

And It LOOKS GOOD!!!!
Even the non horsey Boyfriend says 'well it doesnt make you look like a potato'
 
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Groom42 said:
The Kan is shaped to fit womanly curves, and, unlike other BPs the foam does not degrade over time, so there is no need to routinely replace it after 3plus years.
Click to expand...

Oooh... Didn't know you were supposed to replace them (yes, I am a bit blonde). That's definitely another point in the Kan's favour as spending £100 now and another £100 three years later is just the same as getting the Kan now...

Thanks!
 
trojanpony said:
Seriously, buy the Kan. You won't regret it. The problem is that unless your body protector is so comfortable that you forget your wearing it (and that Kan is) you'll always be in two minds about whether to put it on. Then it'll be the one day that you decide not to wear it that you have a nasty fall. You can afford to scrimp on rugs and boots and jackets etc, but it's worth getting the basics right - hat, BP, saddle - even if it costs more.
Click to expand...


Thanks for all the replies everyone - lots of really helpful people here!
It's my birthday near Easter so I think I am going to ask for a bit of money to put towards it, that plus a bit of overtime and I should have a Kan quite soon :):)

Trojanpony you're right - I did go back to wearing a body protector after I came off and broke a few ribs, but it was so uncomfortable that after a while I... well... I lapsed. (To be honest, even if I were still wearing said BP, it's well over 12 years old now anyway so would probably be useless!). I have been very lucky but don't want to keep pushing my luck.
 
Definitely have a look at the Racesafe ones. If they are good enough for the NH Jockeys then I think they are more than up for the job. I bought mine at HOYS from Treehouse and had it fitted properly, they do a short fitting (good for me as I am very short waisted). The key is a getting a proper fitting because if you go to someone who knows what they are doing then they can do all sorts of things with the way they are laced up to make them a supberb fit. The guy at Treehouse also made me sit on a saddle and throw myself about a bit to ensure it wasn't catching on the saddle, or riding up etc. Can't recommend them enough.
 
I have the Zippa Airowear one, had it years now, was around £100, I never used to wear it but in the last couple of years I always do, I find it perfectly comfortable and feel odd if its not on. I must add I did trim the back a bit as I found it kept coming into contact with the saddle on the slightest downhill which was very annoying, must have ordered the one with the long back, but its perfect for me now :)
 
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