I have a 15 year old Tipperary Eventer, and I’d like to update both my body protector as well as get an air vest to add over the top of it. I’m 5’11 with a moderately large chest, not thin necessarily, but athletically built with large shoulders. Ideally I’d like something with shoulder protection and that also goes as low as it can on my spine/pelvis/tailbone. Cost is not an issue, but I also don’t feel I need the most expensive vests out there. Any suggestions would be much appreciated! I’m a little overwhelmed with the choices, and all the threads I searched seem to be only about one type or the other, and mostly for short women. My horses go barefoot and don’t use studs, and I don’t do a lot of cross country, so the flexible segmented vests would work just as well if the fit is good.
I tried the new “approved” Tipp and hated the fit…the armholes are too small and restrictive. I have a Rodney Powell that I ordered custom five years ago, and just replaced it with an Airowear Outlyne. Love it! I have broad shoulders and am thick through the chest without being busty and found it fits me very well. Comfortable, shapely, easy to move in. Try on a few, take careful measurements and order what works best. Do get a Beta 3 rated one. If you are wearing a vest, might as well make it the safest you can buy!
I also have the Airowear Outlyne and like it a lot. Comes in several sizes.
Third for the Airowear!
Pop over to the eventing forum, we have lots of threads on vests over there 
[QUOTE=canadianbacon;7706451]
Third for the Airowear!
Pop over to the eventing forum, we have lots of threads on vests over there :)[/QUOTE]
I looked, but all the threads about air vests that I found are a couple years old and I think they’ve come out with new styles and features since then. Figured I’d target a wider audience
I don’t think, unless you are running big CC courses that a regular and air vest are necessary. I’ve hit the dirt (and rails!) three times since beginning to wear a vest every ride. The body covered by the vest has remained unhurt in each fall. Perhaps both vests would be overkill? A regular vest would be sufficient given your criteria in you original post. Most of our local eventers don’t run with air vests.
I have a Woof Wear Ergo which took some getting used to but now I love. I have big shoulders and a big chest and it fits well despite that. It is almost too long down my spine as I have a short back but that is my only complaint.
[QUOTE=Calvincrowe;7706494]
I don’t think, unless you are running big CC courses that a regular and air vest are necessary. I’ve hit the dirt (and rails!) three times since beginning to wear a vest every ride. The body covered by the vest has remained unhurt in each fall. Perhaps both vests would be overkill? A regular vest would be sufficient given your criteria in you original post. Most of our local eventers don’t run with air vests.[/QUOTE]
I want the added neck and tailbone/pelvis protection from an air vest as well as what a regular vest will give me.
Sounds reasonable. Go with the under vest that fits best, offers you ease of movement and protection then. Is there a tack store near you that has an array of them to try on? Smartpak offers shipping to/from…but if your vest ships direct like the Airowear, then the free shipping thing doesn’t work.
I’m not sure, I haven’t seen a tack shop here with a wide selection of vests, but I’ll try Wise Choice again. I know they have used air vests on consignment, but I want the air vest with the largest area protected, so I’m not sure which model that would be. The Airowear looks really comfortable and Dover has it in stock, so may just bite it and do shipping to and from them. Any other vest recommendations for tall women?
It sounds like you might have a long torso. If so, examine the size charts for Airowear carefully. I adore my Airowear Outlyne, but the off-the-rack “regular” size tends to be pretty short in the back. They do have long and extra-long versions, though, so you might be okay.
Some folks are also really nuts about the Kan Teq vest. They’re hard to put your hands on in the US. I think deltawave has one…?
http://www.kanteq.com/
If you don’t mind the segmented vests, ain’t nothin’ wrong with another Tipp Eventer. Lots of people still use them.
The Kan looks perfect. I really like the idea that the foam does not permanently compress. Are there any American dealers?
I have a Racesafe. I got it from a tack shop in the UK because they had many more sizes and options than Dover, or whoever carries it in the US. I like it a lot.
Any opinions on Point Two vs Hit Air? I don’t see a lot of updated reviews on either one.
Eventer in: I will not put an air vest on for the reasons discussed in the eventing forum. There’s some excellent reading there, we are lucky to have regular members including a cardiac surgeon and a spinal researcher who also has designed and conducted several indepth USEA equine health studies, along with our share of trauma doctors, nurses, and regular old science geeks like me.
I’ll put aside some fallacies that persist about vests:
(1) NOTHING will protect your neck or collarbones. The vast majority of injuries to those bones are a result of axial loading, i.e. landing on your head or shoulder and jamming force through the bones. You do NOT want, particularly your neck, held rigid when this happens – the spine bending releases the energy of impact, which I much prefer to my vertebrae exploding.
(2) When you’re hot, you’re hot. But a quality vest quickly molds to your body once the foam warms and you really do forget it’s there. I have a Rodney Powell and I LURRRRVE it. And it’s been, erm, field-tested, heh.
(3) Just like a helmet, thick foam is good. That is more material to absorb and dissipate impact before it gets to, say, your organs. Air does NOT dissipate force, instead it will just transmit that force to your body.
(4) Foam can’t fail. We like that. No moving parts = guaranteed to work the way it’s supposed to every time. No scaring your horse, no accidentally tying you to your bolting horse, and it doesn’t cost you money every time you “engage” it.
(5) I have a funny shaped body. If you do, custom is worth every penny. When you first put it on, you SHOULD almost feel like you can’t breathe, but within 90 seconds, it will soften.
(6) I had the good fortune to meet, chat for quite a while with, and review the study data of the woman who owns and designed the Kan vest. I also tried one on. LOVED. If I didn’t already have my beloved RP, I’d go get one now!
I will stop now, LOL, but no, there have not been any significant changes in vest technology or design in the past two years or so since whenever our last debate thread was, heh!
It’s been a little while since I’ve wandered into Wise Choice, but if I remember correctly, the only new vests they carry are tipp eventers. There’s usually other brands for sale on consignment though.
[QUOTE=Candle;7707068]
The Kan looks perfect. I really like the idea that the foam does not permanently compress. Are there any American dealers?[/QUOTE]
I have a Kanteq and love it. They’re all custom, so any retail store that carries them is going to have one in the store for you to feel, but then they’re going to have to measure you. I ordered mine direct without ever seeing one in person, and it fit perfectly when I received it.
Rode in a Kan, an Outlyne, and a Charles Owens. Am also an athletically built, chesty girl… LOVE the Outlyne. Hated the other 2 - very restrictive and heavy.
