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Best Motorcycle Airbag Vests for Track Days

6 picks · Updated 19 October 2026 · Based on 51 owner posts and reviews

This guide covers motorcycle airbag vests and airbag suits that the maker says work on a track. Many vests sold for the street have no track mode, so we only picked systems with a listed race or track setting. That rules out several well-known street vests, and the buying guide below explains why.

Where purchasers have written enough reviews on sites we can read, the pick is owner-reported and we say how many reviews we read. Where they have not, it is spec-checked and based on the maker's page. Neither label means we tested the product. An airbag vest does not make a crash safe. Each entry says what the maker's page claims and which standards it names.

Prices are US dollars from the pages cited on 19 October 2026 and change often. UK readers should check UK pricing and service options with the maker.

We can’t test everything, so each pick is labelled with where the evidence comes from. How we research and test. Some links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you (disclosure).

PickProductPriceEvidence
Best vest to wear under a track suitAlpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma$869.95Owner-reported
Best track-focused vest, standalone or zipped into a suitAlpinestars Tech-Air 7X$1,099.95Owner-reported
Most coverage, adds hip protectionAlpinestars Tech-Air 10 V2 Race Airbag System$1,164.95Spec-checked
Lowest-priced Alpinestars vest with a race modeAlpinestars Tech-Air 5$649.95Owner-reported
Best built-in airbag, in a race suitRST Race Dept V4.2 D3O Kangaroo Airbag One-Piece Suit$1,699.99Owner-reported
Lower-priced vest with FIM wording and a published service intervalREV'IT! Avertum Tech-Air$580.99Spec-checked

1. Best vest to wear under a track suit

Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma

$869.95
Owner-reported

A slim under-jacket vest with a RACE mode, a built-in back protector and a canister you swap yourself. Owners who moved up from the original Tech-Air 5 describe it as lighter, cooler and easier to get a jacket or one-piece suit over. Two owners describe deploying it in a track crash.

What owners report · from 16 owner posts and reviews we read

  • Lighter and more comfortable than the original Tech-Air 5 (five owners)
  • Easier to get a jacket or full race suit on over it (three owners)
  • Owner-replaceable canister, no need to send the unit away (three owners)
  • Fits true to the size chart (several owners)
  • One owner says airflow is still limited in the zones meant to breathe, though others praise it
  • One owner found it a little heavier than expected
  • One owner found the canister wire connector had come loose behind the battery plate after swapping the canister, and fixed it after contacting Alpinestars support

Went off well before I hit the track on my low side crash.

It still doesn't have great air flow in the areas it's supposed to breathe, but it's way better than the previous version.

Owner threads we read (2)
Riding modes
STREET, OFF-ROAD and RACE. RACE is described as designed for any type of closed course track use
Weight
1,530 g
Battery
Up to 30 hours per charge
Inflator
Single canister, user-replaceable. Replacement canister $139.95
Deployments
Airbag certified for up to six deployments before it needs replacing
Standards named on the page
Inflatable protector: EN 1621-4:2013 Level 1 (full back). Passive back protector: EN 1621-2:2014 Level 1. System: EN 17092-6:2020 Class C undergarment
Sizes
XS to 4XL
Best for
Riders who want one vest for track days and the street, worn under a suit or jacket that leaves room for inflation.
Worth knowing
One canister means one deployment per charge. You need a spare ($139.95) to keep riding after a deployment.
Check price at alpinestars.com

Price seen at alpinestars.com, 19 Oct 2026.

2. Best track-focused vest, standalone or zipped into a suit

Alpinestars Tech-Air 7X

$1,099.95
Owner-reported

Alpinestars' vest for road racing and track days, sold to wear alone under a suit or to integrate with a Tech-Air ready suit. Alpinestars lists it as FIM-approved. Owner reviews are thin: six reviews, two of them from the same rider, so treat the evidence as limited.

What owners report · from 6 owner posts and reviews we read

  • One owner reports two low sides where it inflated before he hit the ground (one owner)
  • One owner says it is slimmer around the shoulders than the older Tech-Air Race and Tech-Air 5, with stretch panels, and zips into a Tech-Air compatible suit (one owner)
  • One owner reports the airbag did not deploy in a front-end tuck at Barber that ended in a dislocated shoulder (one owner)
  • One owner found it hard to wash because the airbag must be removed first (one owner, two reviews)

Both times it inflated before I hit the ground.

The airbag did not deploy. A* manual is unclear if the bag should or should not deploy in this situation.

Owner threads we read (1)
Riding modes
RACE for closed-circuit racetracks, STREET for road and light off-road. Switch in the Tech-Air App
Approvals named on the page
FIM-approved. CE Category II PPE under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. EN 17092-6:2020 Class C. EN 1621-2:2014 Level 1 integrated central back protector
Deployments
Dual inflators give two deployments before service. Airbag rated for 4 deployments if undamaged
Battery
Up to 20 hours per charge. About 1 hour of charging gives about 8 hours of use
Weight
Approx. 3.35 to 3.65 kg depending on size
Replacement parts
7X & Off-Road Replacement Canister Kit $209.95
Fit note
Certified as an undergarment. Pairs with Tech-Air ready suits, or other suits with 4 cm of chest clearance
Best for
Regular track riders and racers who want an FIM-approved system, particularly in a Tech-Air ready suit.
Worth knowing
Heavy next to the Plasma at 3.35 to 3.65 kg, and the replacement canister kit costs $209.95.
Check price at alpinestars.com

Price seen at alpinestars.com, 19 Oct 2026.

3. Most coverage, adds hip protection

Alpinestars Tech-Air 10 V2 Race Airbag System

$1,164.95
Spec-checked

Alpinestars calls this its most advanced airbag for racing and sport riding. It adds hip coverage to the shoulder, chest and back coverage of the smaller vests, and an LED display shows system status. It attaches to a snap-button base layer. We found no purchaser reviews of the V2 on the sites we can read, so this entry is spec-checked only.

Coverage
Shoulders, chest, full back and hips
Riding modes
RACE and STREET. RACE engages above 60 km/h after 10 seconds
Sensors and speed
12 sensors (3 tri-axial accelerometers, 1 tri-axial gyroscope). Deployment in 40 ms per Alpinestars
Protection rating named on the page
CE Level 2 certified for chest and back
Deployments
Certified for three deployments. After each one an integrity test must be performed. If the airbag passes, service is replacement of the gas inflators. Full service after the third deployment or if damage is detected
Inflators
Dual argon inflators, user-replaceable
Battery
Up to 24 hours. About 1 hour of charging gives up to 6 hours of use
Weight
2.3 kg (size M)
Best for
Regular track riders in a Tech-Air 10 ready race suit who want hip coverage as well.
Worth knowing
The most expensive vest here, and no owner reviews of the V2 were readable. Reviews of the older Tech-Air 10 are for a different revision and were not used.
Check price at alpinestars.com

Price seen at alpinestars.com, 19 Oct 2026.

4. Lowest-priced Alpinestars vest with a race mode

Alpinestars Tech-Air 5

$649.95
Owner-reported

The original Tech-Air 5 is still sold and costs $220 less than the Plasma. Owners like how it fits under textile jackets and several one-piece suits. They complain about heat, the app and sizing. Owners who upgraded to the Plasma describe the original as hotter and heavier.

What owners report · from 18 owner posts and reviews we read

  • Fits under textile jackets and several one-piece suits (four owners)
  • Race mode comes from a firmware update and switches in the phone app (three owners)
  • Phone app described as basic, slow or unreliable (four owners)
  • Runs warm and blocks airflow (four owners)
  • Fits snug, with several owners going up a size or struggling with fit (four owners)
  • After a deployment it goes back for service, and one owner reported weeks of waiting (one owner)

The App is the worst it is slow and drops connection constantly.

Owner threads we read (2)
Coverage
Shoulders, chest, ribs and full back
Wear
Under any proper fitting textile jacket or Tech-Air compatible jacket, or any leather jacket with 4 cm of space around the chest
Listed under
Alpinestars' racing airbag collection
Battery (per SportbikeTrackGear listing)
30 hours of riding on a charge
Race mode (per SportbikeTrackGear listing)
Street or track selected in the Alpinestars phone app
Best for
Riders on a tighter budget who want an Alpinestars vest with a track mode and can live with the extra bulk.
Worth knowing
Heavier and warmer than the Plasma, and one owner reported the unit going back to Alpinestars for weeks of repair after a deployment.
Check price at alpinestars.com

Price seen at alpinestars.com, 19 Oct 2026.

5. Best built-in airbag, in a race suit

RST Race Dept V4.2 D3O Kangaroo Airbag One-Piece Suit

$1,699.99
Owner-reported

A race suit with the In&motion airbag built in, so there is no vest to fit under the leathers. Two owners who also owned the V4.1 call the V4.2 an upgrade. Owners also say re-arming with a new cartridge is easy.

What owners report · from 11 owner posts and reviews we read

  • Two owners who also owned the V4.1 say the V4.2 is better (two owners)
  • Re-arming with a new cartridge is described as easy (five owners, from cartridge reviews that cover several RST suit generations)
  • Fits tighter than earlier RST suits, with thicker D3O armour (two owners)
  • One owner's new suit serial number was rejected at In&motion sign-up until support fixed it (one owner)

Love it, better than V4.1. More comfortable and more protection.

Had my first deployment in a low side.

Owner threads we read (2)
Airbag
In&motion system with an In&box control unit. Wireless, no cable or sensors on the bike
Detection modes
Street, Track and Adventure. One mode comes with your plan. To make Track your included mode, enter the suit's serial number at sign-up
In&motion plan, US page
Revolution rental $120 a year, or Classic purchase $400. Extra modes $25 a year each
Battery
About 30 hours of continuous use, 2 to 3 hours to recharge (In&motion)
Re-arming
Replacement inflator cartridge $99.99. Listing says the airbag bladder can be deployed five times, one deployment per cartridge
Suit rating on the listing
CE Certification Rating AAA, with D3O Level 2 armour at back, shoulder, elbow, hip and long knee
Materials
Kangaroo leather, premium drum-dyed cowhide, AST-R, with Kevlar and Superfabric reinforcement
Best for
Track riders who want the airbag in the suit and are happy to pay a yearly or one-off In&motion plan.
Worth knowing
The airbag needs an In&motion plan on top of the suit price, and two owners say the D3O armour makes it fit tighter than earlier RST suits.
Check price at sportbiketrackgear.com

Price seen at sportbiketrackgear.com, 19 Oct 2026.

6. Lower-priced vest with FIM wording and a published service interval

REV'IT! Avertum Tech-Air

$580.99
Spec-checked

REV'IT!'s own Tech-Air vest sells for $580.99 at the sale price shown, which undercuts the Alpinestars vests. REV'IT! states a deployment count and a service interval on the product page, which most makers do not. We found no purchaser reviews to read, so this entry is spec-checked only.

Race wording
REV'IT! says it is fully race ready and fully compliant with the "FIM Requirements for Grand Prix Airbags 2018"
Standard named on the page
EN 17092-6:2020 (the page prints the class as "CU")
Back protector
Integrated CE-Level 1 back protector
Deployments
Three airbag deployments before the system needs servicing and recharging
Service interval
Serviced at least once every two years or 500 hours of use, whichever comes first, even if never deployed
Battery
About 30 hours when fully charged. Magnetic micro-USB charger
Wear
Under a jacket or leather suit with room for inflation. Tech-Air system needs 4 cm of space around the chest
Best for
Track riders who want a lower-priced vest and are happy to confirm its track settings with REV'IT! before buying.
Worth knowing
The page does not list riding modes or say how a track mode is selected, so confirm that with REV'IT! before using it on track. The page showed "4 in stock" for the default size, so check your size.
Check price at revitsport.com

Price seen at revitsport.com, 19 Oct 2026 (regular price $829.99).

How to choose

Electronic or tethered

Every system in this guide is electronic. Sensors and a crash algorithm decide when to inflate, and nothing connects to the bike. In&motion says its airbags work "without cable or sensors that must be installed on the motorbike". Dainese and Alpinestars describe their vests the same way.

Tethered systems use a cord to the bike. Helite, for one, sells both mechanical and electronic ranges. We could not find a maker page that says a tethered vest is made or approved for track use, so we have not picked one. If you own a tethered vest, ask your organiser before you bring it.

Track mode matters

Makers tune the algorithm for where you ride. Alpinestars says the Tech-Air 10 V2 RACE mode engages above 60 km/h after 10 seconds, and that STREET mode offers broader coverage. In&motion says Track mode is for approved closed circuits and Street mode is for paved roads. Dainese says its Track riding mode can only be used on the track.

That means a street vest is the wrong tool for track days unless the maker lists a track or race mode. Alpinestars lists the Tech-Air 3 V2 under street airbags and describes its detection for street scenarios. Dainese's Smart Air has Road, Offroad and EV modes and no track mode. Klim's Ai-1 vest lists Track Mode as "Not available in USA or Canada", and Klim says one-piece leather suits are not approved to be worn under it. In&motion's own US page says Track mode is available in the USA and Canada "if you have a compatible airbag product", which in practice means the RST suits and other garments on its equipped list.

What the standards test

EN 1621-4 is the European standard for inflatable protectors. The testing lab SATRA says Level 1 is for protectors designed to give adequate protection, Level 2 gives more, and inflation is filmed with a camera that records at least 200 frames per second. Alpinestars describes the standard as requiring impact protection for not less than five seconds after activation.

Other marks you will see: EN 17092-6 Class C covers armour-only garments, EN 1621-2 covers back protectors, and "FIM approved" is a racing approval. Alpinestars lists the 7X as FIM-approved. A standard describes a test result. It does not promise an outcome in a crash.

Of the picks, only the Plasma's page names EN 1621-4. The Tech-Air 10 V2 says only "CE Level 2 certified for chest and back". Dainese says its D-air Racing airbag passed EN 1621.1 and EN 1621.4 tests. Read the label on the exact unit you buy.

Fit and clearance

A vest needs room to inflate. Alpinestars says the Tech-Air 5 needs about 4 cm of space around the chest inside a jacket, and that Tech-Air compatible garments are built with that room. REV'IT! gives the same 4 cm figure. The 7X is certified as an undergarment to be used under a protective garment.

Try the vest on with the exact suit or jacket you will wear on track. Several owners of the original Tech-Air 5 found it snug, and one went up two sizes before it fitted. SportbikeTrackGear's Tech-Air 5 page prints a table that maps vest sizes to jacket sizes. Check a chart like that before ordering.

Klim states its Ai-1 vest is not compatible with neck braces. Ask the maker about neck braces before you combine them with any vest.

Servicing, deployments and running costs

Deployment limits differ by product. Alpinestars lists three for the Tech-Air 10 V2, with an integrity test after each, and six for the Plasma. REV'IT! lists three for the Avertum and a service at least every two years or 500 hours. In&motion's RST suit listings say the bladder can be deployed five times, with one cartridge per deployment.

Most Alpinestars pages we read do not state a calendar service interval. Check the manual for the exact unit. Alpinestars also says that, because of dangerous goods shipping rules for air and road transport, you cannot ship a Tech-Air yourself for return or service and must take it to a Tech-Air Hub, which exist only in select countries. Ask Alpinestars Customer Care how US service works before you buy.

In&motion comes with a plan. On its US page, a Revolution rental costs $120 a year and a Classic purchase costs $400. Each plan includes one detection mode, and extra modes are $25 a year. Charge before every session. Alpinestars' own track day checklist lists a fully charged battery, the correct riding mode and updated firmware.

What organisers and series require

Organisers differ and change their rules, so check your organiser's current rulebook. On 19 October 2026 we read four organisers' published gear rules. Trackdaz asks for a CE-approved foam back protector at minimum. Silverstone says all riders must wear a back protector. No Limits Trackdays says a back protector is compulsory at all circuits. 2-Fast's FAQ does not mention airbags or back protectors. None of the four required an airbag.

Racing is different. The 2026 MotoAmerica Technical Regulations (version 8-14-2026), article 2.12.6, say permanent riders and riders in more than five MotoAmerica events must use a rider suit airbag that conforms to the FIM requirements. Article 2.12.5 requires a back protector. We could not read the rules pages for N2 Track Days, Pro6 or MSV, so we have not cited them.

Questions buyers ask

Do I need an airbag for a track day?+

Not on the organiser pages we read. Trackdaz, Silverstone and No Limits require a back protector, and 2-Fast does not mention an airbag. MotoAmerica requires a suit airbag for riders in more than five events. Check your organiser's current rules.

Can I wear my street airbag vest on track?+

Only if the maker lists a track or race mode for it. Alpinestars lists the Tech-Air 3 V2 as a street system. Dainese's Smart Air has Road, Offroad and EV modes. Klim lists Track Mode as not available in the USA or Canada for the Ai-1.

How many times can an airbag vest deploy?+

It depends on the model. Alpinestars lists three for the Tech-Air 10 V2, up to six for the Plasma, and four per airbag for the 7X if undamaged (it carries two inflators at a time). REV'IT! lists three for the Avertum. Dainese lists three for its racing and Smart Air airbags. After a deployment, follow the maker's inspection and service steps.

Does In&motion cost a subscription?+

It is a plan. On its US page, the Revolution plan is a $120 a year rental and the Classic plan is a $400 purchase. Each includes one detection mode. Extra modes cost $25 a year. To make Track your included mode on an RST suit, you enter the suit's serial number at sign-up.

Can I put an airbag vest under a one-piece leather suit?+

Only if the maker approves it. Alpinestars says the 7X is certified as an undergarment, and Tech-Air ready suits are built with room for it. Klim says one-piece leather suits are not approved to be worn under the Ai-1. Try the vest on with your suit before buying.

Does the vest replace a back protector?+

Some vests include one. The Plasma has an integrated EN 1621-2:2014 Level 1 back protector, and the 7X has an integrated Level 1 central back protector. Ask your organiser whether it accepts the built-in protector as the required back protector.

Can I ship an Alpinestars airbag back for service?+

Alpinestars' site says that, because of IATA and ADR dangerous goods rules, consumers may not ship Tech-Air products themselves and must deliver them in person to a Tech-Air Hub, which exist only in select countries. Contact Alpinestars Customer Care before purchase to confirm how service works for you.

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