Hey - so got a little carried away on a kiteloop this morning and have cracked a rib (maybe 2) when I landed on my side during the crash.
The damage is concentrated around where the spreader bar has been smashed into my ribs.
What I want to know is - do impact vests work well to minimise these kinds of injuries? I feel like it would be a good investment, but don't want to waste money on a piece of equipment that doesn't do the job.
Would be keen to hear your thoughts/ experiences/ recommendations.
Cheers.
^wot he said
yes buttt......
for me some don't have enough protection at the side. Done me ribs twice without a vest, i have also got it all wrong with a vest and for sure it saved me.
I broke two ribs in three places in march. Hurt like hell and out of the water for 7 weeks so the vest investment was a no brainer. Tried a multitude of vests on and settled for a Dakine surface vest. Good padding all the way round, doesn't ride up and gives no restrictions on movement. Have used it over a wettie and with just a rashie and both all good. I wear a seat harness and the neoprene at the bottom is long enough that it sits inside the harness.
Haven't really crash tested it yet but feel for sure it would have prevented my injury earlier in the year.
Nothing you can do for your ribs but wait it out.
I fortunately can't comment on the impact side of it.
Mine is pretty good for floatation without riding up (it's designed for kiting so has a cut out around the belly thus not riding up). I.e. it assists without making swimming impossible, a must for a ** kiter like me!
&imgrefurl=www.mackiteboarding.com/2012-npx-cult-vest/&h=372&w=347&sz=33&tbnid=GzDKft4zhzWJSM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=84&zoom=1&usg=__ejYgjR3EIwlMcN48L2bGML4UR0E=&docid=dlMJBqtebJ25lM&sa=X&ei=vXlTUvfcAYWBiQeC1oAw&sqi=2&ved=0CGgQ9QEwCg
I bruised a rib or 2 crashing into a wave at speed a while back
,I think i will invest in vest too 
Yes
Use an Ion vest. Fits well , could probably have a bit more coverage over ribs but helps a lot on impact.
Also has a bit of added flotation for when you are in the water sorting out a problem ( or swimming in ) . Gets hot up here so sometimes don't wear it but always thank myself when I do and have a problem
I have an NPX Cult. Once when I was still pretty new to kiting I took a big stack forwards and winded myself like I had just copped a soccer ball to the stomach, only 500m out in the rough chop dealing with a downed kite and twisted lines, with my board way behind me it was a hundreds times worse. Once I eventually made it back to shore I packed up and drove straight to the kiteshop and bought a vest.
I find in summer when there's no need to wear a wetty it does a bit to help stop my harness from riding up into my armpits.
I guess its like the helmet debate. To use a impact vest or not. I almost broke my ribs last week. Its the only time I have felt like I need a vest for impact in 8 years. should I buy one>? I probably should for the bouancy.
Select to expand quotePlummet said..
I guess its like the helmet debate. To use a impact vest or not. I almost broke my ribs last week. Its the only time I have felt like I need a vest for impact in 8 years. should I buy one>? I probably should for the bouancy.
so true plummet . I took a hard hit to the back of the head from my raceboard on the weekend and after coldshot's events it really rattled me and convinced me to wear my vest at all times on the raceboard and to go and buy a helmet, no matter how stupid i look .
Don't worry about how you look - others will attest to that with me. 
At least you are taking some risk out of the equation
When it goes pear shaped its funny how you suddenly realise how brittle life's existence is. It's happened on several equations to me and so I wear a helmet and a vest.
Either crashing heavily or being stuck out the back in heaving black swell and facing a long swim onto reef - it's a great time have a vest and think about what a great manager of risk you are while increasing my chances of seeing my family after a great session with a smile on the dial not the feeling I could have died.
Did a Google image search and think these ones look good. Anybody tried them, or similar ones?
Hey Chris-M - ive got the NPX pictured above after cracking a rib back in Feb. It feels comfy and seems to have good side protection - that's why I bought this one after quite a bit of research - BUT *******
How do we get the battle vest and the waist harness to fit properly ?? - caution to all, try on both , together, before you buy!!!!
Im a waist size 34 - 36 and have a Mystic Warrior harness and for the life of me cant work out how to wear the damn things together. Ok atm Im still in the wetsuit - a 4/3 longy but if I wear the vest under the large harness - the harness aint big enough - and to wear the vest over the harness - well I may as well be superman with my undies on the outside - just doesn't work!!
Im thinking I should have gone for the one 1st pictured which is designed to have the waist harness worn over it - or is it??
Maybe the NPX one is only any good for a seat harness - Im stumped!! - Its like new only worm once and up for sale!!
Chris_M,
I have the top vest pictured and use it everytime I go out. No complaints so far but I'm still pretty new to the sport and don't have much to compare to.
I wear it with a 4/3 wetty and dakine pyro waist harness over the top, never had any issues with the harness riding up. It has great bouyancy which has been great for all the body dragging I've been doing. Yet to stack really hard but I reckon it would go alright. Haven't felt restricted by it at all either.
You could also check out the liquid force range as there vests and harnesses are designed to work together. I currently use a liquid force harness with an ion impact vest and it seems to work fine, slides up a little every know and then on a big crash but I think that is inevitable wi any combo.
Vests and Harnesses - can't buy online - gotta go try them on and buy from your local shop. No other way to do it.
I wear a vest, when I was learning to jump many years ago I sent kite from way down low, going fast, did a really fast low pendulum swing about a metre off the water. Smacked a wave face and broke a rib. Since then it's just been routine for me, feels like part of the harness. Only makes it more comfy so I can't see any downsides.
