Body Protectors? The Good and the bad????

[Miss MoneyPenny]

Well, I am planning ahead to the summer now, and I hope to be doing a bit more with Penny and our feet might even leave the ground! And as I always wear a body protector for everything, I thought I'd get myself a new one as my first one was 2nd hand, so I might treat myself.

Anyone recommend or slate particular ones? My current one is an airowear 2000, not a zip up one, and I found that okay.

This time though I'd like one that has a front zip so it is easier to get on and off.

Thought about a Cobra one as that is meant to be very flexible....

what do you all think?

[Pink's lady]

I love my Rodney Powell one. It's zip up at the front and comes in so many different sizes (and colours), you basically get it costom made - I have a size 2/long/slim and they come in many different sizes.

They're not very expensive a (about £70-80) and look really smart. It also has a really high level of protection but isn't restrictive.

I've not seen the a cobra one, but I've heard they're really good, but quite expensive.

[Mary Poppins]

I have an Air-O-Wear Zippa (which has a zip at the front). I got it about 3 years ago and it the zip recently broke, but I sent it back to the company and they replaced it and sent it back to me within the week - free of charge. It is so comfy and has completely moulded to my body so I don't feel like I am wearing it.

[varkie]

I have a cobra, and like it very much. While taking a teenager around lately to try them all out, I was very impressed with the Racesafe, and might be tempted by that, should my Cobra need replacing.

[JOJOBA]

Off topic:

My friend and I once found a warning on a body protector which read:
'WARNING - this body protector does not protect against disembowlment, lascerations or decapitation.'

What on earth do they think we're jumping??? No-one EVER told me when I was learning to ride that I was running the risk of getting disembowled! :p

Cant help with your question but Ive been wanting to post about that for ages :D

xxx

[kel]

i dont tend to wear one anless i have to maeaning x-country but i have a rodney powell one in pink and purple(how cool) i always stand out at pony club as ever one elce has blue/black i thouroughly recommend them :p

[Bay Mare]

I've got the Champion Cobra one and it's great.

It's really comfortable after a few minutes and once it's warmed up I completely forget it's there (until I come to dismount and fall on my a@@).

I would definitely get another one.

[horseaholic]

i have a charles & owen one and i find it very stiff and restrictive - it sometimes gives me a sore back. I wouldn't recommend it.

[augermoon]

I originally had a Rodney Powell one which was thrown away after I broke my back when wearing it (no idea as to whether the body protector stopped the injuries from being more severe or whether it actually contributed to them - I should have got rid of it long before as the filling had turned rock hard.) I now have the Racesafe one with the little squares (I think its the 2000) and it is fantastic. It was quite pricey at over £100 but is extremely comfortable and moulds to the shape of your body due to being made of lots of little parts. My instructor swears by them and refuses to wear anything else.

[nutkin]

I'm with Augermoon on this one. I'm about to buy a new one too and I'm going for the hows racesafe one too as having tried a friends it is so comfortable you don't know your wearing it and it allows as much freedom as riding without one. I currently have the airowear riever one and I hate it. I find it very restricting.

[amandal]

I've just come off this weekend and landed on a fence post - brusing my ribs and leaving a lovely impression of the post on my right hand side. I wasn't wearing my bp - it's an aerowear reiver one and although it does get comfortable eventually I don't like riding in it so wasn't wearing it. I'm borrowing a Racesafe one to see if I can ride in it - when I can get back on that is and if I do I'm buying one and will wear it more often.

[eventerbabe]

Rodney Powell are the best. i had mine costom made in my xc colours. it is comfy, non-restrictive and even the shoulder pads are comfy. i had an airowear previously and hated it, wouldn't buy another one.

[sprite]

I have an airowear riever and hate it. I think its too long for my body and apparently it is now available in different lengths, but i wouldn't recommend it. I have stopped wearing it for schooling because i had come to the conclusion that it was making my bad back worse. Still wear it for jumping and hacking but find it uncomfortable and that it causes back ache after long hacks.I had a jumping fall recently and got badly bruised by the bottom of the back protector hitting my pelvis (i'm a bit boney!) and i wasn't impressed! Will be buying a different one when i have some spare cash.

[Colorado Sunset]

Ive just bought a cobra one, havnt ridden in it yet, but its really flexible and comfy whilst trying it on :D

Jo

[canadianbeaver]

I have a charles owen one and actually really like it

[Jojo_82]

I have a jack ellis body protector that I've had since I was 14!! I'm now 22! When I took my tumble with Phi everyone at the hospitol (as they didn't take it off me until my x-rays) was really impressed with it and reckoned my injuries would have been worse without it. I'm not all that convinced though... maybe if I had a newer, tougher one for the sport I was doing, maybe I would have been a little more protected??

I think it's a little bit of a tough subject. Yes, I think they definately help protect you from more minor injuries, but I think if you take a hefty fall/horse fall on you/fall at speed/awkwardly etc, etc, etc, not even a suit of armour will stop you from getting the injuries you are going to get. :rolleyes:

I'm in NO WAY saying don't get one though, coz I do reccomend them and they do protect you, but only to a certain extent.

Anyway, back to the point, I've heard the racesafe ones are great and come highly reccomended for safety.

Jo xx

[hel88]

some maybe good, some maybe bad, but they're all downright ugly!

lol no. i don't wear one unless im XCing. restricts me too much

[tor]

I'm another vote for Rodney Powell - and actually a vote from my Mum as well, as she has a RP BP! :D My current one has lasted me a good few years as has always been incredibly confortable to ride in - certainly hasn't restricted me at all. I'll be getting a new one in the nextg few months as I've had my current one a fair while and in my safety conscience mothers words 'If you're going to be bombing it around cross - country courses on goodness knows what, it'll ease my nerves slightly as a nervous pony club Mother/unpaid groom if I know you're as safe as you can be!!' Bless her :D

[DITZ]

Another thumbs up for the cobra here too!

I think the Racesafe one would also be good. What I like about them is that they are made up of lots of flexible panels which means it is comfy. My last one was a Caldene which had single panels which didnt give much.

I like the look of the cobra too, I think it looks stylish, unlike most.

[Miss MoneyPenny]

Thanks everyone!

I have narrowed it down to a cobra or racesafe rs 2000 - like you say Ditz, they are the most flexible and highest protection.

I'll be off to test and try them all on!

[DITZ]

chech out www.rideaway.co.uk they seem quite reasonable on there, the medium cobra is £114.95

[Jinete789]

Miss Money Penny - when you have done your "market research" please let us know which you prefer, as I am dithering between the racesafe and the cobra - have tried both on but just can't decide.

(currently have an airowear which makes me feel like a slice of bread in a toaster :D )

[Miss MoneyPenny]

Thanks Ditz!

Jin - I will let you know, I have had some luck via Intelligent Horsemanship forum as someone can get the racesafe RS2000 at shop price if that is the one I want. Could let you know more details when I get them if you like?

[Jinete789]

Miss Money Penny do let me know how you get on with the racesafe - as part of me thinks I might be swayed towards the cobra because Pippa Funnell endorses it and she's a munchkin like me :D :D :D

I get my annual bonus in March so am looking forward to the ceremonial dumping of the "toaster" (Reiver) then!