Safety vest recommendations.. and other dumb questions

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8273400]
Bit of Britain sells them. Really they are custom. So BoB takes your measurements and they are ordered. I got mine through them (Not been to Rolex yet…but did go to WEG in 2010).

Very good vests. Probably overkill for OP but I can recommend then. I adapted to it pretty quick coming from a Tipp. Definitely a large step up in protection.[/QUOTE]

There’s nothing on the BOB website to indicate that they sell these. Nor am I close enough to go get measured for one. So are they the only place in the US that sells them?

After taking a month and a half to refund me for the last item I returned within their absurdly brief 15 day return period, I won’t shop with them. Their prices are also ridiculous. Full MSRP on literally everything.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

I think you can order them directly. They are not mass produced. They can walk you through all the measurements.

I can look up the contact information.

eta. Yes looks like you can order online directly. After you place the order, they will email or call you to get the remaining measurements. It can also be adjusted a bit after you get it.

[ksbadger]

The British owner of Kanteq (she wouldn’t like to be called English coming from Northern Ireland) has been at all the recent USEA Annual Meetings and will help with choices & fitting. The vest was derived from UK Army research on how to fit body armour to female soldiers and is actually made by the manufacturer of the premiere motorcycle protection.

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=ksbadger;8275477]
The British owner of Kanteq (she wouldn’t like to be called English coming from Northern Ireland) has been at all the recent USEA Annual Meetings and will help with choices & fitting. The vest was derived from UK Army research on how to fit body armour to female soldiers and is actually made by the manufacturer of the premiere motorcycle protection.[/QUOTE]

All of that is exactly meaningless if you have to pay $$ to ship a vest back and forth to try it on because there’s nowhere to buy them from, and that’s way too much to spend on a vest you haven’t even tried on that is supposed to be custom fitted.

Also really big bummer they only seem to come in 2 colors for your $500 investment.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=soloudinhere;8275586]
All of that is exactly meaningless if you have to pay $$ to ship a vest back and forth to try it on because there’s nowhere to buy them from, and that’s way too much to spend on a vest you haven’t even tried on that is supposed to be custom fitted.

Also really big bummer they only seem to come in 2 colors for your $500 investment.[/QUOTE]

Well mine didn’t need any adjustments and I don’t know anyone whose did so cannot speak to that. As to the colors…I just didn’t care. My vest is typically covered by the pinny when competing. This vest is so much better and safer than anything else I’ve tried, I decided the color really didn’t matter too me. But that is just a personal choice. I get not dropping that kind of money on something you haven’t tried or seen in person. I will say that it took me riding in mine before I really liked it.

[Divine_Comedy]

For all of you going with the Tipp over certified vests, you may want to reconsider. The BOG of USEA is seriously considering a rule change proposal that would require vests to be ASTM or BETA certified.

And full disclosure, I love my Tipp, have been riding in it for ten years, and would need to buy a new vest as well. Just wanted to give the forums a heads up that this seems to be happening.

[asterix]

So you guys have gotten me really interested in this vest - I have a comfy Casel Equi that is old enough that I should replace it…but from their website it looks as though they are in a dispute with BETA. Are they ASTM certified? I wouldn’t want to buy a new one only to have it ruled illegal if the rule change cited above goes through…

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=asterix;8276200]
So you guys have gotten me really interested in this vest - I have a comfy Casel Equi that is old enough that I should replace it…but from their website it looks as though they are in a dispute with BETA. Are they ASTM certified? I wouldn’t want to buy a new one only to have it ruled illegal if the rule change cited above goes through…[/QUOTE]

They would be fine for the new Rule as they are level 3 BETA for 2000 approved.
I actually agree with their dispute with BETA and actually think we should suggest that if the USEA adopts this new rule, it should expand the definition of approved vests to include the EU standard (not just BETA)…

[LadyBug]

[QUOTE=soloudinhere;8275586]
All of that is exactly meaningless if you have to pay $$ to ship a vest back and forth to try it on because there’s nowhere to buy them from, and that’s way too much to spend on a vest you haven’t even tried on that is supposed to be custom fitted.

Also really big bummer they only seem to come in 2 colors for your $500 investment.[/QUOTE]

I have a Kanteq vest that I LOVE. It does feel heavy when you pick it up, but I’ve never felt as though it has restricted me while riding. I also don’t mind wearing it even on the hottest days. I ordered mine directly even though I’m close enough to BOB that I could have stopped in there. I had a lengthy discussion with the owner over the phone, sent the measurements that she needed, and the vest fit perfectly when it arrived.

Yes, it would be nice if it came in more colors, but I’ll choose boring black and being protected over a million custom color options on a vest with lower safety ratings or features.

[asterix]

[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8276272]
They would be fine for the new Rule as they are level 3 BETA for 2000 approved.
I actually agree with their dispute with BETA and actually think we should suggest that if the USEA adopts this new rule, it should expand the definition of approved vests to include the EU standard (not just BETA)…[/QUOTE]

So I asked my coach about this very issue (the rule change calls BETA the European standard, but it is not). She said she’d bring it up at Richland with the, er, PTB on hand. If we can just get them to switch wording to EN rather than BETA.

I’m convinced anyway; coach sees more falls and talks to more riders than anyone I know (as a TD and frequent POGJ) and she agreed it was a great choice.

I will contact them and see if they are coming to the Annual Meeting; I live about 5 miles from the hotel so I could actually go this year

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=LadyBug;8276376]
I have a Kanteq vest that I LOVE. It does feel heavy when you pick it up, but I’ve never felt as though it has restricted me while riding. I also don’t mind wearing it even on the hottest days. I ordered mine directly even though I’m close enough to BOB that I could have stopped in there. I had a lengthy discussion with the owner over the phone, sent the measurements that she needed, and the vest fit perfectly when it arrived.

Yes, it would be nice if it came in more colors, but I’ll choose boring black and being protected over a million custom color options on a vest with lower safety ratings or features.[/QUOTE]

You can buy both airowear and charles owen in multiple color combinations, so it doesn’t have to be a choice, unless you’re talking about comfort - though I’m already turned off as heavier is exactly what I don’t want. I already feel like I’m suffocating wearing a vest.

I think for that kind of money you should at least get the option of not having pink or orange piping if those aren’t your colors. Custom is custom. But that’s me.

The 3015 tipperary is ASTM approved, so would still meet the rule. I think KAN needs to do a much better job of marketing their vests because I’m really not going to order something via email, overseas, without even trying it on.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=soloudinhere;8276420]
You can buy both airowear and charles owen in multiple color combinations, so it doesn’t have to be a choice, unless you’re talking about comfort - though I’m already turned off as heavier is exactly what I don’t want. I already feel like I’m suffocating wearing a vest.

I think for that kind of money you should at least get the option of not having pink or orange piping if those aren’t your colors. Custom is custom. But that’s me.

The 3015 tipperary is ASTM approved, so would still meet the rule. I think KAN needs to do a much better job of marketing their vests because I’m really not going to order something via email, overseas, without even trying it on.[/QUOTE]

It feels heavier until you have it on. That is the difference…I hardly notice it at all once I have had it on and do not think about it at all when riding. I felt far more uncomfortable in the airowear and CO. On…the vest is VERY different.

Again…personal choice. If color is important to you…it is important to you. And I get not wanting to buy without trying. Just noting that do not let the weight turn you off. If you just pick it up…yes, it will feel heavier than a lot of vests…but it doesn’t feel as suffocating as most vests once you have it on.

[GutsNGlory]

[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8276453]
It feels heavier until you have it on. That is the difference…I hardly notice it at all once I have had it on and do not think about it at all when riding. I felt far more uncomfortable in the airowear and CO. On…the vest is VERY different.

Again…personal choice. If color is important to you…it is important to you. And I get not wanting to buy without trying. Just noting that do not let the weight turn you off. If you just pick it up…yes, it will feel heavier than a lot of vests…but it doesn’t feel as suffocating as most vests once you have it on.[/QUOTE]

Exactly my experience! I wore the old style Tipp for years and decided this year I needed to upgrade to something with better protection (but not an air vest for personal reasons). My main goal at Rolex this year was to try on everything. And I DID. I tried on the new Tipp (okay, but definitely fits different than the old style and had issues at the armpit/shoulder area), the Airowear (didn’t come long enough, put pressure on my collarbone that was uncomfortable, and felt too spacey around my ribs once it fit my chest), and the CO (just… totally uncomforable for me)… and then the Kan. The Kan was a clear winner. Wendy measured and cut it for me and it fits perfect. Yes, it feels heavy when carrying it and is a little bulkier in my trailer closet… but it is super comfortable on and I don’t notice the weight at all. Not to mention I’ve never gotten hot in it - even during some pretty warm events this summer (including a classic format and a hunter pace during high heat/humidity)!

My ONE complaint to Wendy when I bought it was the red stripes because there is no other piping option. But, I quickly got over that and bought it anyway because it was the best fitting and, IMHO, the safest option FOR ME. Most of the piping is covered up by the pinney during competitions anyway.

Now, it still may not be the option that is best for everyone… but for me, this is the best vest and worth every penny as an investment (even if it doesn’t match my ‘colors’).

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=GutsNGlory;8276484]

Now, it still may not be the option that is best for everyone… but for me, this is the best vest and worth every penny as an investment (even if it doesn’t match my ‘colors’). :D[/QUOTE]

I will totally fess up…I did WISH I had few more color options as red really isn’t my thing either. But I got over it and for me it has worked out fine.

I really do not think too hard about color but sometimes really should…at my last event (an away event) I didn’t pay attention to my packing and ended up in a LOT of blue for xc (my stirrups/pad are blue too). A friend teased me…but he really couldn’t talk as he wears a lot of green

I bought this picture but haven’t gotten it yet—here is the vest in action with a normal…non-pro rider in too much blue http://brantgamma.exposuremanager.com/p/stuberberg_melissa_mb5/mb5c7637_3_180_376

[FirstChance]

Ok… you all have me convinced. I’m thinking I’ll get the tipperary for the moment. Then I’ll head to rolex next year and if I’m still into doing XC I will take the plunge and try on everything there and especially look at the Kantec. I have to colors yet so it’s not big deal! LOL!

[SomedaySoon]

I rode a few times in the old Tipperary and found it very comfortable. I have big boobs and a little waist and I liked the custom fit the side laces provided. However, when I decided to buy I got a Charles Owen b/c I figured at some point certification would be mandatory (which it likely will be in 2016) and they certified Tipp’s hadn’t come out yet. I don’t like my CO very much (hot, bulky and a little too big) and therefore don’t wear it as often as I would have worn the Tipp. For $75 I’d get the Tipp, and if you decide you’re “all in” for eventing, but a certified one later. Or try the LamiCell, since it’s both certified and cheap.

[Painted_Wings]

I got my Kan vest at the USEA meeting in Cinci a couple of years ago. There was also a vendor there with the Charles Owens vest and the Kan was so much more comfortable. I have worn a Tipperary and a Casel Equi in the past but was looking for more protection.