Is a body protector meant to hit the back of your neck at all?

Floppy91

Floppy91

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Feb 10, 2017
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Hi I just bought my first body protector (Harry Hall, Crystal Zeus).
I did not have the option of going to get one fitted because there is not a place like this where I live. I measured myself against their chart thing.

I THINK it fits okay, There are no red bits and I am able to tighten/ loosen it again without red.
I am totally struggling with how tight it should be and where it should sit, particularly in regards to the shoulders. I have big-ish chest (D cup) so maybe this is part of the problem although I tried it on with a sports bra :/

How high up should it sit on the back of your neck? It feels okay when i am sitting down but when I try to practice standing in jumping position the back of it hits me in the back of the neck if I look up (like you would going over a jump?). Surely this cannot be right?
 
doesnt sound right at all. If you dont have anywhere near where you live you might just have to make a day trip to somewhere where you can be fitted.
Having had a fall in a racesafe bp that was too short which resulted in it digging into my back, I’d urge you to take it very seriously.
 
Different bps will fit different body shapes, you really need to get one professionally fitted, ideally where different brands are stocked.
 
Just realised I didn't strap it right enough on one side however it does tighten up a fair bit and is still comfy other than the neck issue!
 
That is dangerous if it is hitting the back of your neck. My first bp was bought from the stall at my first RS. it was run by parents but they fitted all the kids with tabard style bps. When I switched schools the new RI made me get a new one immediately, properly fitted round the neck and shoulders.
She wouldnt let me wear the first one. I realise that it is hard to get too a place where you can be properly fitted but I think you need to discuss the situation with aerowear or some brand that offers many sizes and fittings. A further thing you can do is try on other people's bps. That is what my OH did when he wasnt comfy in the one he bought.
I was again fited with a bp that was too large at Olympia a couple of years ago. You need a properly trained fitter.
A bp absolutely should not ride up and hit your neck or chin.
 
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It looks too big to me and it looks like you could fit a whole hand in between the body protector and your body. They are supposed to be much tighter. The photo of you just standing in it doesn't look too bad, but when you bend you can see how the whole things slips forward and the top straps are no longer on your shoulder. This makes it dangerous to ride in as it could big into your neck in the event of a fall.

When you buy a BP in a shop they get you to sit in an saddle so they can make sure it doesn't touch the bottom of the saddle or move around when you go into jump position etc. I really would send this one back and find a shop where you can try several different makes.

I really want a race safe body protector, but as I have boobs they just don't fit my body shape. I find the size which fits my chest is far too big around the waist and the whole thing rides up. I fit into the airowear or Rodney Powell body protectors fit me so much better. It's pretty good to go to a show like Olympia and go around all the stalls trying on different makes.
 
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Mary Poppins said:
It's pretty good to go to a show like Olympia and go around all the stalls trying on different makes.
Click to expand...
That is what I thought Mary P - but it isnt. It is great to look at all the brands but not for fitting, for a couple of reasons.

The Race safe Tree House stand always has a queue of potential customers, so there is not much time to investigate. If they think nothing will fit you they just turn you away and move on to the next customer, lovely svelte riders who can be fitted in a trice.

And if you turn to a non specialist retailer the young temp staff dont know how to fit bps and persuade you it fits when it doesnt which is what happened to me. If I resign myself to airo wear which not longer fit me as well as they used to and go to our local fitter, she knows all our family and she is very expert in putting them on you and advising exactly which size and length she will order in for you.
Most of my long term boots and clothing came on local advice from local saddlers. The exception is my luxury long boots - at Olympia you can see a great range of expensive boots of different brands and be well fitted.But the company that is excellent at fitting boots may not be as good when it comes to bps?
 
We recently updated daughters BP to comply with new rules for eventing. We were convinced that she wanted a racesafe but fortunately went to a training day at Somerford where they also have Hope Valley Saddery. Two staff took us in hand and after trying about 15 bps found a perfect fit in an extra small, extra long ladies...no not racesafe which did not fit in any configuration! Well worth the 3 hour round trip without the main fun of their arena XC!!

I hate to say but the only brokenbone I have seen in recent years was a child who had accidently put on her big sisters BP and because it was slighly too large actualy broke her collar bone in a minor fall.
 
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eml said:
We recently updated daughters BP to comply with new rules for eventing. We were convinced that she wanted a racesafe but fortunately went to a training day at Somerford where they also have Hope Valley Saddery. Two staff took us in hand and after trying about 15 bps found a perfect fit in an extra small, extra long ladies...no not racesafe which did not fit in any configuration! Well worth the 3 hour round trip without the main fun of their arena XC!!

I hate to say but the only brokenbone I have seen in recent years was a child who had accidently put on her big sisters BP and because it was slighly too large actualy broke her collar bone in a minor fall.
Click to expand...

I went to Hope Valley at Somerford for mine, they are very good I came away with the new racesafe but in a kids size. They also wouldn't sell me a hat because they couldn't get ANY of the ones they stocked to fit. They mainly stock Charles Owen and Gatehouse and I have a tiny head haha!

I'd send it back and go and get fitted for one, maybe you could make it into a day trip and plan to do something else in the area too.
 
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Where are you located in the country? I have two places with people qualified to fit hats and body protectors within 50 miles. Where did you go to get your hat fitted?

It doesn't look at if it fits as others have said. To me you need to sit in a saddle, that's where you need it to fit.
 
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Thank you everyone for all of your help and advice! That BP is getting sent back and will look into getting fitted for one although I'm not sure where I'm going to ask my instructor.
 
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