British Eventing update on Exo BodyCage

[FrittSkritt]

@JER

I can do this tomorrow.

Ok, everyone who’s interested, please let me know what you’d like to see with the EXO and I’ll do my best.

Even though I already have one - and you were probably already planning on doing this, but just in case - I’d show how it’s put on and latched. Bonus points if you can do it without using the mirror.

I think I mentioned before that I had to cut down the tail of mine because it kept hitting the cantle. I’m fairly tall in all parts of my body but mine still seemed a bit too long – as if it were designed for a man, which is probably was given the lack of chest space. :winkgrin: I’d be curious to see how the “S” sizes fit.

[Beam_Me_Up]

I have one but have yet to event in it (more on that in a sec).

I have an A4 and am on the bigger side for a woman (5’9, 150, bigger shoulder/ribcage, smaller hips). I think mine is on the small side for me–it’s definitely an effort to get on and requires a helper. I didn’t realize there was a size 5, perhaps that would be better.

I don’t find the weight that bad, but it does ride up very high, above my jaw (possible fit/size issue), which feels wrong, probably more so because it is so solid. I’m not sure if that would be uncomfortable if I fell on my side.

Personally, I think the biggest challenge to its market success is that it is designed for a specific and rare (though catastrophic) fall scenario–the rotational/crush injury fall. That mostly applies to upper level riders, and probably even they are trying to convince themselves it won’t be them.

Most vests are about cushion, but so are most falls. If you get bucked off your 4 year old, falling with a metal cage around you is probably going to be less helpful than that useless-in-a-rotation piece of foam vest. The Exo’s value is really for high level xc, which isn’t what most vest purchasers are doing.

I bought mine after a bad fall on a prelim xc course (vest wouldn’t have helped in this scenario–was thrown clear). But since then mostly rode a young horse, wore a regular vest (the Outlyne) for trails, jump schooling, even N/T events. I think for me, it was dealing with the fit issues vs the types of falls I was expecting to have that dictated it. I still want to get more comfortable in the Exo, and plan to use it if/when I do higher levels. But I get why “average” eventers who are spending most of their vest time not doing high level xc don’t select it.

ETA: There is also something a little more comfortable psychologically about buying a foam or air vest, and saying “this will make falling more comfortable” than buying an Exo and saying “this will prevent me from getting crushed to death when my horse falls on me.” There is a lot of reality going into that purchase which may be a factor.

[pologirl27]

@trubandloki

Random question - if the middle size of five sizes fits a person who wears a size 0-2, was the market this item originally designed for racing? Because that seems tiny for the middle size of something designed for adults.

That seems unlikely given the weight of the actual vest. In the US I believe jump jocks get a 2 lb allowance for their vest, the UK likely has a similar provision, but would be based on a foam vest and not the increased weight on the EXO. Considering that most jockeys are trying to cut weight wherever possible it seems unlikely. I assume the smallest sizes are designed for kids.

[JER]

Ok my friends, forget about that Star Wars stuff, the new movie you want to see - me putting on the EXO - is here!

[Training_Cupid]

@JER - How heavy is it? Does it feel as bulky as it looks?

[frugalannie]

I like the flourish at the end! Thanks, JER.

[JER]

@Training Cupid

@JER - How heavy is it? Does it feel as bulky as it looks?

As I’ve said before, it weighs 8 lbs.

The EXO is surprisingly comfortable. The ‘bulk’ you’re seeing is the cage part, which hangs away from your body. You don’t feel the cage against your torso. On the inside of the EXO, there are hanging shoulder straps (I’ve tried to get a good pic of these and a velcro’d band that goes around your waist - this is what I’m doing up when I’m leaning forward. Those parts are what you feel against your body.

I don’t notice the weight. I do notice the distance the cage is away from my body but it’s not an impediment for me. I should mention that I weigh about 112 lbs, am 5’7"+ tall and am quite used to wearing all kinds of sporting equipment, some of it much less wearer-friendly than this.

I took some pics of myself bending forward and tucked in a crouch so you can see that you’re quite free to move in it. Will post those shortly.

[JER]

@frugalannie

I like the flourish at the end! Thanks, JER.

I am hoping that the alleged armchair quarterbacks out there post scores. Although I don’t know on what scale the sport of EXO putting-on is scored.

[Marigold]

@JER

Ok my friends, forget about that Star Wars stuff, the new movie you want to see - me putting on the EXO - is here!

Thank you so much for doing that, I’m sure we all have better things to be doing than putting on xc vests we can’t even ride in (well, most of us) at this time of year! Not at all how I pictured it. You clearly have it down to a science but it doesn’t seem too strenuous. Where does the Allen key come into play? I didn’t see you using one in the video - do you only need it to get out of it?

[JER]

@Marigold

You clearly have it down to a science but it doesn’t seem too strenuous.

It’s really easy. No science required.

@Marigold

Where does the Allen key come into play? I didn’t see you using one in the video - do you only need it to get out of it?

The Allen key is only for EMS to remove it in an emergency. Normally, you just undo the latches on the sides - you see me doing these in the video. The allen key lets you take the cage apart.

I have pics of all of this and will put them up as soon as I have time.

[Marigold]

@JER

The Allen key is only for EMS to remove it in an emergency. Normally, you just undo the latches on the sides - you see me doing these in the video. The allen key lets you take the cage apart.

Oh, I didn’t realize, thank you! That resolves some of my concern - I could see myself putting it on and leaving the Allen key somewhere in the grass one day as I’m riding to the box (or never getting it on at all because fine motor skills and adrenaline might be a tricky combo). Makes me feel better that it’s only for emergencies and lives in the vest until then.

[purplnurpl]

@RAyers

Around 2008 or so there was an awesome video where a rider wearing an EXO had a massive rotation. The horse slammed down on the rider. Next thing, the horse hops up, walks away and the rider pops up giving the international signal for touch down.

Grey horse, weldon’s wall fence?

Me in mine in 2009.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=286957297621&l=1eecf516bd

Thanks for this, Reed.
And while we are talking about vests and safety, should we give KOC a call and discuss burst fractures?

[Jealoushe]

Thank you @JER!!! Im going to try and get one of these.

[Rallycairn]

That’s a great video, JER! That certainly makes the EXO seem easy enough to wear – not some huge deal or problem. It does not even stand out away from the body as much as I had pictured, either.

I CAN see that proper fit would be imperative given the rigid “cage,” and it does seem like sizing was an issue.

Thank you for taking the time to make and post the video!

[FrittSkritt]

@purplnurpl

Thanks for this, Reed.
And while we are talking about vests and safety, should we give KOC a call and discuss burst fractures?

KOC was the one who tried to tell me that the BodyCage was dangerous because the “metal would bend and crush a person’s ribcage.” :lol: Reed quickly disproved that theory.

[JER]

@FrittSkritt

KOC was the one who tried to tell me that the BodyCage was dangerous because the “metal would bend and crush a person’s ribcage.”

That’s really sad to hear. If she’d been wearing an EXO, she might have been able to choose when to retire from competitive eventing.

(Reports say the horse landed on her and ‘hit her between the shoulder blades’, causing a burst fracture and a compression fracture.

I have no idea how she got such misinformation about the EXO or if she just lacked the education and/or curiosity to get the facts.

[SonnysMom]

JER- I think I struggle more to get into my custom Rodney Powell zip front XC vest. The Body Cage doesn’t look any stiffer than mine does either. It does look like it stands away from the body a bit more so that would take getting used to. I had to get used to it a bit with my vest. Thanks for the video.
I would have to see if I could fit in these. I have some tatas that may be too large for it.

[JER]

@SonnysMom

JER- I think I struggle more to get into my custom Rodney Powell zip front XC vest.

Ha! The EXO is really quite comfortable. There’s more freedom of movement in the shoulders than with a conventional body protector.

That KOC line - that the metal cage could bend and crush you - has been weighing on my mind. Does anyone know of any other old wives tales/falsehoods about the EXO that were circulated when it was in production?

I know the inventors got fed up with what they called ‘antagonism’ toward the EXO. I had no idea it got as far as KOC’s wrong-headed beliefs.

[DrHB]

Question: How easy is it to cut the Exo off in the event that a person is injured and moving the body to remove it from the sides isn’t recommended?

I imagine that moving a body with a serious neck injury is against medical advice.

What “cutters” are recommended and do EMT’s have such devices?

I am surprised that KOC said that the Exo could’ve crushed her.

[fordtraktor]

I should think that if a something crushed you to the extent the EXO would bend and crush you, you would have been far MORE crushed, nonsurvivably crushed, if you hadn’t been wearing it at all.