I have the Rodney Powell. I ordered it from VTO Saddlery. I love it. They come in tons of colors and have better safety ratings that the Tipperarys. For me, I'm an odd shape and I liked that I could get a custom size from RP without the extra charges like Tipperary.
Whichever vest you choose - please get one that has the stamp and approval on it from ASTM and meets BETA Level 3 standards of safety.
Tipperary's ARE NOT stamped and appoved by ASTM and DO NOT meet even the minimal level requirements of safety.
I have the Flex Rider vest. It is the cheapest on the market, but has the stamp of approval on it. The vest is approved by ASTM and meets BETA level 3 requirements of safety and protection - without breaking the bank to buy it.
I bought mine used, and it does its job well. I paid $50 for mine in total from a fellow Eventer who decided to merge into a different sport where vests were not required. I've had mine for 3 years and I love it and wont be out on the CC course without it.
You don't need an expensive vest to be protected out on the CC course - you just need one that meets ASTM requirements of safety and protection, that meets BETA Level 3 standards.
I just got my Rodney Powell today. I haven't had time to ride in it, but it does seem to fit well thanks to the custom sizing. It's got lots of tail bone coverage which is important to me.
I just got my Rodney Powell today. I haven't had time to ride in it, but it does seem to fit well thanks to the custom sizing. It's got lots of tail bone coverage which is important to me.
I have the Rodney Powell. I ordered it from VTO Saddlery. I love it. They come in tons of colors and have better safety ratings that the Tipperarys. For me, I'm an odd shape and I liked that I could get a custom size from RP without the extra charges like Tipperary.
Sorry for asking, but... Does it feel like cardboard too? (like Flex Rider and Charles Owen, very stiff and no movement). I'd love to try one, but shops around don't carry it and I'm kinda afraid to order.
I agree on Tipperary - lots of money for something, which doesn't look like a good protection even...
Just a suggestion. The outlyne vest by aerowear. Dover has it I know. Little more than rodney powell but in my opinion so much better and definitely worth it. Especially if your going to use it alot. Its much more flexible and fits to your body better. Also made for women. All other vests make me feel like im in a turtle shell and can't move, except this one.
Its not THAT flexible. At first it feels alot like the charles owen and rodney powell, but its just.. less bulky and forms to you better. Especially since its designed for women. It's certified to the same levels as rodney powell and charles owens. There all about the same. It is nothing like tipperary. I got a tipperary about 6 years ago and wondered how the heck it protected anything, and now I know that it doesn't!
I've ridden in a charles owen before and it just got in the way. I forget I'm wearing my aerowear.
So which one out of these two are better? I am confused on the difference really and if the cheaper one will work just the same I will go with that one.
Nordic, I highly suggest you go to a tack store where they sell Eventing Vests and try them all on.
There are many who have the Rodney Powell and the Charles Owen who say they love them and cannot feel the bulk. I ride in my Flex Rider and I have NO ISSUES what-so-ever with how it feels - where others say they are too stiff.
So, YOU need to go and try them all on, because when 1 person says "such n such" vest is too stiff and bulky, and then says "such n such" vest is not, while others will disagree - each opinion is different and each feel and experience differs from person to person - so, go try on all the vests you possibly can, and you decipher yourself as to what vest will work for you.
I see pretty much the majoriy of eventers in my area wearing either Rodney Powell Vests *the norm now* or the Flex Rider like what I have. There are still a few Tipperaries, which is fine - because you need to go with what works best for you.
I have NOT seen this new Aerowear one anywhere.
But again - you need to try on the vests yourself and make your own decision as to what feels best or not.
NThere are many who have the Rodney Powell and the Charles Owen who say they love them and cannot feel the bulk. I ride in my Flex Rider and I have NO ISSUES what-so-ever with how it feels - where others say they are too stiff.
I actually tried both - Flex Rider and Charles Owen in local Dover and to me they felt exactly the same stiffness-wise. I bet Rodney Powell feels that way too. So personally out of them 2 I'd go with Flex Rider myself (which is more cheap).
alrightt.. i have the tiperary eventer and i know its not certified so i wont reccomentd it, but i will reccoment one like it, thats cheaper. i reallyyy feel like those "bull rider" type of style vests really hinder your movement on the horse and are not comfy at alll. so instead i would really reccomend: Dover Saddlery | Intec® Cushioned Protective Riding Vest.
its got the free movement style of the tiperary, but its certified. i have friends who have this and love it. i also have a friend witht he ovation bull rider type and it really restricts her movement and kills her in the summertime when its hot. hope this helps!!
MIEventer, I live in an area that is not horse oriented at all, there are two tack shops near me and neither one even carry body protectors at all so trying them on just isn't an option for me. If I had the option to do that I would but I mainly have to rely on what others say and use their advice to influence my decision.
I am really leaning towards the flex rider cause it is cheaper. It isn't a huge deal I don't think any vest will make it impossible to ride. I just wanted to see what everyone else likes.
I tried on my new Rodney Powell today. Gotta say I do see the turtle shell reference there. It's not uncomfortable, but it does have that one piece feel to it.
alrightt.. i have the tiperary eventer and i know its not certified so i wont reccomentd it, but i will reccoment one like it, thats cheaper. i reallyyy feel like those "bull rider" type of style vests really hinder your movement on the horse and are not comfy at alll. so instead i would really reccomend: Dover Saddlery | Intec® Cushioned Protective Riding Vest.
its got the free movement style of the tiperary, but its certified. i have friends who have this and love it. i also have a friend witht he ovation bull rider type and it really restricts her movement and kills her in the summertime when its hot. hope this helps!!
This vest is not certified either, nor does it meet ASTM standards of safety, nor does it even meet BETA Level 3 standards either - because it is just like how the tipperary is made.
To be honest, would you wrather have a vest that is light and "cool" in the summer and "comfortable" that doesn't meet any standards of protection - or have a vest on that isn't as comfortable, but does its' job when your horse has a rotational fall and crashes ontop of you?
I pick a vest that does its' job and passed all the testing, to aid in protecting my body incase of a rotational fall which easily happens at lower levels, or when I flip off my horse and smash into a fence.
Would you wrather be comfortable? Or properly protected?
Yeah I saw that it wasn't certified as well MIEventer, I am going to go ahead and go with the Flex Rider, I like and it is a nice price for the certifications that it has.
actually i have fallen XC while wearing my tiperary eventer and been trampled on and it protected me just fine because i came out of both of those with no injuries (besides a cracked elbow, but that dosnt even relate to the eventer) when i could have had countless broken ribs mabye even a spinal injury (the horse stepped right square in the middle of my spine). so even though it isint certified, it certainly does its job for me. and sorry about that, i didnt know the intec wasnt certified, a frind told me they bought that one instead of the tiperary because it was "certified". apparently not :P
It's ok - you can use whatever vest you want Your body, your horse, your money, your choice.
Any vest that has those indavidual panels, are not certified, regardless if it is a Tipperary or an Intec or etc, etc. Because of the panels, when you hit a solid object with them, they give - where a vest that does not have those indavidual palens, do not give on impact.
That's why they don't pass the safety tests put on them. Also the ties on the side, will not protect your ribs incase if you hit a fence in those area's, or get stepped on.
I watched a rider at Novice, I think it was.... who flipped head first off of her horse right into the fence, and hit it on her side. Her ribs were broken. Another got stepped on by her horse on her chest, broken ribs.
Yeah just by personal preference I won't wear a vest that isn't certified. Others can wear them if they please and I am sure they work wel enough, I just like to have that certification on them for extra reassurance :]
Sorry...just now seeing this. Someone asked awhile back about my Rodney Powell and whether or not it feels like cardboard. Cardboard, no because to me, cardboard is flimsy! :lol:
It's stiff. But once you wear it awhile, your body heat begins to mold the foam to your shape. When I first put it on, I feel like I can't breathe. I've lost quite a bit of weight, so I may need to order a new size. But they are slightly adjustable as they fasten from the size.
Those Tipperarys are comfy, but they feel (to me) like you're not wearing anything. What's the point in that?
Has anyone ever used the ergo zip body protector? You can check it out on Dover's site. Looks kind of nice and it's certified. Like someone else said before, I really don't have the luxury of trying on vests so I'd like to get some people's opinions before I break out the cash and buy myself a new vest
They don't carry it in our local Dover, so it's probably only sold on-line (like Airowear, another one from Dover). I bet it feels like Flex-Rider and CO - stiff.
I think that Woof Vest looks nice, comfortable and it does its' job - which is properly protect you, unlike Tips and other vets designed in the same manner.
It's not certified through ASTM, but it does meet BETA level 3 standards of safety. I'd wear that vest before I put a Tip on my body.
I say, if you like it and can afford it, go for it I have a Flex Rider and I guarantee you, it's not stiff like others think. I don't even know it is there when I wear it, and I love the fact that the body protector that is on my body, is certfieid and meets beta level 3 standards - the only vests that pass the tests, are the vests that are designed in this manner.
I would far rather have a vest that will do its' job that is "Stiff" while doing this dangerous sport - than a vest that "isn't stiff" that does not meet the protection requirements.
I say, if you like it and can afford it, go for it I have a Flex Rider and I guarantee you, it's not stiff like others think. I don't even know it is there when I wear it, and I love the fact that the body protector that is on my body, is certfieid and meets beta level 3 standards - the only vests that pass the tests, are the vests that are designed in this manner.
Lol! It's IS stiff, MIE. :wink: However much more expensive CO is equally stiff (and in fact I found it even less comfortable than Flex Rider when I tried it). But I'm with you - it's better to be stiff than sorry. And I don't like Tipperaries for that reason despite them being very comfy to wear.
BTW, it sounds somewhat strange that it's "not certified through ASTM, but it does meet BETA level 3 standards of safety". I'd be really happy if Dover would have it there in store to try.
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