Airvests tested

Life Savers?

Two alternative airbag vests

Words and Pics: Pete and Janet Laidlaw

Afew years ago, airbag vests were almost unheard of. If you can remember the 1970s it’s the sort of thing that would come up in an Ogri cartoon, portrayed as the latest crazy idea from TRL. But these wearable airbags for bikers are now well established and there’s quite a bit of choice. They’re not cheap, with prices starting at around £400 plus servicing/updates, but what are they like to live with? We asked BMF life members Pete and Janet Laidlaw.

Helite vest - Pete

I have used the Helite for several years and ridden thousands of miles with it. I tried one out at a Manchester show and was given a demonstration, with a sharp tug on the lanyard leaving me comfortably set rigid and supported fully from neck to pelvis. The vest does deflate slowly after a short time so normal movement is restored.

It works via a lanyard on the bike, which you clip the vest to once on board. The system is simple and mechanical, so there’s very little to go wrong.

The vest fits over the outside of your jacket and is comfortable although you are aware of the extra outer layer but also that there is an extra protection. People often ask what happens if you forget to unclip the lanyard when getting off the bike to park or fill up? Well, nothing really because there needs to be a strong pull of around 15kg to set the vest off – I can vouch for that, having tried to dismount several times without unclipping first and just felt a small tug to remind me. On the other hand I have sometimes set off forgetting to clip on the lanyard, and then it is almost impossible to clip on without stopping.

It’s useful to compare my Helite with Janet’s In&Motion (see below) but personally I prefer the simple mechanics of the Helite rather than electronics.

In&Motion vest - Janet

I have used an In&Motion vest for two years. It is very light and flexible compared to the Helite, designed to be worn underneath a motorcycle jacket which must give at least 13cm when fully stretched.

It is not waterproof but in normal use my jacket or waterproofs keep it dry. In cold weather it keeps me warm and I only need a thin Merino wool jumper underneath but it’s not too hot in warm weather either. It has also kept remarkably clean. The big plus is that it doesn’t need to be physically attached to the bike though it is more expensive to buy and operate via subscription to the app and regular updates.

The battery life is exceptional and very quick to top up via a normal USB connector because the small inflator unit removes from the jacket for charging and clips back in securely with a green light showing that it is connected and ready to go.

I’ve found the In&Motion to be a very accessible and user-friendly system which works for me. The French maker is also very easy to contact and has easy to follow product information and advice via the app, website, Facebook & Twitter.