Wear your TekVest or go buy one if you dont have one. I'll tell you why:

[PJ-Hunter]

I was ripping around in some 15" fresh fluff and having a blast. Then, all of a sudden my sled stopped immediately and I flipped up, over in a 1/2 flip. Landing on my back, to the left of the sled. What I had landed on was the side brace of one of those damned logging gates. I landed perpendicular to the rail. If I had not been wearing my vest, chances are pretty good I'd have had a helicopter ride to somewhere I don't really wanna be. There was no way to see this gate either. It was covered up completely, but just under fresh snow. My right ski caught under the steel gate, hitting right on my ball joint, so only damage was paint on the A-arm.

Hurts like hell. I'll get a pic up when I find the camera.

 

[Gmiller]

This is true, i was a witness to this. At first i was like OH ****, he hit that damn post but he was lucky.... Its kinda like a helmet, wear it.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

good to hear you are ok PJ...couple years back took my son and daughter out riding, son was 15, daughter 12, we found a nice little ridge to play on so the kids are playing, me taking pics,....after about 15 minutes the boy gets brave and goes shooting up the hill (about 40 ft tall, small windlip just at the roll over to the left of where they were climbing...)anyway he is moving pretty quick when he hits the top, so he turns left and drifts left before turning to come back down, he comes down right over the windlip(about a foot tall)so he gooses it, lands from it and ends up falling backward and pins the throttle...hits the bottom of the hill and launches off a little knob, ends up getting off the gas just as he launches, which throws the sled into a noseover...he ended up hitting flat on his face with the sled pile driving him in...I took off running for him as soon as I saw him nosing over..got there, flipped his sled off him..he wasnt moving..didnt see his chest moving, no sound, nothing..So I cradle his head figuring he has to have a broken back..broken ribs, internal injuries...I carefully get him over on his back so I can do cpr..and he starts breathing on his own(had everybit of air knocked out and just couldnt get any in...so I am holding his helmet between my knees, telling him not to move, trying to access his injuries, also trying to figure out how I am gooing to get my daughter to ride up on the ridge and call for a med evaac...when he starts telling me..dad...dad... Im ok...dad..dad..let me catch my breath..so for 20 minutes I go over him with a fine toothed comb..can't find anything damaged..so he gets up, i get his sled up and running, and we do a 5 mph ride back to the truck and home..amazingly he was ok..just bruised and shaken..ordered all of us tek vest the following monday morning and been wearing them ever since..very very smart thing to wear...

 

[SSWIM]

Dress for the crash not the ride.

Sam

 

[scott t]

tek vest

All of our group went to vest after one of the guys hit a washout and took the bars in the chest. Seemed minor at the time, but a day later was in the hospital with a chest contusion. I use one just because i cant stay on my damn sled!! LOL! Cracked ribs in a snowcross race with a vest on, couldnt imagine what would of been outcome without one!

 

[sleddin pete]

Friend hit a thermal spring speeding across the meadow at Rabbit Ears with his wife. No Tekvest.

Ruptured spleen,ribs,broken jaw,teeth etc.Lucky for him others saw it happen and helped him back to lot and called ambulance.If Trauma Center in Steamboat wasn't so good,he probably wouldn't be here with us as he was bleeding out internally.

I bought a Tekvest after that and he did too. He no longer rides,but I still always wear mine.

 

[Minten]

Good to hear you're okay PJ!

I have to fix my sled first. I have a vest on the to do list though...

 

[Dogmeat]

I kinda fought using chest/shoulder protection as such for a long time, but glad I do now, good example of why above .... ride harder, chances increase you're gonna need something to stop puncture wounds be it dirt or snow .... good investment.

 

[JonezyBones]

Definitly one of those things you dont want to wish you had when you needed it. I just wear my vest I purchased for my dirt bike so im getting my money out of it. Its an under jersey that works perfect under the coat. And trust me you stay warm

Glad your ok man. That kind of stuff is a real eye opener

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/6/10/23113/ITEM/Fox-Racing-Titan-Sport-Jacket.aspx

 

[theultrarider]

Yep. Mines in the trailer. Took 50 years to break down and spend the coin on one. Wont ride without it now. I generally Have atleast 2 or more get-offs like Pj's a year. I figure if I've made it 49 years iwthout one, I've been pushing my luck way too long. Took one good hit with the bar to the chest since and jst start lol! Man, I should have done that many years ago. Next up is an avy pack... Got the knee braces and wont ride without them either. Started that about 5 years ago. Again, way too late in life. Feel naked now without them

 

[Zachcreek]

I went into a blow hole on a flat light day. About 10 ft down, bent the bars forward to the windshield with my chest. Had on chest protector, if not, probably a busted sternum.....

 

[HOTRODREDNECK]

I went into a blow hole on a flat light day. About 10 ft down, bent the bars forward to the windshield with my chest. Had on chest protector, if not, probably a busted sternum.....

that was last year for me with no chest protector and and i wasn't riding for 6 weeks with a busted sternum now i wont ride without a chest protector.

 

[beer gut]

I was riding through the trees a few years ago; came around a big spruce and there was a downed tree right behind it with the end pointed right at me. No time to avoid it, it hit me right in the chest (probably 1 1/2" or so in diameter). Damn thing exploded like one of those jousting lances. Not sure what damage it would've caused without a vest, but I KNOW it would have hurt like hell.

 

[BackCountryBob]

You don't have to be going fast--just enough speed to launch you into the bars--4th season for my vest after 2 nasty sternum bruises.

Over the bars--good back protection when the sled runs over you.

BCB

 

[tdorval]

I've been wearing one for a while now. I got to the point where I really feel like I'm missing something if I don't have it on. I've been very glad to be wearing it on several occasions... I know I won't be riding with out it anytime soon!

 

[Fast Rider]

This is good advice. Motocross chest protectors are a bit cheaper than actual tekvests. Any protection is better than none at all. Find a way to afford something that will help. A company (the name eludes me at the moment) came out with a tekvest style chest protector to compete with TekVest. JSPowersports sells them (Im not promoting him, but I know he carries this line). I've got an old school TekVest. It looks g*y as sh*t but I wear it under my jacket and its definately come in handy a few times in the past. Haven't ridden without it since the day I bought it. A but uncomfortable the first time I rode with it, but a few miles into the ride and you never know its even there.

 

[AndrettiDog]

So where is the place to buy them price wise? I've been considering one too. I'm glad they make mountain version because the snocross version is just too much. I've been hoping these vests would come down in price.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

I bet Donovan has good deals, being a KLIM dealer and all. I'd also bet that Boston racing can get them in for a fair price. Cost seems average for the TEK style vests. Worth every damn penny IMO. It kept me out of the hospital yesterday.

 

[duke1n]

Motocross chest protectors are a bit cheaper than actual tekvests

Unless you're planning on getting run over and a stud in the back, MX chest protectors work great. Lost count of of the times mine softened the blow. Shin/knee guards are another must have. Rake your shin or knee over your running boards one time and you will understand haha

 

[Gmiller]

So where is the place to buy them price wise? I've been considering one too. I'm glad they make mountain version because the snocross version is just too much. I've been hoping these vests would come down in price.

Check out EVS too. I have a full ballistic jersey for $195. Protects elbows, shoulders, back chest and has a built in kidney belt.