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Your experience with airbags?

 
According to TSA:

Except for personal medical oxygen cylinders, you can only carry an EMPTY compressed gas cylinder onboard a plane. To be permitted (in either carry-on or checked baggage), it must be clearly visible to the TSA officer that the cylinder is empty.
 
So if CO2 cartridges are ok for a life vest, could the argument be made that an airbag vest fits that requirement? 😀
I mean, an airbag vest kinda looks like a life vest and is used to save lives.
No?
 
Do you guys take these on airplanes "charged" or are you supposed to take the bottle off?
Thanks
I've heard you can take on the ones that use argon (like Astars), but co2 cannot be taken onto airplanes

Edit: I just saw the updated posts, guess you can only take on the empty cannisters
 
i am not a lawyer but it falls under the life-jacket exemption according to my reading. i would do the following if traveling with one:

  • Photocopy the TSA Guideline document (TSA STANDARD)
  • Laminate it and keep it in the baggage I am carrying containing the lifejacket and spare cylinder.
  • Include my cell phone number on the document to allow TSA, FAA or Air Carrier to call me if there is a question.
  • Tell the airline (at the counter to check baggage) that I am carrying an inflatable lifejacket and spare cylinder. I show them a copy of their website page that allows the CO2 Cylinders. I have checked my bag with the lifejacket inside and have carried it on.
  • https://www.ussailing.org/education...raveling-with-your-lifejacket-tsa-guidelines/
 
Thanks for the clarifications. I saw kids post and so wanted to answer with a smart ass remark. Now feel I can.

Not counting on my airbag vest to save me in a plane crash.
<—- what a d!ck. :teeth
 
I ordered co2 for Japan but traveled to Italy with a loose cartridge in checked luggage without incident.
The above paperwork is probably a good idea. My impression is that Hit-Air is very popular with the equestrian crowd so worldwide access is good.
 
It's a standard 65g CO2 cartridge.
 
Just ran across this last night looking at Cycle News <-- link to air bag bit.

 
I kind of love this comment from the video:
Had my original smart air Jacket nearly 5 years, fortunately have yet to need to use it but it's been a faultless almost transparent piece of Tech. Look forward to upgrading to the new version in 25
Well, if the they've never needed it, how can there be a claim that its been faultless? For all they know the device was dead on arrival, save for the advance LED blinking technology.

Always a problem with passive systems.
 
Confirmation bias.
 
Correct me if I’m wrong but don’t clavicle fractures occur when you put your hand out to stop a fall and the impact jerks your arm upward breaking the clavicle?
Airbag jackets/vests protect the ribs/chest/ spine areas.

Many clavicle fractures on motos come from helmet impact into clavicle; not direct ground.
 
4th to go with the helmet theory. This is why some (like my Hit-Air MLV) inflate a "donut" around your neck to secure the helmet.
 
I have a Hit-Air vest with a tether. I can stand up fine on the pegs and the tether is still 'loose' enough to not be a problem. I've also gotten off the bike multiple times and forgotten to untether and, whilst comical, the vest hasn't gone off. I know it CAN go off, because I practiced pulling the tether very hard (with no gas canister in the vest, obviously).

The vest goes outside the jacket. During summer, riding through the Central Valley in triple-digit temps, I'll unzip the vest, unzip the jacket and fold the front back on itself (leaving a big 6" open gap in front) and the zip the vest back up. Yeah, it's still as hot as balls, but some shifting around can get some airflow down there. At the end of the day, you're in super-hot temps - whatcha gonna do?

Hit-Air (and, I think, Helite) can be repacked by you if they do go off and the airbag bit is undamaged. Replacement cartridges are fairly cheap.

Personally I don't like the electronic ones that use accelerometers, but that's just me - they work. I just don't want the hassle of having to charge them, plus the possibility of the company deciding to go to a subscription model. Just give me a physical object I own and I'm good.

FWIW, I wear the vest when out for longer rides, but not always round the City. Some gear you wear all the time, some of it only sometimes.
 
I wear the Tech Air 7 for trackdays, but it does have a Street mode, too.

In Street mode, it will deploy if you are stationary and rear ended, provided the other vehicle is going at least 15 mph.

The TA-7 can be transported in the cargo hold provided that you disconnect the battery from the inflator module.

The manuals says to download the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) to help with documenting transportation approval.

I briefly had a Tech Air 5 that I was about to add a tailbone protector to. But then the Tech Air 7 was released, and I upgraded to it since it has the airbag covering the tailbone.

It fits better under my Alpinestar Fusion suit since it fits like a tight bolero rather than a loose/snug vest like the TA-5. It's also little easier to get the track suit shoulder on and breathes better. Part of it is washable, too.

I do not like the adaptor zipper which is designed to fit into some Alpinestar suits, but that's a minor thing.

Regarding fracture protection, below is a youtuber, Hiimchad, breaking his collar bone despite an integrated airbag suit, @ 20:10
.


I broke mine impacting my shoulder blade in a non airbag suit. I had a back protector on, but it does not spread out to the blades.

I think the airbag minimizes the severity of upper body injuries. I dislike like the extra layer of heat though, so I chose a well perforated suit.

Last year, I started wearing a one piece chest protector under my suit, since the airbag doesn't cover the sternum. The Alpinestar Nucleon KR-cell CiR which is CE level 2. It is well perforated and I don't notice any body heat increase at speed.
 
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I'm the type of person that always second guesses whether I turned something on, plugged something in, or canceled my turn signal.

I wear a Hit-Air vest with a tether. A simple sweep of the hand (without taking my eyes off the road) lets me know that's it's on (tethered).

An electronic vest with a status light on the chest - How do you tell if it's on when you're riding? You can't see your chest with your helmet on.
 
An electronic vest with a status light on the chest - How do you tell if it's on when you're riding? You can't see your chest with your helmet on.
I can see my Helite status light in my mirror by leaning slightly to the side.

-Bill
 
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