Hit-Air Airbag Jacket

[ArmyValker]

Hey guys, thought I'd post a real hands on review of one of them new "airbag jackets."

Anyway, I ride a long way to work everyday covering 2 of the 4 most dangerous roads in Missouri, not to mention the traffic on base... Anyway, I was in the market for an armored jacket and talked myself into trying a Hit-Air GP2 Airbag Jacket.

Construction is excellent, armor is high quality and it fits WELL! It's made in Japan, but I'm about 6'2" 210Lbs, usually don't fit in any "armored" jackets well... this thing fits perfectly in size XL. It's actually a little too big if you can believe it...
Anyway, the jacket comes with a steel loop with some nice insulation on it to protect your paint... has a quick connect buckle and you have to clip in and out everytime you get on, just like a snowmobile.

The jacket is pretty heavy, alot heavier than my old leather jacket I used to wear, but not as hot. This jacket is gonna be hot in the heat. Yesterday I was scorchin so bad I pulled over and stripped my uniform jacket off and threw it in the trunk. It's a little hot, but it's also full of armor, so it's not unexpected. The zipper is the only gripe I have... for a 300+ dollar jacket it seems like a dinky ass zipper. The quality of the materials, looks, armor, and overall comfort level of it I'd rate as excellent.

Hopefully I won't have to test out the airbag.

I've already forgot to unclip about 5 times, but the "pull" required to set off the airbag is substantial, and you get a lot of reminding before that happens. I think they said it's a 60lb pull required.

Overall, I've been very impressed with it for the price (389.99) and I'm always willing to spend more money on safety equipment if I think it'd be worth it.

I feel a lot better on those long rides @ 4 am on windy country roads!

As I watch the "Accident Reports" come across my desk everyday, I've slowly have gone from riding in uniform, a reflective vest and a skullcap to fullface helmet, armored jacket, gloves, reflective vest, knee armor and I can't imagine I'd feel comfortable with any less.

[Black Dog]

Thanks for the review Army.  I too have been slowly building up my 'armor', and using it more and more for long rides.  Used to be leather jacket, if at all, and wore my helmet less than 50% of the time (no rules and regs, like you).  Now, I pretty much wear my 1/2 helmet all the time, with a full faced modular Fulmer as my cold/rainy weather backup.

I've purchased 'Firstgear' MeshTex Pants and Jacket, along with my Joe Rocket summer mesh.  All have armor, but not quite in the class of your wearable air bag    Another often overlooked part of protection are boots...  I've been wearing Cruiserworks boots for the past 5 years now, and love them. 

We do what we can to protect ourselves from those that are out to squish us 

Black Dog

[BudMan]

Hi Army,
Did you find the jacket in the Exchange? I am switching to an air bag jacket and was wondering when the BX would start carrying them.  Haven't been on Base in a while.

[Oss]

I have had the jacket over a year now and wear it all winter, just with the liner from my joe rocket jacket and my killamanjaro jacket underneath when it dips below freezing.

It is comfortable in high heat situations, being a silver color and  I have not set it off by accident either

Those who know me this is no small feat as I consistently fail to unhook until I feel the tug of the loop.

The fit is so much better than the joe rocket on my body  I would recommend either the jacket or vest