Iberosattel® > Riding Accessories > Airbag Vests

Riding makes people happy. But it's easy to forget that this happiness doesn't come entirely without risk. Every year, tens of thousands of riding accidents happen in Germany, and unfortunately they often lead to serious injuries. For women, riding is even the sport with the most accident victims.

Typical consequences of serious riding accidents include head trauma, shoulder and rib fractures, as well as injuries to the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine – with paralysis as the worst-case scenario. Fortunately, there is now riding equipment that can prevent such injuries in many cases.
 
Everyone probably knows that a riding helmet should (really) go without saying. The German Spine Society also recommends that riders wear an airbag vest. Airbag vests have been used in equestrian sport since 1999, and they are so worthwhile, work so well and are so comfortable to wear – unlike the often bulky and restrictive safety vests – that they can genuinely be recommended to every rider without reservation (and especially to children and young people!).

Because the safety of our customers is very important to us, the Iberosattel® online shop also offers Helite airbag riding vests. The French company has been active in airbag technology for over 20 years and is today one of the world’s leading manufacturers of airbag systems for motorcyclists, equestrians and cyclists.

In a fall from a horse, it takes on average 200 milliseconds for the rider to hit the ground. When triggered, the airbag vest inflates into a firm cushion within 80 to 100 milliseconds – so the wearer lands as if on a thick air mattress. Depending on size and model, Helite vests offer a protective volume of 14 to 28 litres. The gas used to inflate the airbag comes from a surprisingly small CO2 cartridge stored in a front pocket of the vest.
 
The airbag protects the cervical spine and stabilises the head, prevents twisting of the upper body, protects the collarbone, the entire back, the ribcage, the abdominal organs, the pelvis and the tailbone from injury even in the most serious accidents. There is even a video on YouTube showing a show jumper coming through a dramatic fall, in which he ended up underneath the horse, completely unharmed thanks to his airbag vest.
 
The vest’s ripcord is hooked onto the saddle and triggers the inflation mechanism if the rider moves away from the horse during a fall. Ideally, you unhook the ripcord before dismounting normally. Accidental triggering of the airbag is very unlikely, however, since the ripcord only responds to a somewhat greater force. This outstandingly reliable mechanical system contains no electronics, needs no power, and therefore requires no maintenance.

In the Iberosattel® shop you'll find the Helite Airjacket – a functional airbag vest with adjustable buckles whose fit can be individually adjusted to perfection – and the fitted Helite Zip’In 2.0 with a zip. The latter also wins over riders who are less willing to compromise on style for the sake of safety, thanks to its fully tournament-ready look.
 
And by the way: Helite airbag vests come with a free 4-year warranty and, unlike the airbag helmets currently available for cyclists, for example, can be reactivated an unlimited number of times after triggering. All you need to do is remount the ripcord and replace the CO2 cartridge.