Air jackets

[harveydales]

Yes, go for the one which fits your body shape best.


Sent from my Nexus 10 using proboards

[jap]

I am now the proud owner of the hit-air jacket.I was fitted up at the Great Yorkshire show and was shown how to wear it and change the cylinder etc.I wore it yesterday and didn't have any problems riding in it.I had quite an audience watching the chap fit it and may well have created a few sales for him, we were all of a certain age, lol.

[dalesnfellfan]

I love my Hit air jacket and have not had any problems riding in it either, it does make me feel more secure, even if its just in the mind, I think when you get to a certain age you can do with all the help you can get.

I did forget to unplug mine once a couple of weeks ago before getting off, but as Em is only about 14hh it didn't go off although the cord was pretty stretched and I was able to unclip it.

[dalesponyrider]

I've bought a fluorescent Hit Air in the end and have ridden in it a couple of times. Dead easy to fit and very comfortable. I like the fact it isn't too long in the body to wear and I don't have to wear a reflective jacket as well.

[dalesnfellfan]

I agonised for ages whether to go for the fluorescent one as I mainly hack but decided to go for navy in the end as I would like to wear it over my tweed jacket if I do any shows or dressage tests next year and didn't think bright yellow would go down very well in the ring.

[dalesnfellfan]

Yesterday I tested my Hit - air air vest, we had just come off a gravel roadway leading to 4 houses and entered a bridle path,just as we disappeared behind the hedge a 4x4 flew up the gravel drive and frightened both ponies. They both shot sideways onto the stubble, we'd just got them back on the track when the car, now just the otherside of the hedge, tore off again over the gravel. This was too much for them and they shot off onto the stubble again, this time she put me off balance and I was unable to turn her and stop her taking off across the field. I came off her at a gallop and I didn't feel the vest inflate but I landed on an air cushion. I hit the ground in exactly the same place as last time (my right shoulder blade) and hardly dare move expecting to have damaged newly repaired bones, but I didn't hurt at all. I went and caught her and after letting some air out got back on and rode home. I did feel vulnerable without it, but she was very well behaved.

I am really impressed that I could get up unhurt from the same sort of fall that put me in hospital just 4 1/2 months ago with no more than a few stiff muscles the next day.

When we got home I noticed that the top right back press stud had not opened and had ripped the stitching instead (the air bag still inflated fully) so this morning I took it to the shop I bought it from, thinking it would probably need to go back to Hit air for a repair, after a phone call to Hit air, the shop replaced the jacket with a new one and threw in 2 new canisters and an extra saddle attachment for no charge for the inconvenience.

Now thats what I call good customer service

[harveydales]

Sorry you had to test your air jacket in that way but glad it saved you another injury. My experience was exactly the same when mine went off a few years ago when Harvey slipped and came down on the road. These air jackets really are worth every penny.

[Fi]

wow - what a way to test it out. So glad it saved you, worth every penny. How brave of you to get back on as well. And am very impressed with the customer service.

[dalesponyrider]

Wow! I'm so glad I've got a Hit Air! What a great recommendation your post is. So sorry you had to test it like this, hope your stiffness eases soon.

[tinkerdorisalison]

So - a couple of weeks ago I fell off Alice on the road.....Ouch......I am very battered and bruised. Was not her fault, I asked her to do something silly, and she did, but slightly faster than I would have liked!

was not wearing my Body Protector

Bought myself a Hit-Air, but was just wondering do any of you wear both BP and Air jacket together or just the Hit Air?

[harveydales]

Oct 25, 2014 11:47:55 GMT -1 tinkerdorisalison said:

So - a couple of weeks ago I fell off Alice on the road.....Ouch......I am very battered and bruised. Was not her fault, I asked her to do something silly, and she did, but slightly faster than I would have liked!

was not wearing my Body Protector

Bought myself a Hit-Air, but was just wondering do any of you wear both BP and Air jacket together or just the Hit Air?

Oh no, Alison, that sounds painful. Wishing you a very speedy recovery and sending gentle hugs.

No one I know wears both together, other than for BE competition where it is compulsory to use a body protector so competitors wear both. You should be fine with just the air jacket and it won't restrict your balance the way a body protector can - well I find this the case.

[kc]

Hello. Hope you get better soon Alison.

I bought a hit air this summer and I have to say I wear both my body protector and air jacket when I am jumping or sometimes on hacks. I am used to wearing the body protector so the addition of the air jacket was barely noticeable. I wore them both at the performance show and to be honest it makes me feel more confident when we are jumping.

I have started to ride sometimes in just the air jacket which is far more comfortable than my back protector. You do however have to remember to attach it to the saddle (which I forget sometimes!) and I have also dismounted in it with it still attached about three times now - but another bonus of having a Dales pony is that because they are not that tall it doesn't set it off.

I don't know what the official line is on whether back protectors on their own or air jackets on their own give more protection. Someone else might know though??

[dalesnfellfan]

Oh bad luck, hope you're feeling a bit better now.

I also wear both a race safe body protector and the hit air jacket, I think it is probably overkill for hacking, but after my accident (when I was wearing a body protector) I don't feel like taking any chances as I haven't completely recovered my confidence yet. I too am used to wearing the body protector so find it no different with the Hit air on top, I have worn the Hit air on it's own a few times when I've ridden Spud or Silver and it does feel much nicer, you do have to remember to adjust the fit though.

I hope by next summer I will feel confident enough to ride with just the air jacket when the weather is hot, all in the mind I know but I find I feel safer with both at the moment. I also find I can dismount from Em without it going off if I forget, but I try not to make a habit of it.

I think the recommendation is to wear both, but most people I know with them just wear the air jackets, I think go with whatever you feel most comfortable with, my experience has shown that an air jacket is an improvement on just a body protector, but it probably also depends on how you fall, they can't protect from every injury.

[shadow jethro]

I am trying to find an air jacket that fits me - tried the Point two on but only the large size was long enough in the back and that absolutely swamped me. I want be able to wear the jacket whenever I ride and can't see myself doing an endurance ride on a hot day with a huge jacket flapping around! Next stop is a local Hit Air supplier, in the hope that , like riding hats, different brands fit differently.

[harveydales]

Apr 4, 2015 16:18:41 GMT -1 shadow jethro said:

I am trying to find an air jacket that fits me - tried the Point two on but only the large size was long enough in the back and that absolutely swamped me. I want be able to wear the jacket whenever I ride and can't see myself doing an endurance ride on a hot day with a huge jacket flapping around! Next stop is a local Hit Air supplier, in the hope that , like riding hats, different brands fit differently.

I think you will find the Hit Air is longer in the back because of the bit that unfolds when it goes off. Fingers crossed.