Product Review: Equine BandaFLEX

Kristen Kovatch put Hamilton BioVet’s Equine BandaFLEX bandages to the cowgirl test, and was impressed with the results!

Riding horses on a cattle farm means that whether I’m out on a recreational ride, training a young horse or riding out to check on the herd, I’m out in the field. On an average day’s ride we’re stomping through streams, mud, cow pies, thistles and who knows what else–so keeping wounds clean and protected is a constant struggle. Fortunately, Hamilton BioVet ‘s line of Equine BandaFLEX bandages are up to the task. I took these bandages for a test ride to see for myself.

Equine BandaFLEX comes in three sizes: small, medium and large, depending on the size of the injury. The packaging markets the bandages as “one-step instant wound care” and I unfolded one of the small bandages to reveal a built-in gauze pad for applying ointments or medicines. The entire stretchy bandage can then be applied over the injury site and wrapped snugly and securely around the leg, where built-in closures anchor the whole thing shut. And it’s that easy–no wrestling with gauze, padding and wrap, wishing I had three more hands to hold everything secure. In about five seconds I had Red’s leg bandaged up neatly and we were ready to go.

The pre-ride shot–nice, neat, and a total of about five seconds of work to apply.

On this particular ride I wasn’t using any additional boots or wraps, but it would have been a cinch to put those on over the Equine BandaFLEX–you can see in the photo how sleek and form-fitting this bandage is to the leg, as though it’s hardly there at all. There’s none of the bulk of a conventional bandage, so I could have easily added splint boots, sports medicine boots or polos.

Red and I headed out to the cow pasture to put the Hamilton BioVet’s Equine BandaFLEX to the real cowgirl test–it’s been rainy here in western New York state all summer, so when I say the fields are a little damp I really mean that everything everywhere is a massive cow-pie scented mud pit, and the creeks are running fairly high. We spent about half an hour on some softening and suppling exercises in the flat lower pasture before heading back towards the upper pasture, crossing a creek and trekking up and down a boggy slope before finding the herd. I paused to let Red get a drink in the creek where I was able to confirm that yes, the BandaFLEX was still with us, securely attached and exactly where I had applied it.

Yep, still there.

On our way back home, I checked out the bandage when I dismounted to open a tricky gate. The beauty of the BandaFLEX is that it’s supple and stretchy but doesn’t cord or tighten like a conventional vet wrap, meaning that despite the soaking I had put my horse’s legs through the bandage itself was virtually unchanged. The closures kept everything snugly shut but didn’t shrink or tighten. The bandage fabric has enough give to it that I probably could have applied it even a little bit tighter without harming Red’s legs. I was impressed that other than looking a little grimy after a very thorough test, the BandaFLEX had hung on for the ride.

Back at the barn, I removed the BandaFLEX easily–no bandage scissors required, just open up the closure tab and unwrap. At $15.50 for a variety package of ten, there’s no easier way to go for protecting leg wounds. Without tape or adhesive, there’s no worry about pulling out hair or sutures, making Hamilton BioVet’s Equine BandaFLEX my new favorite for taking care of my horses.

The Equine BandaFLEX wraps were developed by PawFlex Bandages.

Go riding!