Which Air Vest?

J

Jobi-Wan Kenobi

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What are the major differences between the main brands? I'm a bit out of touch!

What are the pro's and con's of one?

What are the costs involved?

I'm thinking of investing for faster work and hunting. I do have an aerowear outlyne which I'm happy to wear as well as an air vest so not necessarily looking to replace that.
 
I have a point two, have been happy with it. My advice would be to try both on. At a good shop you can have them set off so you can feel what it is like. You just have to pay for the cylinder. I find my jacket comfortable and light but have heard some negatives about them. However I think you can not make a choice just on reviews of other people so off to the shops you go......;)
 
You need to try them on as they have different shapes on inflation. There are 3 main brands now. Helite - who used to manufacture under the Pro 2 brand but split about 18m ago and have the only externally tested vest. Anyone with a pro 2 bought more than about 18m ago has what is now branded as Helite. Pro 2 who make both traditional airjackets and the combined air jacket / BP and hit air. Other than the combined they are designed to be worn with a BP.

Pro 2 and helite inflate all over - and so become tighter on impact. (Part of the reason they are worn over a BP!) Some people feel that too constricting. Hit air only inflates outwards. They pretty much all have similar inflation speeds - but deflate at different rates. The means to change the canisters is also different.

There is quite a lot of evidence now that a jacket of some form protects from injury in many types of falls. My daughter wears one for XC in eventing and to hunt. (A helite now but a pro 2 initially - she grew out if it.) The only cons I can think of is that there is an audible "pop" when the canister discharges - although I've never known a horse spook at that, they are usually far more worried about whatever it was that made the rider fall off. And if you fall off in water you tend to bob about like a stranded fish for a bit.

So - off to the shops, or a major horse show - and try them on! Budget about £15 per canister to feel them inflated on you. You usually get that back if you buy.
 
I went for hitair. It sits neatly against the body which is folded up with press studs to avoid the excess bulk like the point 2 has. I hack out a lot, so the point 2 always concerned me with the bagginess, that it would get caught on a tree if my mare were to spook whilst I was ducking under a low branch.

I had the point 2 inflated on me, I am a ladies 8-10 on the top and was given an adult medium point 2 to try on, on it's baggiest setting. Not only was the bang on inflation loud enough to make me jump (it sounded like a rifle being shot!) but it winded me on impact too. I'd hate the fact that you have to wear a BP under it at all times, if that's how you minimise the problem. They're also more expensive.

The hitair hisses like a can of fizzy pop, I now even have the inflation on video which I could send if you wanted to hear the inflation. I love the fact that it sits close to my body, and you just can't tell it's there. There's no initial pain on impact, infact it was only about 6 weeks ago I walked away from hitting a solid XC fence... Without a single ache. As it inflates out wards, you don't get that compression pain, you just feel restricted. The hitair also covers more of the body, with more sufficient coccyx, neck and rib protection.
 
Hit Air looks a bit 'bondage wear' :D, but it does have a significant advantage over the P2, which I have, for fast work. If you are going to go into a light seat, the P2 tail, in my experience, can catch on the cantle. The Hit Air has the tail fastened up out of the way until it blows up.

People with old/worn P2s, they will replace with a brand new one for half price. Mine was in a right state after hunting four seasons in it - think 'dragged through a hedge backwards :) ' And I got a brand spanking new one and all my screw canister spares replaced with bayonet ones.
 
I team chase in a Point 2 (newish one, bought couple years ago) and don't really know I have it on to be honest. Have fairly flat seat xc saddle so never had any issues with it catching on saddle. Came off over big drop last year and after getting to my feet chuckling at my turtle impression as I waited to deflate, can honestly say not sore at all following day ... and I fell from quite a height. Inflation certainly didn't wind me but pretty sure would have had wind knocked out of me had I not been wearing it. Does go off with bit of a bang but certainly didn't bother Lockie, not sure he even noticed I'd departed initially!

Local saddlers sell P2 and cannisters so convenient to be able to pop in if I need replacement but been very happy with it having tested in anger so to speak!
 
Thanks guys, that's really helpful. Hopefully I'll get chance to look at both at YHL. My fave, but furthest local tack shop only stocks one type. I'd really like to be able to compare both in relative quick succession.
 
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