Kidney protection, good impact vest ?

(payback) · (payback) **Join Date: Mar 2008** 03-15-2008, 6:15 AM

Hi Guys

Just broke three ribs at my local cable and after a few test at the hospital it turns out that I only have one Kidney. My urologist said it was congenital and many people only find out after a sonar, so now I'm looking at changing my current vest which is a Neilpryde Series 5000 http://archive.neilpryde.com/product/wwear01/5000_vest/fset/background_fset.html which I have used for Wakeboarding and Kiteboarding and has been fine until now. I broke ribs 2,3,4 pretty high up and upon inspection of the vest found that the vest offered little to no protection in that region.

My main concern is my Kidney, I'm probably been a bit paranoid but what good Impact vest with good all round protection is out there I've seen some guys mention the O'Neil Gooru but what else could I look at ?

Thank in advance...

(caseman1322) · (caseman1322) **Join Date: Sep 2007** 03-15-2008, 7:33 AM

check out the Jet pilot a-10 vest. It seems to offer some decent rib protection for me

(robertr720) · (robertr720) **Join Date: Aug 2007** 03-15-2008, 11:09 AM

Uh the gooru is the least protective vest you can get into, there are some spots on the vest that offer you no more protection than a wetsuit. I would say to check out the oneill mental, it is a CGA vest that has impact foam sewn on in various places and will offer ample kidney protection. I have an oneill vapor and it offers alot of rib protection, I would have to say that that is the thickest part of the jacket.

(wakeboardern1)

What about the Billabong Sanford vest? I'm looking at mine and it's pretty thoroughly covered in foam.

(wakerider111) · (wakerider111) **Join Date: Jul 2006** 03-15-2008, 11:32 AM

i got the bodyglove eco vest on BBB a week or two ago and it has kidney pads/wraps on the inside as well as a removable lumbar support. AND you will be preserving the environment. It is really light compared to my last vest (sterns neoprene vest) and is advertised as being lighter than most.

the kidney pads are not super thick, more like a neoprene wide back brase that wraps all the way arround...i'll try to post some pics of it when i get home.

K.B.C. 03-15-2008, 11:54 AM

the o'neill vapor comp has some pretty beefy padding in the rib area. I would say definitely way more than the A-10 or Gooru...

(Message edited by sperbet on March 15, 2008)

(robertr720) · (robertr720) **Join Date: Aug 2007** 03-15-2008, 11:59 AM

argeed scott. I can put them all in my hand right now and the vapor has the most rib protection and padding overall for sure.

(wakerider111) · (wakerider111) **Join Date: Jul 2006** 03-15-2008, 2:43 PM

here is the pics of the 2007 eco vest by body glove

Upload

(innov8) · (innov8) **Join Date: May 2005** 03-15-2008, 3:21 PM

Take a look at the Helium Flak Jackets, they have a built in back/kidney belt.

K.B.C. 03-15-2008, 3:53 PM

I have a helium swat with that similar lumbar support as the eco vest above and probably the Flak as well. I will tell you it has no where near the rib protection of the vapor. It's a back support not rib protection

(payback) · (payback) **Join Date: Mar 2008** 03-16-2008, 5:02 AM

Thanks for the pictures and suggestions guys appreciate it :-)

(the_right_kind)

Another one to check out is the O'Neil '08 Revenge.
Bummer about the kidney, take care of the one you have!

(aces6692) · (aces6692) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 03-16-2008, 6:43 PM

i have a helium swat vest, its got pretty good protection on it

(sacmule) · (sacmule) **Join Date: May 2007** 03-17-2008, 8:05 AM

I too ride a helium(Nevin) SWAT CGA vest. It provides plenty of mobility and has great padding to cushion the blows. Sorry to hear about the carnage, I have worn a non-CGA vest once and took a good fall and felt like I was hit by a bus, swore off non-CGA or at least not well padded PFDs thereafter.

(criswb) · (criswb) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 03-17-2008, 9:56 AM

Definitely the Oneill Vapor vest. It has a lot of protection overall. I once rode to a dock too fast, bumped my board to the dock, bounced up and then fell on my back right on the dock and then to the water. I felt no pain at all and I got no bruises left. Everyone thought I had broken something but I was perfect.

(skyski1) · (skyski1) **Join Date: Jan 2008** 03-17-2008, 10:17 AM

Check out the ribtect 2 at ribtect.com. This is not a flotation vest. It is used by the go cart racers. It has carbon fiber panels to protect the ribs and kidneys. It is super thin and light weight. If you wear it under your regular vest, no one will know it's there. I used mine while two fractured ribs healed......now I feel naked without it.

(duffy) · (duffy) **Join Date: Feb 2006** 03-17-2008, 12:07 PM

I ride a Murray Full Metal Jacket. Pretty thick and protective it's also CGA. I use to ride comp vests. Huge difference!