Brazilian Brothers Review the Ride Engine Empax V2 Vest

You've heard that you "should" wear an impact vest, but do you really need one? And if so, what's a good one that won't get in your way? The Brazilian Brothers think they have the answer to both questions in the Ride Engine Empax V2.

What's an Impact Vest For?

• Protection
• Buoyancy
• Warmth
• Harness Positioning

An impact vest has a few benefits, not just the obvious protection from impact. You get some buoyancy, which is very helpful when you're in the water trying to relaunch your kite. You can focus on getting the kite back in the air rather than using up all your energy treading water.

An impact vest also provides a little warmth for your core. Long sessions can get a little chilly, especially when you're pushing yourself to learn something new and get dunked a lot, and the vest will make that a bit more comfortable.

If you wear a waist harness, you know the struggle of keeping it from riding up. An impact vest does a lot to help keep your harness in place so you're spending more time riding and less time adjusting your harness.

And the protection these vests offer cannot be overstated. It can take weeks and even months for a rib injury to heal enough to ride without pain, and these vests are designed to absorb the impact from your falls that your ribs would normally take.

Whether you're going for your first backrolls or attempting a double kiteloop, an impact vest is easy insurance against season-ending injuries.

Is the Ride Engine Empax V2 a Good Vest?

• Sleek & Stealthy
• Comfortable
• Protective
• Warm
• Easy to Use

The Brothers have been using the Empax for a couple months now, and they are loving it. They admit that they had been avoiding wearing a vest because they didn't want to be labeled as kooks, but some painful landings had them reevaluate their priorities.

The slim profile of the Empax is not only comfortable, it's subtle. Thow a rashguard on over the top and most people won't even notice you're wearing a vest.

That slick, low profile doesn't compromise on protection. Padded panels are strategically placed in the areas where injuries tend to occur, including those painful rib pops. When you get thrown into an unintended rotation and land on your rib, this vest is going to absorb the brunt of that impact.

The limestone neoprene in this vest is very comfortable, feels good on the skin, and adds just a bit of warmth. The padding is all higher up, with the waist section nice and thin so that your harness fits properly.

A front zipper lets you get in and out of your vest in just a second, and the zipper does a nice job of staying up the whole session. Like any zipper, it can get pushed down by a hard crash, so just give it a quick check after you surface and you'll be good to go.

Would the Brazilian Brothers Recommend the Empax V2?

Having worn this vest for a couple months, they can't imagine going out without it now. It's slick and comfortable and has padding in all the right places. It has already saved their ribs more than once. It adds just enough warmth and flotation and is easy to get on and off. Thanks to the Empax, the Brothers are now big advocates of wearing an impact vest no matter your skill level.

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