Kite surfers and interested parties who read our blogs probably also know my ambition for the mega run. Just like many kitesurfing buddies who run them galore these days. It's not that easy for me, but step by step the megaloop comes into view. With training towards it, the crashes also get harder. So this blog impact vest kitesurfing in which I explain the usefulness and necessity of an impact vest. I also have 6 tips for you if you decide to purchase a kite vest.
Tip. Are you also planning to learn a kiteloop? Watch the video with explanation learn kiteloop in which we explain how you can learn the cool kitesurf trick step by step without injuries.
Is an impact vest necessary
An impact vest is not the same as a life jacket or a flotation device. You can't make that mistake. Even though an impact vest has buoyancy, it is nowhere near a life jacket or buoyancy aid. Kite surfers use an impact vest to absorb blows. Mainly on the ribs and chest. They can be big and you don't have to be a professional kite surfer for that. Just an incorrect estimate. For example: piercing a breaking wave at about 40 km/h is no fun. Never mind if you make a steering error during an unplanned jump. Sometimes those are the best hits. However, an impact vest is not necessary to use. You therefore see very few kite surfers who use an impact vest.
Kitesurfing with impact vest for professionals?
Many professional and semi-professional kitesurfers wear an impact vest as standard when kitesurfing. Some only if they really go for it during training and competitions. Others have taken to wearing an impact vest as standard. So during every session. Especially to protect the ribs. It is not the case that kitesurfing with a kitesurf vest means that you can take more risks. Certainly not. However, when things go wrong you have that little bit of extra protection and insulation that protects you that little bit extra. As I mentioned in the introduction, I train for new tricks. The ambition is back. That's why I like to use an impact vest. I hope to prevent rib injuries with it, among other things.
Kitesurfing with impact vest under your wetsuit
As standard, an impact vest is used by kite surfers over the wetsuit. There's nothing wrong with that and you can just keep doing it that way. However, an impact vest has a tendency to creep up if water gets underneath. There are impact vests that use special anti-slip material to counteract this. With a major crash, the risk continues to arise that the vest under you waist harness crawls. That is not nice and results in trying to correct while kitesurfing. That is why many kite surfers use an impact vest under their wetsuit.
What type of impact vest to buy: 6 tips
If you go kitesurfing with an impact vest under your wetsuit, I have the following tips:
- An impact vest with protection on the shoulders is not useful. There is a very good chance that your wetsuit will not be able to get over it and will remain open at the collar. This way your wetsuit will bite water and that is not nice. Especially not when it's colder.
- In any case, a kitesurf vest with slightly thinner protection pieces is finer. This keeps you more flexible and therefore the whole is more comfortable. Of course, thinner protectors come at the expense of protection.
- Take a long impact vest. One that you can tuck into your swimsuit. This way you can easily put on your wetsuit with front-zip or back-zip without the impact vest sliding up while putting on your wetsuit.
- Try on the impact vest in combination with your harness. If you use a waist harness, you need an impact vest that has protection pieces up to the top of your harness. You have special impact vests for that.
- Don't buy a kite vest too big. Of course you must still be able to breathe properly and the vest must not pinch. But too big is certainly not recommended. It should stay tight around the body.
- An impact vest also provides extra insulation. After all, it is an extra layer on the chest and back. So you can consider a thinner wetsuit wear than usual. A wetsuit with a lot of stretch is recommended anyway.
I've been using one of these Manera XD10 for a couple of years now…..I bought it after two other impact vest purchases that went wrong, broken zip on one and riding up issues on another…….I've found it excellent! Its great because it can go under your wetsuit, so no riding up issues…….It provides not much floatation, maybe a couple of liters of float, impact wise it gives good confidence….It's not cumbersome at all, no zips to break …….It provides just that little bit extra all-round float for body drags and a little extra impact protection adding to confidence……..It does not effect the function of my wetsuits at all…….I've found my way to this article as I was googling around looking for another one for my son, who sends it on his kites and is starting to paddle big surf……It would be perfect for duck diving surfboards……Anyway, thought I would just post my comments as I have found these impact vests very good and I believe they deserve the recognition, good kit should be applauded in my opinion……..Oh I should also mention, that it's not been used occasionally, I wear it a lot, every time I kite and after two maybe more years it is still in very good shape, no wear at all…….Yea, good kit, go boost!
is the manena xd10 easy to get on and off and won't the function of a steamer be lost if you wear it under your suit?
gr
Johan
Hi Johan, this one is indeed easy to get on and off. Has quite a bit of stretch. When taking off I put a hand through the vest at the armpit and then push up from under my arm. That way it's very easy. Function of wetsuit remains intact is my experience. You even have an extra layer. Do fit so that you are sure that your wetsuit does not remain open at the top. Then the function of the wetsuit would deteriorate.