Anyone have the Kan? Charles Owen? Thoughts…opinions?
The thing with all ‘body protectors’ (aka safety vest) is that unlike the air vests they have to fit you and as no one is a standard shape you really need to try on several brands to find the one that fits your shape best. They are not something to buy on-line. Kan requires personal measurement and is probably, from that point of view, the ‘best’ but for most people the various other brands do the job. Tipperary is very popular in the US but is not BETA tested and approved. There is now a BETA 2018 label because, like riding helmets, the materials used in manufacture will change with age.
The best one is one you like to wear and has a good safety rating.
I like my good old Tipperary – the one with the segments. It’s comfortable and reminds me to sit up. I took a spill recently and I remember hitting the ground with the vest part of my body. I remember the landing feeling much softer than I expected, even though it was somewhat of a launch (horse bucked on landing from a jump). I am 66, and yet got up and got back on.
Be sure to get it nice and snuggy and not too long in the back to where it bumps the cantle.
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I disagree. Not everyone has easy access to well-stocked tack shops. When I needed a vest, there was no place near me with a good selection of vests and no one had anything in size short-fat. I had my Mom help me take careful measurements and ordered an Airowear Outlyne vest from Emira Equi in England. It fit perfectly.
I did a lot of online research and thanks to all the online reviews that are available these days, including the many discussions here at COTH, you can get a pretty good idea of the pros, cons, and fit of lots of different vests.
Sure, if you can go and try on a bunch of different vests, that’s the way to go. If, like most of us, you can’t, don’t be afraid to buy online.
I’ve had several different kinds. My favorite so far is my Airowear Outlyne. I like my Airowear Hickstead too! I tried on a Racesafe and loved it— same one Sandy Ferrell wears in the big hunter stuff. When it’s time to change vests I’ll order one of those.
Take careful measurements and order one. Do try some on if you can. I like the Airowear because they’re cut for women. I ordered from Amira and it was easy and quick.
I have a USG flexi vest. I find it to be comfortable and fit better than the Tipperary, and it is BETA 3. I wear it for schooling and trail riding. Even in the middle of summer it isn’t that noticeable because it molds to your body and stays pretty cool.
