What the Y/ELM+ vest is crafted and tested for.
A riding vest's protection is not determined by how it looks or how it feels on the hanger — but by how it performs when it matters most. The YELM Helium Vest 1.0 is developed and certified to meet modern safety standards, while being engineered to move with you rather than restrict you.
Certified to International Standards
The YELM Helium Vest 1.0 is tested and approved according to:
- EN 1621-2:2014 — Level 2
This standard evaluates a protector's ability to absorb and distribute impact energy directed at the back and spine. Certification confirms that the vest meets defined requirements for impact attenuation, coverage area and structural integrity during impact — tested under controlled, independent conditions.
What EN 1621-2 measures — and why it matters.
When a rider falls, impact forces do not arrive in a predictable, controlled way. The spine, lower back and torso are frequently exposed to sudden, concentrated forces from ground contact, fence rails or other surfaces.
EN 1621-2 is an independent European standard that tests a protector's ability to reduce transmitted impact force through the back panel. Level 2 certification — the higher of the two performance levels within this standard — confirms that the vest provides a meaningful reduction in force under tested conditions.
Understanding what standard a vest is certified to, and what that standard actually tests, helps riders make decisions based on verified performance rather than marketing language.
The protection system.
The vest uses a high-density shock-absorbing material developed to manage impact energy efficiently, distributing force away from the spine at the moment of impact. This is what the EN 1621-2 test evaluates — and what Level 2 certification confirms it delivers.
The Helium Vest is designed to address three things that traditional riding vests compromise on.
Ventilation.
Conventional riding vests trap heat. The Helium Vest uses an adaptive mesh construction that allows air to circulate continuously, reducing heat build-up during training, competition and warmer conditions. Comfort directly affects whether protection is worn consistently — and a vest that overheats gets left behind.
Flexibility.
The vest is designed to move with the body rather than against it. The flexible construction follows the rider's natural range of motion — whether posting trot, jumping position or leaning into a turn — without bunching, riding up or restricting movement in the saddle.
Low profile.
A safety vest can only be worn consistently if it fits within the rider's normal wardrobe and routine. The Helium Vest 1.0 is designed with a deliberately low profile. It sits close to the body without adding bulk, allowing riders to wear it under a jacket, a show coat or everyday riding clothes without visible distortion or restricted fit.
Designed to be worn — not stored.
Many riders own a safety vest. Fewer wear it every session.
The reasons are consistent: it is too warm, too stiff, or too bulky under normal riding clothing. The Helium Vest was developed specifically to remove those barriers — not by reducing protection, but by redesigning the structure around the rider's real experience of wearing it.
The result is a vest that can be put on before mounting and forgotten about. That is not an incidental benefit. A protector only works when it is actually being worn.
Why certification matters.
Certified vests are tested under controlled, standardised conditions — but real-world performance also depends on correct fit, consistent wear and regular inspection.
A vest that has absorbed a significant impact should be inspected and, if the foam or structure is compromised, replaced. Impact damage is not always visible from the outside.
Knowing what your vest is tested for — and choosing one that meets an independently verified standard — is the foundation of any serious approach to rider safety.
