TEK-VEST, read this!

K

kyle3201

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Oct 28, 2004
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I am gonna fire up this conversation due to mention of them lately on this site.
I never thought at just 22 I would go out of my way and pay up to 300 dollars for a device that would help protect me while riding my sled. Last winter one of my good buddies dad was killed when he hit a snow bank and drove his chest into the handlebars killing him. I thought about that and seen the grief he went through, much like what Matt is going through now. I purchased a new tek-vest this fall and love it. Guys you cant even tell you have it on, you feel much safer, yet to boot they are a little warmer.
I would definitely recommend one to anyone that rides a sled regardless of the kind of riding you do!
I know there are alot of people that use them on this site put your two cents in. I hate watching the news Monday morning and seeing all the deaths!

Be careful!

Kyle Heller
 
you hit the nail on the head kyle , i use to laugh at guys that wore those things , i would tell them we are trail riding not snow x racing , well the older i get and the more news storys that come out i will have one buy next year ....it does suck they are 300 bucks but its better then crushed ribbs and the time off work .....i think the tek vest logo sums it up pretty well " for people that have to be to work on monday " also on a side note for the bigger guys ...it keeps your guts from sloshing around ;)!
 
i have thought about getting one of those for awhile. Yes they are definately pricey, but will be well worth it in an accident that impacts the chest. Maybe i can find a nice used one.
 
Group Buy for tek vest

Is there anyone on this site that would have access to a group buy for next season?
 
oh yea i didn't even think of that, that is a great idea. We should see what we can do about getting a group buy going for these.
 
I have one... and I've used it! I think I've had it for over 3 years now and wouldn't even think about riding without it. It amuses me that guys who ride quads or bikes and sleds wouldn't even think about riding the dirt without the fancy boots, glove, check protector, etc. but wouldn't even think about wearing one on a sled...
 
I bought one this season and I've worn it once in the 2 rides I got out. While I find it a nice product and for sure worthy, I am having a hard time getting used to it. I do think over time I can get in the habit of wearing it though. I felt restricted by it and while the protection is there it hampered my movement enough that I could not ride my normal speed and when I did try, because of the restriction I felt I was more apt to lose control then without it. next season I'm sure things will change though and I will be ok with it. A change in the sleds ergos would help that alot for me.

BTW, I only paid like $215 for my Trail Pro model. Check out Sled-Parts.com he had them for cheap.
 
never without again

hey... never thought I would need one. Vintge racer here, and thought that since my top speed is in the mid 60's there would be no need. Well that was untill I found myself slidding accross turn #3 one afternoon in the MOD finals. Watching the other racers scramble to avoid me raised the hairs on the back of my neck. That night I found a used XC Prolite on Ebay for $75. Two weeks ago I took a stud to the chest durring another race. I will never be without again!!!!
 
I'm surprised they are not required in ANY form of competition. You can't race Sno-X etc without one. Surprised that any oval racer would be allowed to race without one too, no matter the speed. This line of thought is exactly why I bought one. Most guys are running studded tracks and if you got run over by one, even on the trail (which can happen) it would be NASTY.

What I'm going to try next season is wearing it on the outside of my shell instead of under it, especially on warmer days. Given their material they should be great at keeping the wind off too.

I hope nobody takes my initial reply as a negative opinion of the product. I'm just one of those guys that didn't immediately adapt to it is all and I agree everybody should be wearing one. What can it hurt once you get used to it?
 
I was suprised to see that BOTH of my race circuits dont require them. There are several guys that have the Trail verisons under their jackets in one of the groups. But Still........
 
I've worn one now for 2 seasons. My little adventure in Munising 2 years ago convinced me to buy one. Early on I would occasionally go without it. Last season a sled almost landed on me off a blind jump that I had just gotten stuck on. We were just out fooling around in a couple feet of fresh powder, so I didn't put it on. Now I do not go out without it. The biggest problem is overheating while off trail riding on warm days.

Jeff H: If it hampers your movement that much then you likely have the wrong size.

Franklin: She must be a real animal if you need to wear it to bed !!! ;)! ;)! ;)! Sorry, I'm just jealous . . .
 
I'd like to get one. Grapeape is probably one of the most protected riders I have rode with. He wears more gear than I do when I play hockey.. But he rides hard, and if he wrecks. He will have some protection. I need to be more like that.
 
Actually mine fits fine, it's really not the vest that is the problem it's my gut, which after 42 years has apparently decided it needs to overhang my belt line. When seated in normal riding position and need to move forward and lean for turns etc my gut gets in the wayn and the vest just sorta amplifies that. But, with a taller seat things will change now. I've always had sort of a dramatic riding style so I tend to move around alot and thats why I notice it.

I was told, and correctly so, that the Tek Vest usually runs to the big side so to order a size smaller, and this person was right. I would not want anything bigger then my size large, where they recommended size XL for my 225lb frame. I would also pass this advice along to any others.
 
Ran a Tek vest last year and this year. Won't ride without one now. Just knowing that you have some little bit more protection is worth it. Everytime a deer jumps out in front of me like the dozen or so I saw this weekend near Clam Lake, WI it makes you think about more safety. No problem with comfort, can't even tell it is on and it fits under my leather jacket which is amazing.
 
Protection is #1 for me, as I can not control the "other" guy. Same reason I gave up the street bike. If anyone is looking for more protection, Thor makes a great set of knee pads for motocross that are comfortable, and about 70$ USF
 
i'll be needing all of the knee protection i can get for next season. I have reconstructive ACL surgery next tuesday, my ACL is completely torn, so they have to make a new one out of the tendon behind my kneecap and the bone at each end. Then they drill a hole from the femur through the center of the knee and out the tibia, then thread the new tendon through and fasten it with screws to make a new ACL. After the surgery, 4-8 months of rehabilitation, range of motion, and strength excercises. Not going to be fun :o| This is what happens when you put a viper over backwards :o|
 
All this talk about Tech Vests is interesting. I was in a head on wreck three years ago and I was lucky to walk away with only bruises (same for other driver) But my '00 SXR700 and the other sled (old 500 polaris)Were both totaled. Where do I get the best deal on one of these vests. And what size? I'm 6' 210 lbs .
 
tek vest

I started using a tek vest and motocross knee pads 3 years ago and had the same reaction from all my freinds,asking if i was going to play hockey or going sleding,I would not go anyware without it, and all I would say to them is you guys can spend thousands of dollars on your sleds to make them go faster but you cant spend 300 on your own personal protection,I think they are sellfish to not think about the other people that are effected by a accident or a death,I have seen first hand this year and the effects it has had on people,it is not good!! 300 dollars to see your kids grow up,and have a father,I think its worth it!!
Steve
 
Yamaholic,
I had my completely torn ACL replaced 16 Nov with an allograft achiles heel from a cadaver. I rode all season with an off the shelf Donjoy knee brace. Tomorrow will be 4 months post op and I don't need any brace at all now. Since next season you'll be ~8 months post op you may not need a brace at all (except maybe mentally). If your rehab goes about average you'll probably be much more likely to damage your other knee (unless its been repaired before). Good luck with your surgery.
 
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