Impact vests - ie do they work to stop bruised or broken ribs - or are they just to protect the ego!
Are they all the same or are some more effective than others? OK so you ask to define "effective"? - protect from impacts??
Seems a few of us have been 'having a bit a go' over the past week and more than a couple of us are now sporting bruised or broken ribs.
So how to prevent the 'learning' injuries ?? obviously dont do it - doh!!
Do impact vest have any value?
I bought a O'Neill Gooru padded kite vest after a painful belly flop in VERY shallow water. I like it: it's super flexible and you barely feel it, it helps to stay warm in winter and no broken ribs so far.
yes
they help if you get one with the padding on the sides as well as the front/back,
most do not have the pads on the sides which is where you really need them
Hey G, I would look into using a seat harness for a while to keep the bar away from your ribs, the impact vests do help for sure and keep you warm.
I got myself one of these to protect my lady lumps and thus far can't complain.
I don't wear it all the time, but when it's 22knts plus I find that it protects my body from those harder falls.
Kitepower stocks them if you are interested.
Yes, definitely worth it. I wear one all the time and have been very glad to have it on during the occasional hard landing. I use an NPX. It has side protection too. Partial zip makes it easyish to get off. It does slow the harness riding up but doesn't actually prevent this happening. Kite lower would help with that, or a seat harness
Yeah, +1 for impact vests. I have one of these NPX impact vests.
Get one that's designed for Kiteboarding, my last life vest thing wasn't and it would always ride up under the chin... more harm than good.
They also give you a bit of extra buoyancy so if you end up ditching the kite due to lack of wind/skill, it allows you to concentrate on relaunching rather than surviving.
+1 for the NPX impact vest,
Being a Kite noob, I also picked up a pair of flying objects board shorts with a wetsuit insert - really helps with the walk of shame if you know what I mean :)
I really only wear mine for the buoyancy. There's been more than one occasion when i've crashed my kite badly and had it invert in deep water. If I wasn't wearing the vest I probably would have had to ditch my kite as I don't think i'd be able to save it while trying to tread water at the same time.
Would the vest help stop a waist harness from rising up your chest? If so, definitely another reason to get one =). Ride low, go faster.
i have jet pilot impact vest + seat harness..
annoying as f****K!!! cause it rides up and then u end up having choking issues.
Nearly every wakeboarder uses an impact vest.
Really immature that people degrade others for protecting themselves from injury. I used to Downhill MTB, We all wore as much Armour as possible.
If i'm trying new stuff i wear an imapct vest, and in the surf for bouyancy also. The North/ Ion one is crap.
I am nursing three fractured and one clean broken rib right now after a hard hit kiting at Avalon last week. Having read through all of the above posts I am certain therre are more out there that have something positive to add. Am really interested in hearing some reviews of those that have tried a few models of impact vests or have something that really fits well, doesn't ride up and has the side protection. I have looked at the online reviews but it seems to be verbatim of the advertising briefs.
I am a bigger guy at 6'5, 100kgs and admit that I wear a seat harness.
Any feedback would be appreciated. Also any info on stores that stock a bit of range in Perth would be handy.
Simon
Hi ya Simon - Ouch - just don't sneeze, cough, laugh, or move much in my experience ! good luck with your recovery!
I haven't bought a vest yet as I don't have a shop within 250k's so waiting to get a chance to head to the big smoke to try a few out.
I'm still very keen to grab the right one - meaning : fits properly, has the side padding mentioned by the knowledgeable and is compatible with my waist harness. Im expecting that, like a harness, its quite a personal thing to get the one that fits and protects.
So as you said - more comments from those with impact vest experience 'pros and cons' would be good to hear from!
I have used an impact vest for 3 years now and they do cusion your impact,but there was one time on a 35 knot gust on my 10 meter boosting to the clouds .I lost balance and landed sideways and the harness pushed up into my ribs as my back bent sideways! .I was completly and utterly winded and could not move for about 5 minutes.The impact vest didnt save me from injury ,but one thing it did save me from is drowning because it is also buoyant !.I also like them for when I get smashed by a wave and instead of going under wondering what the hell your kite is doing?You pop straight back up to the surface quicker than you can click your fingers abling to use the kite to get out of the danger zone.
As for my crash a smaller lower profile harness would be on my next consideration for a injury preventing gear!
I broke a rib a lot of years ago kiting and have used one ever since. I had one with a camelback built in, was great to be able to stop and have a drink when I was out for longer sessions.
I have a different one now and still managed to injure a rib in a big stack. But I'm guessing it would have been much worse without it.
For me it's just a habitual part of the kit, like my harness. Makes the harness more comfy too.
I couldn't give a rat's knob if some toolie thinks I look soft wearing one. I wouldn't even be angry if he said it to my face. I'm not out there to look cool and I think anyone who cares is a bit pathetic. I'm not out there to impress other kiters or the peanut gallery. I want to be safe, have fun, mow the lawn, boost big, not annoy anyone else on the water, that's it.
Diamond and Kite Boy, what are you guys using now? It's been 10 days of slow movements and interrupted sleep and I want to reduce risk of this happening again. Definitely going to get one.
The flotation point is a good one. Was winded the day it happened, kite down in the surf zone with my head pointed towards the bottom. Yeh, went deep. First time I have really been held down. Kite usually pulls you up pretty quick. Felt the next wave roll over me and was more concerned for my kite than myself. Popping back up quickly would be a real positive.
Gonna let em heal for a few weeks before heading to Perth to check out a couple of shops. It's hard enough putting a t-shirt on right now let alone trying to put on a snug fitting vest......
I bought a npx vest ..not to bulky...just enough boyancy I've had it for 3 years.looks like it will last another 3.
)
Yeah LambChops dude
I wear the above wakeboarding vest when goin Nuclear in Storm squalls n chuckn megaloops of 4m waves... and yes combined with a kyake helmet - stops you from getting knocked out and winded if the Lip catches the edge before bustin out
It has the thicker softer foam padding that has a bit of give rather than just a skinny arse pad
When youve got your tricks down - then take it off and go 'padding WTF HTFU guys
go to a ski/wake shop - Im sure youll find something for them big hits
Well i don't use an impact vest. i am either so insanely good that i don't need one or stupidly lazy because i can't be bothered buying one.
Either way I enjoy a good fejoa smoothie.