Point Two Air Jacket and the leisure rider-advice

[ba]

Ok, so my point two jacket will be arriving in the next few days. I know that for cross country both an air jacket and body protector need to be worn. But what about the everyday leisure rider? Would you were both or just the air jacket? Also as anything that is worn over the top needs to be very baggy, what is the best high biz to wear? I currently wear a stretchy tabard but this will be too tight now?
All advice greatfully received :-)

[sandy]

Hi, I'm planning on getting one of these jackets and tried one on at HOYS last year. They feel just like an unpadded gilet when on and aren't at all heavy or bulky. I think you could wear a fairly loose fitting hi viz tabard on top perhaps held together with velcro as when the air jacket inflates it does so with quite a lot of force and would, I think, rip velcro open. However its probably best to ask the maufacturers just to be sure as you wouldn't want to compromise the jacket.

[Casper]

I've got a Supavest which was one of the earlier air jackets. I wear it as it is without any other BP underneath it. I have used a loose hi viz over the top but something else you could maybe do is stick hi viz tape on it at strategic places?

Well done on winning it, I love mine, really light and non bulky.

[tobyh]

You MUST wear a body protector with a Point 2 jacket, there has been no testing on air jackets to prove they will save you apart from a few bruises with a soft bed of air to land.

It is not going to save you serious injury in a fall, that is why you must still have your body protector on. They have only CE approval for inflation time, it is only the manufacturers claims that they will save you in the event of x y and z, and hence why BE insist that you have to have a body protector on.

There is a lot of concerns from various organisations (medical and equestrian) over the claims made on the protection these jackets provide, yet the manufactuers are very unwilling to carry out any testing that will prove that the jacket says what it does on the tin.

Stay safe and wear both.

[annas]

I have one and dont wear a BP underneath. When i tried it on in the shop they inflated it so i could feel what it was like. It holds you rigid and to be honest felt more secure than a body protector alone. I am happy to wear it on its own, after all before i got it i hacked out without any protection and it is certainly better than nothing.

For the high viz i have a loose fitting waistcoat (like builders wear) that fastens at the front with a bit of velcro. It is not held tightly and the velcro comes undone very easily so it would not affect the jacket if i fell off.

They may not have done all the testing yet but from what i have read it will certainly do more than save you from a few bruises. They were actually originally designed for motor bikes and the testing by the transport research agency have said it will provide more protection against internal injuries. I am sure there is more protection if you have a body protector as well but i am not convinced that it will do nothing if you wear it on its own.

[ba]

Thanks for all the posts, I tried one on yesterday at Olympia and felt what it was like when inflated. Mine arrived today, i love it.