What air jackets do you recommend?

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FizzyPony

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Looking into investing in an air jacket now ive started doing more. Swaying towards a Point 2 at the minute but just wondered if anyone else has a firm favourite. Thanks in advance :)
 
Just remember to plug it in if you do buy one. Was with friend a couple of weeks ago XC training who has bought an air jacket after breaking her pelvis last year. The horse over jumped, she pinged off, jacket didn't inflate as she'd forgotten to plug it in and she has now broken the other side of her pelvis.
 
I've recently bought a Hitair as it's short at the back, inflates outwardly and i am told that the explosion is quieter. It's so comfortable I wear it every time I ride now, even in the hot weather. It's not gone off yet and I've only had one near miss of almost dismounting before unplugging. I'm naughty in that I dismount by swinging my leg over in front rather than behind but it's meant it stops me from not unplugging it first :). I'm really glad I bought it. It won't necessarily protect me in every type of fall but I do feel that I'm reducing the risk. Talking to a paramedic who tended to Laura Collett's fall, he was of the opinion that they should be mandatory for XC.
 
I also have a hit-air, I chose it over the Point 2 mainly because it inflates outwards rather than inwards (didn't fancy the sensation of being squashed!), and also because it looks neater on. The company is great too, the people there are so friendly and informative.
 
Might be worth doing some research into the cannisters because I read somewhere that one of the companies has changed the fixing for the cannisters and that the new mechanism doesn't work as well as the old one and people have been sending them jackets back wanting a refund - can't remember which one it is now but might be worth a search online!
 
Daughter has a point 2 and says it is comfortable invested at the start of the season and consider it money very very well spent.
 
HitAir. It's a far better design than two point and is used for motorcyclist as well, the inflating inwards like 2 point are not approved for biking, due to the design. I'd go with the one approved for both. Personally.

If you fall and break a rib, I'd worry about the added pressure from the 2 point
 
redheadkelj said:
Might be worth doing some research into the cannisters because I read somewhere that one of the companies has changed the fixing for the cannisters and that the new mechanism doesn't work as well as the old one and people have been sending them jackets back wanting a refund - can't remember which one it is now but might be worth a search online!
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I believe that's the point 2 new jacket which has had all the bad rep since they split from the now helite who maintain the sale of the design of the old P2.

I have a hit air myself. The point 2 winded me more than the fall when I fell on my upper back and couldn't breathe properly for 2 mins. I was in agony, despite the rep telling me it was actually a little on the baggy side for me. However as someone else mentioned above - it inflates inwards, towards the body hence the fact you have to have it extremely baggy which is likely to flap about. My hit air sits nicely against my body, has now gone off twice. Both times it's helped my fall, although the last one I hurt my arm badly, neither jacket would've prevented that.

Another reason I went for the hit air was that its quieter on inflation, and provides better protection around the neck (P2, my neck felt unsupported largely, hit air it's snugly comfortable), coccyx (but folds up when not inflated so doesn't get in the way of the saddle) and ribs and spine (also got poppers to decrease the amount of material surrounding you until inflation.

The one downside to hit air is the lack of colour choice, as its limited to black, navy, red, royal blue and purple (iirc) and also the hi viz one. I went for the navy, special order but still cheaper than the P2.

Also remember that whilst P2 is more highly marketed in the equine world, hit air is the older company designed initially for motorcyclists.
 
Hit-Air for me too - for all the reasons listed. The most important thing, surely, is to get into the habit of wearing it!!
Wore mine today for a small Combined Training competition (for the jumping phase) I don't care if it looks overkill, I feel protected in mine and it's so light and comfortable. Touch wood,I haven't fallen off yet !! :D
 
How loud is the bang when it goes off? I went xc training with five folk wearing them recently and I was just waiting for one to go off and send my mare into orbit.

Is it ok to wear them with no BP for hacking. I am tempted to get one for the times where I don't wear a BP.
 
I have recently bought a hitair jacket. I decided to go for this jacket, rather than the point 2, as I found it more comfortable and so thought I would wear it more often.

I wore it whilst taking part in a local showjumping derby last weekend and was unfortunate (and stupid enough) to come off. To be honest I didnt even notice the jacket going off when I fell off. However I didnt have one bruise on me. It really isnt loud when it goes off and certainly didn't worry my horse who was eating the grass waiting for me!

Picture mid fall:

1236261_10151575122386924_2139533437_n.jpg
 
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I know that air jackets have been done ad infinitum on this forum so worth doing a search. FWIW, we have P2s. It's gone off when I've fallen and it wasn't a problem and I'm claustrophobic to the point that I hate being hugged!

Genuine question: Oli Townend was wearing a P2 when he fell in Kentucky and Laura Collett was wearing a P2 at Tweseldown. Have any pro riders had bad falls wearing a Hitair?
 
Nicnac said:
I know that air jackets have been done ad infinitum on this forum so worth doing a search. FWIW, we have P2s. It's gone off when I've fallen and it wasn't a problem and I'm claustrophobic to the point that I hate being hugged!

Genuine question: Oli Townend was wearing a P2 when he fell in Kentucky and Laura Collett was wearing a P2 at Tweseldown. Have any pro riders had bad falls wearing a Hitair?
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Don't know about eventers a but I have had 5 falls in HitAir. 1 being a hospital job with suspected smashed pelvis, (was just tendons and muscoe ripped from hip bone in the end) and 3 ruptured discs in lower back

Even with body protector and HitAir my back was black and blue, I hit the ground at full pelt. Doctors said god knows what state I'd of been in had I not been wearing both.
 
Hmm theres lots of interesting points to think about. Thanks for the responses everyone! I cant help but wonder why more riders choose Point 2 over HitAir? Even at the lower levels of BE Point 2 seems more popular?
 
Point 2 have been around a lot longer than the equestrian version of hit air and have had a much more successful marketing campaign directed solely at equestrian users, hit air main market historically has been the motor cycle trade, and also their initial equestrian jacket had a much slower inflation time than point 2 however now I think this has been addressed .
All the above is the main reason that there are far more point 2 than hit air jackets around in all levels!
 
I don't disagree with anything that's been said about the Hit Air and I had no choice but to have a P2, but I actually like the fact that until it goes off, the air can blow through it and keep you cooler. I would not want it tighter fitting and I find it hugs nicely right up to my chin when it goes off. It sounds like a rifle shot to me, but three different horses have taken no notice of it at all.
 
Ah thanks Iannerch that makes sense! Thats interesting to know cptrayes, thats another of my worries the last thing I want is for my pony to bolt or something because of the sound but havent heard anyone say their horse had been upset by it!
 
P2 for me!! Came off my 4 year old 3 weeks ago, didn't even notice the sound or feel it tight around my body (hadn't even thought about it until my dad said, 'well you're air jacket went off'), horse didn't mind either!
I also loved the fact that even though I went through a tree head first, bounced off the jump and flipped over landing on my back, I had no bruising or injury to my upper body, and the best part, wasn't stiff the next day!!
 
FizzyPony said:
Hmm theres lots of interesting points to think about. Thanks for the responses everyone! I cant help but wonder why more riders choose Point 2 over HitAir? Even at the lower levels of BE Point 2 seems more popular?
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Because HitAir has been around for alot longer and did not have a mental advertising campaign like 2point did when it flooded the market. HitAir has been selling to bikers for a number of years before 2point came along.

Most equest shops stock 2point as its souly aimed at the horse market as its not approved for motorcyclist I assume as its not as protective but you would need to check with them why it did not get approval .

There is another motorcycle brand that also sells to horse riders - far cheaper than both 2 point and hit air at £195

I've tried it on and seen it inflated and its just as good as my hit air intact had I known about it when I bought mine I'd of purchased it and saved myself £200

http://www.motoair.co.uk/Airbag_Vests.html
 
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