In keeping with the ski season, we have TechWatch and the Smart ski airbag tested by the French company In&motion and search the market for copycat models. The vest was presented at the Consumer Electronics Show 2016 and is enjoying more and more users this season at the latest. Like an airbag shoots open the vest within 100 milliseconds and protects the skier from dangerous impacts. In the middle of the year, other companies also started with the protective vest. In today's news we will clarify which of these copycat models really make sense and who just wants to jump on the moving train unprepared.
Smart & Save
Smart devices such as watches, bracelets or household appliances are already familiar at home. However, last year In&motion launched an innovation that has become indispensable in today's ski racing. The Smart Ski Airbag is not only (as the name suggests) extremely smart, but also ensures great safety. The vest has a transmitter that communicates with sensors on the skier's skis. More than 1000 analyzes per second are carried out and the position of the skier is monitored by the vest. If there is a sudden change in the skis, the vest inflates within 0,1 seconds and has just the right pressure to protect the falling skier from a hard impact. It protects the neck, chest, hips, stomach and back area with 6 individual air cushions.
The idea was so revolutionary that one or two manufacturers have now imitated the vest and there are also models that protect motorcyclists. An airbag even inflates over the shoulders and protects around the neck, which means that dangerous vertebral injuries could be reduced fourfold. An absolutely brilliant invention! It is not only smart, but also extremely safe!
Other models
The disadvantage of the extremely safe vest for skiing or snowboarding is the price. While professional athletes get the ski airbag, hobby skiers can only get it for €999,99. This will bring almost all riders back to earth and let them reach for the tried and tested hard plastic back protector.
If you still want to rely on the safer air cushion, you already have cheaper alternatives. For example the "Vario Base Unit" backpack from ABS. But beware! This backpack is purely against avalanche danger. Two air cushions inflate on the sides of the backpack, which should prevent you from going under in an avalanche.
The AirFree Alpride from Scott protects the neck, but has to be activated by yourself and is also only intended against avalanches.
So far there is only one alternative to the ingenious but at the same time expensive airbag from I&M, which is sold by Rosignol. The Ortovox FreeRider offers at least (as the name suggests) free riders sufficient protection in the event of a fall. Firstly, for €670 it is still extremely expensive and secondly it is not really as good as the airbag from I&M.
Clear monopoly
So it can be said that the safety of this innovation for the average Joe skier is still a long way off. That's a shame, of course, but the sophisticated technology justifies the (albeit very) high price. Hopefully there will be a turnaround within the next few years that will make the vest suitable for the mass market from a purely price point of view. I'm sure many skiers and snowboarders would jump at it without hesitation! But even if that's still a long way off, Techwatch wishes you a nice winter season and don't forget: Stay safe! Wear helmet and back belt!
