How many of us die hard sledders wear vest protection?

[Sled Dog]

My point has been all along that people will ride with less caution and take more chances with a vest on than without. Would I ride faster and take more chances with one on? Yes I believe I would so the safety plus I got from the vest is negated because now I have a higher probablitlity of getting into a wreck. Now I know if I do wreck I have a better chance of surviving it so I squeeze the throttle a bit more. That is the point I am making not trying to talk anyone out of buying one just letting people know what I think about them when people wear them. Maybe we should all be wearing them in our cars too? And if its for safety reason we wear them and not the ok now that I have one on I can give her attittude cuase I wont get hurt. Then everyone here who has a vest should have a CSS light on their sled as well.

 

[welterracer]

i think i would have a tough time wearing one.. i feel like im carrying 100lbs of stuff on me anyways..

ive always thought about it..

 

[Sled Dog]

Not sure I could wear one either. The constriction this vest would add to what I already wear I dont think I could stand. Plus I dont sno cross or race on trails so I dont see the need.

 

[kipe1]

Tek Vest

A year ago last April I was in Seattle for work. I happened to hop on a computer to check e-mail. I also got on a couple of sled sites, which is normal. Hard Core Sledder had a story on its home page written from an 18 year old from Iowa. He had gotten back from Cooke City Montana. He was out riding with his father and they were in some meadow playing in the powder when he looked back to see his dad tip over on his sled. The kid said he'd seen it a bunch of times someone flipping a sled and at a slow speed, (I believe 20-30 mile per hour range). Upon reaching his father he saw that things were not normal. Blood was coming from the fathers mouth. He had to resuccitate him a couple of times and screamed for help. Finally he went for help and found a group that had a Sat phone and got help. The father was airlifted from the scene and I believe the man passed on the way to the hospital. It was deemed to be a separated aorta that caused him to bleed out. The 18 year old then recommended riding with a Tek Vest or other chest protection, because you don't have to be going 90 miles per hour to have trouble with getting a handlebar in the chest. I got up from the computer choked up and the next week ordered a Tek Vest. I wear it all the time and do not drive any different than before I wore it. Last winter I had some people inquiring what I was putting on beneath my jacket, some sarcastic and some serious. I told them I'm usually the last one to get dressed, but have a little more peace of mind when riding.

And if the man from Iowa reads this, thank you for your story to all and sorry for your loss. I'm sure because of the story someone has since gotten protection and owe their life to you for it. :ORC

 

[sobfrogg]

I would not ride without my Tek vest now.

3 years ago I was heading down trail 5 out of Big Bay on my way to trail 8 to get back to Muni.
I was putting along enjoing the sights and the curvy trail. I was going around a blind turn slowly and in control. I was all the way over to the right and up against the dirt wall. THEN I GOT HIT.. A Yellow sled was comming around the corner on my side of the trail and at a very high speed. I could ony have gotten over further if I had a crawler to move the dirt wall I was up against.
The guy took off and did not even stop to see if I was alright. Prob better for him as I was PISSED!!!!!

So now I am at the side of the trail with a broken coolent hose. And my SRX that I spent SO much time and money was damaged. The tunnel was bent. The floorboard was pushed all the way into the tunnel...
I made it back to Muni.. Went home the next day and called the Insurance company. The sled was totaled. My ins adjuster was shocked I was not hurt. I GOT LUCKY.

The ride prior to that we were riding out of Iron Mountain and saw 26 deer in one day. That is not counting the deer off the trail. That was 26 deer in one day I saw on the trail in front of me.
So the next year at HayDays i purchased a Tek Vest.. I will not ride with out it. I have slowed down alot. I really do not even like to ride trails anymore. I find myself drawn to the woods more and more.

For the folks that were in Muni for the Demo ride in 06 will remember my sled being hit by a 4wheeler. Yes a 4wheeler..

 

[welterracer]

i got hit by a guy on a corner , he blew the corner and even though i tried to miss him, i clipped his rear cooler with my ski..

My sled was fine,,, his sled was loosing coolant.. I was pissed, but he got what he deserved.. and a broken sled too..LOL

 

[MrSled]

Brian..... you can sure post some garbage... what does that have to do with the tek vest....

I really think you and sled dog have said enough to state your take on the vests. Lets let some others give their views.

 

[ecopter]

My point has been all along that people will ride with less caution and take more chances with a vest on than without. Would I ride faster and take more chances with one on? Yes I believe I would so the safety plus I got from the vest is negated because now I have a higher probablitlity of getting into a wreck. Now I know if I do wreck I have a better chance of surviving it so I squeeze the throttle a bit more. That is the point I am making not trying to talk anyone out of buying one just letting people know what I think about them when people wear them. Maybe we should all be wearing them in our cars too? And if its for safety reason we wear them and not the ok now that I have one on I can give her attittude cuase I wont get hurt. Then everyone here who has a vest should have a CSS light on their sled as well.

What ridiculous logic. When you wear your seatbelt, do you necessarily have stupid thoughts such as this and floor your car's accelerator pedal? As for wearing vests in cars, what do you think airbags are for? They're that "inbetween" safety device such as a vest which lies between that rock and a hardplace. Also, don't try to change the subject with items such as the CSS light. We're talking about personal protective equipment, not something which is added to a sled for visibility.

And, if you'd really ride a bit more aggressive because you're wearing something that provides additional protection, then I'd say their might be an issue with your maturity level. But in the end........to each their own. What worries me is that I have to share the trails with people that think like you.

Jon

 

[MrSled]

Time to lock... this is not going well.... something that would help people and we take it all out of context.