A few months ago i managed to fracture a couple of ribs. This was a result of stuffing up a trick and hitting the water really hard while rotating. I haven't been able to get out on the water since. I think I'm nearly right now to get back out on the water but I'm considering getting an impact vest. I don't wear a helmet and don't like the idea of wearing a vest but when trying new tricks and kite-loops, I'm thinking it may help my confidence because i would hate to stuff up my ribs again.

Has anyone had a similar experience and now use an impact vest?. I'm thinking that an impact vest may not really make a difference to protecting ribs from the force of hitting the water hard and just result in me feeling more restricted.

Bully, I did some ribs a couple of years ago. Out for 8 weeks. Bought a Dakine impact vest. Good padding all round, allowed movement and had a flap that tucked into my harness. Also provides some flotation. Only really use it now when it's over 20kn or trying new stuff
Worth investing in. Was only about $100 from memory.

Thanks Sim. I'll have to look at what vests are out there.

Have a look at mystic force as well. Really comfortable as they are made from smoothie style rubber. They do wear more quickly than a more robust design. I bought one after doing some rib damage years ago. Only wear it when it's nuking with large swell or as a pretend pfd. You could use it simply for extra warmth as a wetty vest or wear it as part of your batman costume

Got a mystic D30 job , makes a Huge difference when you take a whack

i have done almost the same injury. i did use a impact vest for a while after the injury but the best thing i did for my recovery was switch to board short harness so it doesn't ride up around your ribs while kiting. i recommend the ion B2 Board Short Harness

The liquid force is worth a look at as well, it's reverseable and comes with a hook knife. I wear it now after injuring my ribs

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Redgy said..

The liquid force is worth a look at as well, it's reverseable and comes with a hook knife. I wear it now after injuring my ribs

I've got an LF one as well. IMO they are as good as impact vests get. Really good quality and looks good too.
I only wear mine in summer though as it doesn't fit over my wetsuit and I must have put on a few sneaky ones :)

I like my Forward Wip Impact Vest. It's rated as a 50N life jacket so it's good for offshore kiting.

Did my ribs twice from the harness pushing on them when boosting, I'm a skinny fella. Tried impact vests and the didn't really feel like they would protect the bottom of my ribs also found them bulky and uncomfortable. Now I wear ion B2 Board Short Harness and have no issues.

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Bletti said..
I like my Forward Wip Impact Vest. It's rated as a 50N life jacket so it's good for offshore kiting.

+1 for the WIP! Light, comfortable, doesn't ride up and doesn't absorb water and get heavy like some others.

I'm a big fan of the impact vest; its got advantages on top of the impact protection! prevents wind chill and prevents rubbing from your harness. My advice is to go for the smallest size you can squeeze into, which minimises the chance of it riding up! As an instructor, I've found it increases my overall comfort when spending hours in the water, but so beneficial if i fall out the sky when the loops don't go to plan.

I had one, and honestly didn't think it made too much difference in the crashes. Imo not worth it!

Thanks for the advice guys. I tend to agree with kemp even though I haven't tried an impact vest. I recon my waist harness riding up probably contributed to the fractured ribs. The harness was already tight around my lower ribs and when I hit the water it felt even tighter and then I felt a pop and a load of pain.

Anyway I've been looking at a dakine impact vest that I'll probably buy in the next week. At least it will hopefully stop the harness riding up and give me added comfort against the cold.

Kaha what do they price at ?

Got mine for $240 a year ago, still going strong.

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kemp90 said..
I had one, and honestly didn't think it made too much difference in the crashes. Imo not worth it!

I also agree. Hitting a solid object like a kicker or a rail is a different story though.

Biggest positive of wearing a vest in my opinion is that it will float you if you get knocked out.

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kemp90 said...
I had one, and honestly didn't think it made too much difference in the crashes. Imo not worth it!

Agree, i broke my ribs while wearing an impact vest. I think it might have even contributed to it.

If im going hard or crazy storm weather - i use a thick wakeboarding vest, drew a line where the top of the harness sits and pulled the foam out to that point n resewed it..

Works great and wear a helmet too, have landed badly from many jumps n megaloops gone wrong - been winded and seen stars a few times nearly blacking out..
I know if I wasnt wearing it, the full force probably would have drowned me.. havent broken anything..

Once without a vest, after a wipeout, belly down on water the kite powered up - pulling me out of the water and im sure the hook rotated up into my lower rib cracking it.

Wouldnt have happened with my vest on..

Dont worry what the Fashion Police think - when your on your back, broken rib, trying to figure out how the hell your going to even move or roll over to get out of bed... none of those guys will be there to help you !

This would be a good thick vest - sought of what i made..
http://www.kitepower.com.au/dakine-surface-vest-2013.html

I don't really think a good vest is a fashion violation, you hardly even notice it.

I ended up buying a dakine surface impact vest for $170. Went for a tight fit as suggested by Oceanaddicts. Will hopefully get on the water soon and give it a go.