Air jackets

[harveydales]

I can't comment on the Hit Air but the point 2 deflates within a minute or so without you doing anything to it.

I dismounted once very slowly without unhooking myself and it didn't go off either. When I first got my air jacket, forgetting to unhook myself at the end of a ride was my main concern so I tied some brightly coloured gloves to my trailer as a reminder and also at my mounting block at home. Now remembering to hook up in the first place is more of a problem!

[dalesnfellfan]

When I tried a large size Point 2 yesterday the back was very long coming right to the end of my bottom and I thought I might find I sit on it when in the saddle, I have a light weight jacket which is just the wrong length and it gets caught under my bum in rising trot and is most irritating.

Does anyone with a point 2 have this problem?

[harveydales]

No, I thought the reverse was the case. My very long backed friend found the Point 2 too short for her so went for the hit air. The hit air folds up at the back so may be a better bet for you anyway. My point 2 comes very low but I couldn't sit on it in the saddle. Anyway, when you are ejected from the saddle and it blows up, it wouldn't matter if it was a bit on the long side.
I was told the Hit Air was fiddley to attach but having had a demo from a friend, they seem just as easy as the point 2 once you get the initial lead length right.

[dalesnfellfan]

I think it was long on me because I needed the large size, especially if I am going to wear it over my body protector, and I am not very tall, I have tried my friends small Hit air on which fitted me well without the body protector so I will probably need a medium, and it felt very comfortable so I think I will go and try one and get it fitted properly in a few weeks.

I did think I would wear it on its own but as time is going on I am feeling a bit neurotic about falling off again, so I think I will go for over kill, at least to start with anyway.

[dalesnfellfan]

I have bought a Hit air jacket in navy blue so I can wear it over my blue tweed jacket if I do any shows/dressage etc. The coloured ones are supposed to be more expensive than the black but they had them on a special offer at Badminton for the same price, so she said she'd do it for the show price of £395 also got an extra gas cylinder thrown in.

I have worn it twice now to ride and it seems very comfortable and I have remembered to unclip it both times before dismounting.

[dalesponyrider]

My Dad is talking about getting me one and I just wondered what the advantages and disadvantages are of them inflating inwards or outwards?

[dalesnfellfan]

Apparently the inward inflating ones can wind you when they are inflating, I assume you have to wear them slightly looser to accommodate the bags inflating. It must be safe though as they reach the safety standards.

I didn't fancy them inflating inwards at the moment with partially healed broken bones, also when I was talking to my physio about them he said he didn't like the idea of them inflating inwards.

I did try on the point 2 (inward inflation) and when I asked the lady fitting it what the advantages of inward inflation were, she was unable to give me an answer.

I found the point 2 a bit long on me, the hit air (outward inflating)has both the bottom bit and the neck bags folded up and held with a big press stud so it releases and covers the appropriate bits when it inflates, it has a bigger bag around the neck.

I do think both do a good job and it probably comes down to personal preference, I would certainly recommend taking the time to try both on, even though shops tend to sell one brand or the other not both and decide which one suits you best, take your body protector with you if you normally wear one, or if you are likely to wear one occasionally for some competitions so you can see which is best with and without a body protector also allow for thick winter clothes as unlike a body protector the air vest must be on the outside of any other garments. I was told that a loose hi-viz vest could be worn over it preferable with elastic sides with the slack in the elastic tightened with a loop secured with an elastic band or similar so it just pops off when the air vest inflates so it can inflate fully.

[dalesponyrider]

I have emailed both companies and have received this reply from point 2



Thank you for your email. The inwards and outwards inflation is a bit of an air jacket urban myth, all air jackets inflate to the area of least resistance i.e. away from the body. Air jackets inflate in the same way as a child’s armband would when blown up for a swimming pool.

[harveydales]

Well that makes more sense, Linda. I didn't understand how one could inflate inwards and the other outwards when both are floppy both sides. All I can say is my point 2 didn't remotely wind me when it went off. I've seen plenty of people wearing both types and they appear to fit in a similar way. I think it is a matter of trying both and seeing which suits your body shape best.

[cutemangurdi1]

I agree with Pam. I have a Hit Air but that's mainly because I used to have a Hit Air jacket (motorbike version long before they were popular for equestrian use) and therefore familiar with using them. I would wear either and if given another that was Point 2 would be quite happy.

The key thing is the length so you feel comfortable when in the saddle. I've never used mine over my Rodney Powell BP, but in theory, it was bought to fit over it lol.

[dalesponyrider]

Now had a reply from Hir air.....


Thank you for contacting us and I apologise for the delay in responding.


There is a patent on Hit-air vests that allows us to fold our airbags away and to unfold outwarly from the body when the lanyard is triggered.


This means that the vest can be worn neatly over your outer layer or body protector.  We believe this makes the vest more comfortable to wear.  


The vest is easy to adjust when changing layers of clothes.  


Care needs to be taken when adjusting inward inflating models to maintain the required amount of space for the inward inflation.  If worn too tight there is a risk of winding.  If the appropriate room is maintained this doesn't happen but the vest feels bigger as a result.

[dalesponyrider]

Please may I ask, why does one need s body protector as well as an air jacket?

[harveydales]

BE insist on it in case the air bag fails for any reason. For the average rider I really don't think both are needed. I am happy to take the risk my air bag might fail.

[dalesnfellfan]

Body protector is also compulsory for Trec I believe, I think when I am fully healed I will wear my air jacket on it's own but at the moment I'm wearing both, I did try riding without the body protector but my shoulder hurt a lot more, it seems to give my shoulder support at the moment. The air jacket felt really light and comfortable on its own though and a lot cooler in this weather.

I had my injuries despite wearing a body protector, it would be interesting to know whether an air vest would have saved the broken bones had I been wearing one instead. I believe it would have reduced my injuries or I wouldn't have gone to the expense of buying one, but I suppose there is no real way of knowing and even air vests won't prevent every injury.

[dalesponyrider]

Thanks for that, I will just use an air vest and not a body protector.

What do you think of the differing replies from the two companies?

I will probably try both on and see which fits best.