Description The Helite Airvest Safety Vest is the most common type of Airvest seen in the equestrian market – a great all rounder. The back protector is placed on the inside of an airbag making it 10 times more protective than a standalone level 2 back protector in the event of a fall. The head, neck and spine is stabilised and supported significantly reducing the risk of injury. Key Features CE certified airbag: full inflation in less than 0.094s Inner textile 3D mesh to maintain good air circulation. Removable KNOX EN1621/2 CE certified level 2 back protector. Placed on inside of airbag. Adjustable fastenings. Comfortable, light & allows a full range of body movement. High performance and durable sports fabric. Multi directional triggering system. Shower proof & suitable for use over any type of garment. Can be customised with badges, radio loops etc. upon request. Reusable design: simply replace the CO2 canister & away you go! Child sizes available; small, medium and large. Reflective strips for increased visibility. Adjustable straps for a perfect fit. Level 2 back protector on the inside of the jacket. Multi-directional triggering system. PROTECTION AIRBAG PROTECTION Once inflated the Airvest stabilises the head, neck and spine of the individual. Minimises the possibility of hyperflexion/extension and whiplash injuries. Stabilises and protects the internal organs. Ensures efficient spinal alignment providing support & rigidity to the trunk and spine. Superior inflation speed; 0.094s: faster than the blink of an eye! TRIGGER SYSTEM Mechanically activated via the use of a detachable lanyard/saddle strap system. Simple reloading system meaning you can be back on board in less than 2 minutes. NOTE: To increase reliability and faster inflation correct installation of the lanyard and saddle strap combination is required. PLEASE SEE MANUAL. CANISTER CO2 canister used for inflation. Requires replacement after use. Available in 50cc, 60cc and 100cc. Size of canister varies according the size and style of the vest used. COMFORT MATERIAL Soft neoprene collar for increased comfort around the neck. Inner textile 3D mesh to provide maximum ventilation. High-quality durable external fabric. Shower proof. FASTENINGS High-quality fully adjustable fastenings. Capable of with-standing numerous inflations. Large amount of adjustment allowing for the perfect fit over any of your motorcycle gear. MOVEMENT Easy to open/close fastenings with gloves. Comfortable and light weight vest – great for long distance trips. Low cut underarms allowing a full range of body movement. UK I was out for a ride on my young horse wearing a riding hat and a Helite Airvest. He was spooked by a couple of ponies galloping in a field next to the lane where we were passing. My horse set off with me at speed and suddenly changed direction. I came off and landed on the gravel track. I was knocked unconscious however my Airvest activated and undoubtedly prevented any serious injuries. Was checked at hospital all ok. Just a few bruises. We contacted Airvest and were able to drop off the vest the following day for a full check over. Zara and the team were fab and had it sent back after the service. It only had minor scuff marks. Thank you. All riders should wear an Airvest. Sarah Harman UK Following an accident 4 yrs ago when my horse fell on top of me and left me with a spinal injury and a life confined to a wheelchair. I never thought I could be so happy again in the saddle. Thanks to my new Helite Air Vest I feel confident knowing I have the best protection possible now!! SallyAnne Haigh York I decided I wanted to ride in an air jacket all the time some 12 months ago. A couple of friends had had silly falls and it made me realise you could be injured at any time – and there was no point having the jacket hung up in the lorry for cross country days. For a birthday present, my husband swapped my old style jacket for gilet version for me. I admit to being vain so wanted to wear one discreetly. Last September, 2 friends and I hired a holiday cottage with stables in the Peak District. We were having a great time. We’d had a long hack the day before so decided to do a short hack then hit the village pub. We knew the route we chose had lots of gates. We were all on steady horses so we’re taking it on turns to open them. I was leaning down to open a (rider friendly) gate when some thing spooked my very sensible horse. He went into a blind panic and tried to scramble over the gate I was trying to open. He got breached and I fell first and he landed on top of me. My air jacket inflated and took the full weight of the horse on my chest. He was upside down, wriggling around on top of me trying to get up and he caught my hip and pelvis in the process. I was air lifted to hospital with multiple fractures in my pelvis and a dislocated hip. I had to have two lots of surgery, a lot of metal work and a long painful rehab of learning to walk all over again. This process is still on going. If I hadn’t of had my air-jacket on for that short quiet hack, there is no doubt about it that I wouldn’t be here today. Every new set of medical professionals I saw between the accident and 2 hospitals later were obsessed with assessing me for spinal injuries. They just couldn’t understand or appreciate what the jacket had done for me. I’d had 650kg of horse on me and didn’t have a mark on me from my waist upwards. It’s amazing how many of my friends have since started wearing there jacket more or have gone out and bought a jacket. I think what shocked people with my accident is that I was on a seriously laid back horse, during a quiet hack – it just does prove it can happen to anyone at anytime. Katie Dickson HK Horses “The innovative Helite Zip’In 2 Airvest gives my team and I safety in a comfortable and stylish way. I don’t know what we would do without it!” Morgan Kent Team Flo Eventing I have always had Helite airvests since I started eventing 4 years ago. I currently have a Turtle 2 Airvest, in navy blue to match my cross-country colours. I find the Airvest so comfortable to wear, and the reassurance I get from wearing it is worth everything. Knowing that the air jacket is protected from puncture by the turtle shell is a real bonus. I have had a couple of really nasty falls and my Turtle 2 has definitely saved me from significant injuries. The trauma team at A&E were very impressed and felt that my airvest saved me from life changing injuries. The team at Helite UK have always been amazingly helpful, whether in general use, servicing or sizing. I wouldn’t wear anything else. Flo Burnop View more customer testimonials and videos View Testimonials Frequently asked questions How do I choose the right size? It is important to choose the right size of your airbag for optimal protection. For this, we advise you follow our size chart. Hint: measuring your back is important and a good indication to finding the right size. Please note that this Airbag Safety Vest should always be worn over your normal riding gear. You should therefore only take your measurements whilst wearing your equipment. Can I use this Airbag on its own? Yes this is possible thanks to the addition of the central zip. However, in the event of a fall the airbag may become damaged. We, therefore, recommend wearing it most of the time under an approved outer to avoid this. Where can I buy new canisters? All replacement canisters can be purchased from our canisters section found in the main menu. Where can I buy new lanyards? All replacement lanyards can be purchased from our lanyards section, found in the Motorcycle Lanyards section in the main menu. Can I reuse my airbag system after an accident? Yes, as long as the airbag is in good condition with no holes or tears. It’s easy to do, you can reset the system in under 2 minutes, without sending your airbag system back to us. You simply need to replace the CO2 canister with a new one, available in our canisters section. Please read the manual and see the videos section on this page, showing how this is done. Can I reuse the CO2 canister? No, once it is used you will need a replacement. All replacement canisters can be purchased from our canisters section found in the main menu. What is the warranty of the Helite airbag systems? All our airbag safety vest systems come with a 2 year warranty. You can extend this if you register the product within 3 months of purchase and have it serviced by us at the end of the first two years. This will give you an additional two years of warranty. Can I travel with my Helite airbag? Bus, train, car: No constraint. For electronic models, remember to turn off the vest when you take this type of transport with your vest. Plane : You may encounter some difficulties with the security services regarding the CO2 canisters used to inflate the airbag. According to the regulations (IATA Regulations – see download), you are authorised to fly with 2 gas canisters (the volume must be less than 200cc), in the cabin or in the hold. Even if the regulations allow it, it is possible that the security service or the airline refuses to let you board with it. We strongly recommend that you print the “IATA Regulations” and show this document to the security service or the airline during the control if they ask for more explanations. In any case, it is the airport security service and the airline that will make the final decision whether or not to accept the airbag on board. Often each airline will have their own advice pages online, it is worth printing these out also as supplementary documentation.
