Air vest + body protector combos and how to choose

[Xanthoria]

I went shopping for an air vest yesterday at Dover. I brought my Charles Owen body protector to try it over, and lo - discovered it was manufactured in 2018 and is of an old BETA standard, so now I need a new body protector too.

Salesperson put me in a Tipperary Contender which felt fine but has smaller foam pieces vs large panels.

Is the thinking still that large panels are better? Salesperson didn’t know.

On to the air vest. They carry Hit Air and Point 2. Didn’t have any the right size for me in stock. Said “just order both and try them on - it’s about personal preference” - is it really? Fit is not relevant?

Lastly she hadn’t heard that air vest need to be serviced annually, as I’ve read. So overall, I wasn’t confident in her advice.

What’s the difference between the two brands?

How do their individual models compare? Anyone know of a website that compares brands and models?

All the info I’ve found comes from the manufacturers - I’m looking for factual, independent comparison if possible.

Or am I overthinking it and should just buy both, decide if they fit, and keep the one I like more?

[BayAreaRider]

I have a Point2 and have it serviced every year. It may seem like a lot but you have a mechanical device, the trigger, and a bladder that should be checked at some service interval.

In terms of hard shell. If I were competing in cross country then I would go with a current BETA Level 3. I would not use a ASTM only certified vest. I feel like BETA has higher standards and has them reviewed periodically so the user knows their vest meets the latest standards.

I haven’t used them but Ride EquiSafe is a company specializing in safety equipment.

[Willesdon]

The various UK competition authorities now require all body protectors to be labeled with the BETA 2018 certification mark. As this one replaced the earlier 2009 certificate six years ago, the older vests are getting very old indeed! After five years the impact absorption properties of the foam may have started to decline and repeated falls will compromise it.

The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) has a very useful guide called “Body Protection Made Easy” on their webpage www.beta-uk.org

If possible, try on the various brands and styles in person because they all fit in slightly different ways and comfort is very personal. It is also really helpful to have someone who is trained to fit them to help you. The certification is valid across all the brands. Styles keep on evolving.

My impression is that Racesafe www.racesafe.co are currently the most popular body protectors in the UK eventing world. They have multiple small panels and several different designs.

[Pico_Banana]

On the air vest question, fit does matter. I ride in a Hit Air Advantage, which I bought because at the time I purchased it, it had the largest neck roll out of the available options, and that is the feature that I prioritized. On the down side, the sizing for the Advantage is kinda dumb - basically two adult sizes. So it’s a little short on me.

Of course, if you’re wearing it over a standard vest, that’s probably less of a big deal. I don’t event, so I just wear the air vest without a standard one under.

[Cowgirl]

Fit matters!!! I ride in an Equitheme air vest because it fits my body type best. I used rideequisafe.com to find me the right air vest (she is an expert in this and represents many brands). I have both an air vest and a hard shell that I bought because I have two very young horses. I bought the hard shell from Dover (a Tipperary) and, while it fit better than other ones, it is quite thick and therefore uncomfortable and hot. If I bought another hard shell, I would buy a much more higher end one that is more “quilted” and therefore more bendy. But rideequisafe.com reps both kinds. Also, if you want to buy a coat that the vest snaps into, only certain brands are paired with the coats. Mine zips in, but the Equitheme coats, weirdly, did not fit me.

[RideEquiSafe]

I’m the owner of Ride EquiSafe and I’d be happy to help. Fit is first, but there are differences, some big and some small that should be factors in your decision. There is also a new hybrid from FreeJump that is exceptional.

As for comparison, there isn’t anything out just yet that does that, but I have all of the current research, data, and studies on my website.

In addition, I’ll just mention that the reason that I carry the broadest selection available is that I want to be brand agnostic in the fitting process and focus on your needs rather than pushing what I have to sell.

If I can help you, feel free to DM me or you can reach out through my website, www.rideEquiSafe.com.

Catherine

[Xanthoria]

That’s great - I’ll message you!

[Against_All_Odds2]

I didn’t want to start a new thread so I am jumping in on this one.

What is the best air vest for XC? I have had 2 falls on my left hip and I’d love to know if an air vest would have helped/ protected that area.

Also is the free jump combo popular? I see its $$$ but it seems like it would save on bulk and mother nature blessed me with some…upper fullness… so less gear/bulk is best for me

[Xanthoria]

Not sure of the answer to your question but I can say that I talked to @RideEquiSafe and they easily answered all my questions and made me feel confident in my choice.

I bought a Hit Air from them as a result, and have fallen in it twice and really felt it helped.

I decided against a Point 2 primarily because their website was janky and there was no reply to my questions from them, so I didn’t feel confident in their company or support.

[TXnGA]

Definitely talk to @RideEquiSafe, a wealth of knowledge and carries most of the brands available and knows them

[Against_All_Odds2]

I tried the free jump but unfortunately I am between sizes. The large was best for my chest but it felt like wearing a shield of Armour. I was unable to put my arms down and felt like a body builder it stuck out so far at my ribs and torso. The medium did up and felt great but the sales girl at Greenhawk said the air exploded inward and would cause more harm than good and that it quote “wasn’t a fashion show and I should just buy the large”. If I could wear it inside out I guess the medium would have been perfect!

[clipclop12]

I wanted to like the Freejump combo vest but the fact that it inflates to the inside made me move on. If a company makes a air vest/body protector combo that inflates more like the standalone air vests, I’d be first in line to try it! But I can’t seem to find one.

[tagsalong]

Point two did at some point, but it seems like they no longer carry it unfortunately. It did explode on the outside. When air vests were first popular, the “inflates OUTWARD” seemed like a huge marketing point, so I think it’s pretty interesting that now we’re seeing them inflate inwards.