Same I like feeling safe with it over my chest bc just my lap and free upper body nah im shitting myself enough with the vest with no vest on the chest nope I just refuse so I miss out bc I don’t feel safe :(
unpopular opinion: as someone with a lot of ear piercings, I love vest restraints! they might allow for a little less airtime compared to over the shoulder restraints, but the lack of head banging is sooo worth it
I love the lap bars on Titan at SFOT. Also vintage Schwarzkopf roller coaster lap bars, those new fangled over the head lap bars, and PTC train lap bars are quite nice too. I f’n love buzz bars because it what makes kiddie rides fun for all ages including coaster enthusiasts.
I’ve used a lot of restraints.. here’s my rundown B&M Vests - Snug, yet very comfy. 8/10 B&M OTSR - Bulky, head banging. 3/10 Vekoma/Arrow OTSR - Bulky, head bang. 4/10 Vekoma vest - kills thighs, no head. 5/10 Intamin soft vest - comfy, fine. 6/10 Intamin T-Bar - small, free. 9/10 B&M clamshell - big, free. 8.5/10 Gerstlauer lapbar- free, easy. 7/10 RMC - big, heavy, shins. 6/10 Chance - same as RMC. 6/10 Premier lapbar - big, feet holders. 6/10 Premier vest - same as lapbar. 6/10 Mack+Imtamin over head lapbar… 10/10
Nothing beats Mack's overhead lapbar. I just finished a 63 coaster tour of 8 parks, and so many great rides were frankly spoiled by subpar restraints. If they'd have had Mack overhead lapbars, they would have been amazing. 63 coasters, no Macks, no Joy
B&M vests definitely aren’t comfy. literally any otsr? Lean forward. Vekoma vests are great, intamin soft “vests” (I don’t really consider them vests but that’s irrelevant) totally agree with you on the intamin t-bars and clamshells. RMC lap bars might seem big, but that doesn’t really matter because it distributes the forces more widely across your legs, which if you’ve ever ridden magnum, you know is a very good thing. Premiere comfort collars aren’t really vests because they aren’t tight on you unless you’re like 6’5”, and overhead lap bars are great (unless you get stapled on a Mack, which can hurt your groin)
@@WCfanboy me liking the B&M vests is definitely my most unpopular opinion but it’s more of a personal thing I guess. I’m not a fan of traditional OTSR because I don’t want to have to lean forward to enjoy a ride, but again that’s an unpopular opinion of mine and I totally get how people enjoy it. My only problem with RMC bars are the shin guards, and yes I’ve ridden magnum.. ouch. And I agree w Mack.. it’s also very common for Mack ots lapbars to tighten more during the ride on some of the older models (Manta and SWSD) and I don’t really have that problem on time traveler though so it must have been improved
I went on the six flags great america Viper, and they had a seatbelt with the buzz bar. I was riding with my mom and my sister, and as you said it dies have alot of airtime... so my sister FLOATED.
No, Viper has ratcheting lap bars on it's PTC trains, not buzz bars. In fact they appear to have gotten new PTCs. I was there in May and the trains look brand new. The ratcheting lap bars on Viper have a mechanism near the floor they're attached to that I cannot explain. I've never seen this on any other PTC train. The lap bars have springs that are so strong that they don't ratchet down during the ride unless you push them.
I'm not really a fan of coasters or other thrilling rides; I like rides that are gentle. But on the topic of the safety restraints rides use, seat belts and standard lap bars are the ones I'm most familiar with
I'm glad you enjoyed those restraints! Others I've talked to say that they sometimes staple you but I personally have never ridden a coaster with that type of restraint so I wouldn't know 🤷♂️
Over the shoulder restraints on most rides automatically make me hate it unfortunately. I'm really, really sensitive to headaches and even light head banging causes a headache that lasts the whole day 😔. I rode the Jersey Devil for the first time yesterday, which is an RMC raptor with vest restraints. And it was super comfortable!!! So happy about that. The ride was amazing.
When I was on Skyrush 2 weeks ago I thought for sure it was over. I thought I was flying out atleast 3 times. I love when I get that scared and your double thinking your decision
Vest restraints make me claustrophobic at the station but when the ride starts I don't feel them and it's great. Lap bars used to scare me but now I realize how good they are and now I love them on wooden coasters and also the Mack restraints
jet star 2 at lagoon kind of blurs the line between no restraint and seatbelt because you have to ride with someone else and they act like a wedge keeping you in
Now that I’ve been on a B&M Invert like Nemesis that has the classic OTS restraints, those HAVE to be my favourite. I know on some inverts and floorless coasters they may cause headbanging, but since Nemesis is now Nemesis Reborn I didn’t experience any headbanging. Also, it’s not just the restraints, but the seats and the restraints combined make me wish we would replace our sofas with a few of them, and I’m only half joking!
one time on maverick i got stapled so bad it felt like the blood circulation in my legs cut off and i could barely move my legs and it hurt so bad at the end.
Glad you mentioned the RMC Raptor restraints being painful, these are my least favorite restraints by a mile and I’m pretty at this point I’m famous for hating them 😂
@@coastercraziness oh ok, I just got to ride it yesterday and didn't mind the restraints at all. I actually liked them. But it's the first one I've ridden with the RMC vests. So I didn't know if maybe it was a height thing or not, I'm 5'4. The coaster was a ton of fun though! I hope you get on it soon 💜
Dunno if I just got unlucky with my vest restraint experience- Batman at discovery kingdom, Wonder Woman at magic mountain and I think west coast racers at magic mountain might count? It might just be my height but every time they dig painfully into my collarbone and it’s just… stupidly uncomfortable. Maybe I just haven’t been on the right one? I dunno. Hope to see a vest restraint someday that accommodates for taller people lol.
I’m a little under 5’10” and some vest restraints were fine while others were digging into my collarbone. They definitely aren’t created equally. Hopefully you do find a vest restraint that fits you comfortably.
I’ve been meaning to ride Raging Bull at Great America, but my huge fear and anxiety for lap bars is rlly pulling me back from enjoying stuff comfortably :( I just can’t bring myself to do it cuz I just don’t feel safe at all
Ride Raging Bull when you’re ready, but just remember these lap bars are designed to keep you in your seat. As long as you meet the height requirements and you pull the restraint all the way down, you shouldn’t worry about falling out. Maybe ride Vioer or American Eagle before since those rides also have lap bars. Hope this helps at least a little :)
Wild Chipmunk at Lakeside Amusement Park in Colorado also has no restraint. It also has no seat. It's literally like riding a roller coaster in a bathtub. You only have little bars outside the car to hold on to.
Intamin lap bar (new gen, as u said over the shoulder lap bar) is the best restrain cuz it give you a lot of freedom it giving you freedom on your entire upper body and also on your lower body you should rly try a coaster with them
It doesn't matter what your favorite type of restraint is because the more intense the ride, the more safe the restraint will be whether you like it or not.
Apparently lap bars can sometimes be knee crushing. It happens when you accidentally stick your knee out to the support beam smashing your knee. Happened to me today while riding on a ride. Im wondering if other people have experienced this before. 😢
Then I suggest you try not doing that, so you can overcome your fear (the ride train would not be allowed to dispatch if the restraint wasn't fully in place and safe)
They don’t seem too bad, but I know they are put on Gerstlauers with very quick transitions which would result in headbanging. Lap Bars definitely would be better for those.
In my opinion, the newest Intamin over the shoulder lapbar restraints are the best. They were introduced with Taron. I've ridden 2 coasters with these restraints (Taron in Phantasialand and Kondaa in Walibi Belgium), both of these were incredibly comfortable.
Classic Coaster at PNE (Washington State Fairgrounds) does not have buzz bars. This incredible, small coaster uses replicas of Prior & Church trains and has thin bars that move forward just a little before locking mechanically. "Buzz bars" are exclusive to PTC trains and are named for the buzzing sound the switch makes when the bars are unlockked.
Leap the Dips in Lakemont Park, Altoona, Pennsylvania Built in 1902. It is considered the oldest operating coaster in the world and of course no restraints!
I love lap bars you feel safe but a little free and they just feel comfortable and might just be me rollercoasters with lapbars are the best rollercoasters like steel vengeance or even maverick I think I haven't been to cedar point going next year
I recently rode new Mack in Korea, and the over head lap bar restraint and high-leveled seat gave me great freedom for my legs and overbody. Hands up for launch coaster was totally great.
I think its often not so much about the type of restraint, and they all have their pros and cons, but the right restraint for the right ride. Over the shoulder restraints for example aren't popular on many rides, but you don't hear many complaints about them on B&M inverts or dive coasters. In both cases the dangling sensation of being secured at the top whilst your legs are free is a bit part of the experience. Tame but rough older coasters with ots restraints though can be awful. Basic lap bars often work best. On the subject of no restraints, although not coasters, log flumes typically lack them too. Since they aren't secured to the track at all they lack any airtime though, and although they do often have some lateral forces, you sit low in them so aren't going to the thrown out unless standing up. The last coaster I rode on had old school busbars, but that was a 1930s "scenic railway" (no side contact, no upstops, the the wheels on the rails), although especially at the back it definitely gave some airtime on the drops. Basic ratchet system too (with plenty of movement) released by a wheel contacting a wooden rail opposite the platform, which also meant that the restraints release before it stops. The most intense part of the ride though is the second drop as it's steeper than the first, and drops through the structure so you get a great head chopper effect too, and the pullout at the bottom gives quite a bit of force.
One cool thing about my homepark Lagoon is we have a Schwarzkopf Jet Star 2. Lap sitting is required though, because the Rider closest to the front of the seat wears a seat belt, whilst the rider or two behind the front rider has their lap sat on as a restraint. So technically no restraints for most riders on a Jet Star coaster. Pretty awesome and spoiled experience to ride a rather intense ride for one where most times I've rode lately, it's been without any real restraint.
5:18 Superman got the U Bricks in 2009 the year they first retheme it to Bizarro actually because of the 2004 incident and Massachusetts State Law claims the T Bar restraints is too minimalistic for Superman and we’re forced to box all riders legs in more to prevent that accident again
Banchee at King’s Island restraints make you feel so safe. Except they tighten while riding and my hips bleed every time. Word on f advice if you ever ride it, tighten just enough so you are safe, cuz as soon as you make it up the lift hill it’ll tighten for ya.
i have ridden a lot of no restraint coasters. coasters like these are quite popular in european fun funfairs which usually come in a layout of a figure eight or oval
b&m Vests restraints stinks. Atleast on Yukon striker (and I assume valravn) when it drops it staples you and when you’re waiting in the break run it crushes your waist, idk if this happens on wing coasters and banshee tho. Have ridden a flyer and they were fine however
For seatbelts I think they should be there as a option but ride operators shouldn't buckle them unless their needed for a fit check because as you said wearing a seatbelt is a really high level of redundancy.
Can someone please explain to me how I won't fall out of a Giga's first drop without consciously pushing my things/lower body into the lap restraint? I've only been on one about 5 times, but each time I felt like if I didn't actively try to prevent it, I'd fly out. I know people pass out on 'coasters and they don't fly out. Should I just let go of this fear and try to get as much air time as possible, knowing that I am secure (somehow)? BTW, I am about average to slightly above in weight. Nothing crazy.
As long as you fit the height requirement, the lap bar is designed to comfortably keep you in the seat. I don’t know exactly how the science works but you shouldn’t be able to fall out, assuming you pulled the restraint all the way down on you.
The first time I had a vest restraint was when I went on Wonder Woman: flight of courage at Six Flags Magic Mountain, and it was a little odd but I still got some decent airtime on the ride, especially with it also being my first time riding a single rail coaster. A few other unique restraints that I experienced at Six Flags Magic Mountain was the X2 restraint and The Riddlers Revenge restraint, a pretty good restraint and an absolutely horrible restraint that made me and my entire family agree to never go on it again. X2 has their restraint as a sort of over the shoulder height adjustable thing, where you close the orange restraints over your chest and torso, and then push down until it just about touches your shoulders, and it keeps you locked in very great, leaving most of your lower body to wiggle around which can be pretty intense. Now the restraints for The Riddlers Revenge... Require you to stand. Now I haven't gone on it since October 2023, the first time I went to Six Flags ever, and I plan for it to be the last time I go on it in my life. From what I remember, it's an over the shoulder that makes you stand up completely straight, your feet are just barely flat on the ground of the cart, and the operators will ensure this for your safety. Now, I was going through "my ladies days" when I went on this, so I had a "cotton stick" in that day, and this ride made sure to really shove it up in there, and both my brother and dad did not have an enjoyable experience. So yeah those are the few unique ones I have personally experienced.
I experienced all of those last year. Flight of Courage's restraints felt more comfortable than I thought, and X2's weren't bad either. I was able to get a comfortable setup on Riddler's Revenge but I know not everyone is able to get that so I definitely understand.
i went to alton towers a fhew days ago and my head actually kinda hurted after i got off the smiler cause of the headbanging (also i waited like an hour and 40 mins) (edit Btw one of the bits of the handles i was getting hurt on had its like foam or rubber deteriorated off so there was a bit of metal hitting my head 😭)
