I’m considering buying an air vest but would like to try on several and talk to someone who is knowledgeable about them first. Is there anyone like Ride Equisafe or similar on the West Coast? I’m based in San Diego. I talked to a few vendors at a recent show but all of them seemed to only have the Helite vest. It seems like there are other options and would like to explore them before making a decision.
Maybe at the AECs at Galway in August?
I feel your pain! I tried long distance fitting and ended up with a vest that didn’t fit properly, despite measuring and talking out my needs, body, and riding. Used vests are impossible to sell seemingly. As an adult, with an adult sized body (size 12), finding things to fit our “not a tiny teen body type” is very hard.
I can tell you that the Seaver models all run long, if that is any help. If you have a normal/short torso, they won’t fit. I’m based in the PDX area, and we have one choice for stores to try on in, and they don’t seem capable of keeping sizes larger than S or M in store for fitting. Sigh…
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My first attempted vest purchase was at a local (Los Angeles area) tack store. I was looking at the vests and asked for help but was ignored. Possible mature adult prejudice? So I gave up and contacted Katherine at Ride Equisafe.
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Same as @Peggy my in person Dover air vest buying experience was less than great. And I called Ride Equisafe and get all the info I needed. So I bought from them.
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That’s good to know. Did you feel that you ended up with the right vest through Ride Equisafe even though it was a virtual fitting?
Yes. And, although an in-person fitting with them would have been even better, I felt that the level of expertise from them was better than in-person from someone with less.
I also bought through ride equisafe. They sent me three options and allowed me to return (admittedly it was a tight timeline) what didn’t fit.
We did photos, video, and measurement. I’m sure in person would have been quicker but I ended up with exactly the right fitting vest.
Some vests these days are designed to be form-fitting to be most effective; others intentionally sit very loose. It’s a lot of personal preference/body shape that influences what will work best for you.
@Calvincrowe, on the Seaver models, they do run long in the torso. I’m 5’9" and have had both an XS and S in the Seaver vests and they crumple up on the back because my torso is on the shorter side, at least for my height. I can say from my personal experience of trying a couple brands on that I quite liked the Helite vest and I think it fit my shorter torso better than the Seaver, but at least in looks the Helite and Seaver are quite similar. Not really to do with fit, but with the actual vest - I have also ridden in one of the vests that is “more open” like big gaps between the airbags and less of a traditional vest look and wasn’t a fan. I’m based in NorCal and often ask Ashley at the Equestrian’s Concierge (at Sonoma Horse Park) for input on fit and function. I have bought both of my vests from her and she has been amazing. @WombatCA I would recommend figuring out which models you like and then narrowing it down from there, like try on the ones that you can find in person and figure out which ones you supper don’t like and go from there. I would definitely recommend getting and air vest though, helps a TON in the inevitable accidents that we all have. Also a PSA - just from experience, if you show with an air vest make sure you tie your number on with stretchy string- I came off one time at a show and the non stretchy string did not break- quite a painful experience when the vest explodes inwards because of the string stopping it.
What about Dover in Lake Forest? You can also purchase through the Dover catalog and they will check fit if you bring it in with tags on.
