How does an air vest work?

An air vest is a modern safety vest for riding that actively protects you in a fall. Here we explain step by step how it works.

How an air vest works

The air vest is worn over your clothing and attached to the saddle with a safety strap. As long as you're in the saddle, the strap follows your movements without affecting your riding. Inside the vest is an air cushion and a gas cartridge that fills the vest with gas if it deploys.

What happens in a fall?

If you become separated from the horse, the trigger mechanism is pulled out of the vest, the gas cartridge activates, and the vest inflates in under 0.09 seconds – faster than you can hit the ground. The inflated vest supports and protects the body during the fall and then slowly deflates again.

What protection does an air vest give?

FAE Safety Vest No.1 protects the parts of the body most at risk in a fall: chest, back, pelvis and neck. The vest is CE-certified and meets the safety standard NF S72-800:2022, certified by the independent laboratory ALIENOR CERTIFICATION.

What do I need to use the vest?

Every vest includes a gas cartridge as well as FAE Front Straps and Side Straps for fitting to the saddle. After the vest has deployed, you simply reload it with a new gas cartridge.