Wireless air vests?

[Rose24]

I've been looking at various body protectors and air vests and wandered over into the motorcycle clothing world. There are some really good wireless vests (e.g. Furygan Fury) and some with neck to coccyx cover. There are some downsides - subscriptions for some units and for some brands higher costs for refurb and reset after deployment, etc... But also some of them just look a lot more advanced and comfortable (and frankly more stylish) than equestrian versions. Plus not needing a tether means a) would work if you're riding bareback or on a saddle without a suitable point for tethering and b) not having to worry about jumping off and forgetting to disconnect. I've seen some old threads from 2017ish about motorcycle air vests, but wondered if anyone had recent experience or had researched some of the modern wireless vests? I'm not thinking about use for XC or competing in any discipline, more for hacking/non-competitive riding.

 

[ycbm]

I looked at these a couple of years back and came to the conclusion that it won't work for horse riders because there are so many situations which a horse rider can get into without falling off that the sensors would think was a fall, and set the bag off. If you're still on the horse but unbalanced it could be quite dangerous, especially if the horse runs away from the noise.
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[Rose24]

I looked at these a couple of years back and came to the conclusion that it won't work for horse riders because there are so many situations which a horse rider can get into without falling off that the sensors would think was a fall, and set the bag off. If you're still on the horse but unbalanced it could be quite dangerous, especially if the horse runs away from the noise.
.

This is a good point! Maybe that's why there aren't wireless vests for horse riders... Pretty sure I'd forget to detach the tether at some point if I had a tethered vest, but I'd guess you'd only do that once.

 

[Dave's Mam]

I looked at these a couple of years back and came to the conclusion that it won't work for horse riders because there are so many situations which a horse rider can get into without falling off that the sensors would think was a fall, and set the bag off. If you're still on the horse but unbalanced it could be quite dangerous, especially if the horse runs away from the noise.
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& even more so if YOU are a little shocked by the vest going off & maybe tight to breathe for a moment.
My Point 2 went off in a fall the other week & it's tight!

 

[Rose24]

& even more so if YOU are a little shocked by the vest going off & maybe tight to breathe for a moment.
My Point 2 went off in a fall the other week & it's tight!

Oof... Hope it meant you were safe, even if left feeling like you'd been squished by a boa constrictor!

 

[Dave's Mam]

Oof... Hope it meant you were safe, even if left feeling like you'd been squished by a boa constrictor!

Yes, it was a soft, but tight landing.

 

[Rose24]

Yes, it was a soft, but tight landing.

This is good. I fell off the other day and landed, thankfully, in a soft field full of long grass and buttercups. Briefly lay there and reflected on the nice sunny day and whether all my limbs were working (they were!) before deciding that I should maybe look into getting an air vest. Horse meanwhile was peacefully eating the buttercups.

 

[Nicnac]

Interesting. My vet events and also rides a big motorbike. He has the most amazing safety wear and talks to manufacturers about how the bike stuff could be adapted to equestrian use. Not enough money in it apparently in that globally the bike market is far bigger.
I have an air jacket but also an air gilet which is brilliant for schooling, hacking etc. Not cheap but worth every penny imo. Far lighter than full jacket.

 

[Rose24]

Interesting. My vet events and also rides a big motorbike. He has the most amazing safety wear and talks to manufacturers about how the bike stuff could be adapted to equestrian use. Not enough money in it apparently in that globally the bike market is far bigger.
I have an air jacket but also an air gilet which is brilliant for schooling, hacking etc. Not cheap but worth every penny imo. Far lighter than full jacket.

Ah, that makes sense. Yes, the motorcycle world has some really impressive safety wear, so much more advanced, sleek and comfortable looking. Air gilet sounds interesting! Like a hit air style one?

 

[Nicnac]

Ah, that makes sense. Yes, the motorcycle world has some really impressive safety wear, so much more advanced, sleek and comfortable looking. Air gilet sounds interesting! Like a hit air style one?

It's the Point 2 soft shell. If you look at my post in club House about new horse and his halo I am wearing it in the photo.

 

[Rose24]

It's the Point 2 soft shell. If you look at my post in club House about new horse and his halo I am wearing it in the photo.

Oh, he's a stunner, Nicnac!! The point 2 looks comfortable. I'll have a look at them, thank you. I find safety wear shopping both interesting and baffling, so many choices and possible combinations, etc.