Have questions about our Helite Airvests?

From how the airbag technology works to sizing, cartridges, care, and travel — we've gathered answers to the questions we hear most about our Helite Airvests. Browse by topic below.

Technology

Helite equestrian airbag systems are provided with a mechanical detection system including one lanyard, one saddle strap to be installed on the horse's saddle, and one CO2 cartridge. To activate the system, the rider simply has to hook up the carabiner of the lanyard on the saddle strap. No tools or technical knowledge are required for this installation.

In case of a fall, the lanyard will unhook and the gas cartridge will deploy the airbag in less than 100 ms (faster than the blink of an eye). The airbag absorbs the impact and completely stabilizes the upper body from head to tailbone. After inflation, the system can be reused and reconditioned by the rider in less than 2 minutes — simply change the gas cartridge. For an airvest to deploy, the rider and the horse must be separated.

Saddle straps are easy to install and don't require any special tools or knowledge.

Remove the two stirrup leathers from your saddle.
Attach the two Y-arms on each side of your saddle to the stirrup bars. You will probably have to loosen the saddle strap to reach the stirrup bars.
Put your stirrup leathers back on. Once the installation is complete, make sure to adjust your saddle strap and lanyard properly.

Caution: only hook the lanyard to the saddle strap, since any other part of the saddle could break in case of a fall. Please make sure your lanyard cannot wrap around the saddle.

Watch: How to install your saddle straps

Your saddle straps should not be too long or too short. If the saddle strap is too long, it might delay the inflation of the airbag. If it's too short, it might deploy the airbag unexpectedly, especially when descending.

The saddle strap is the only part of the saddle that safely connects the airbag and rider to the horse. Stirrup bars are strong, centered on the saddle, and won't break in the event of a fall.

In the event of a fall, the unique shape of the Helite airbag offers optimal, complete protection of the vital areas: spinal column, kidneys, thorax, and hips. It compresses the trunk for better resistance to hyper-extension and stabilizes the head and neck. Our airbags also provide trunk stiffening to protect internal organs such as the lungs, pancreas, abdomen, stomach, and liver, while stabilizing the head, neck, and spine to help avoid whiplash injuries and hyperextension.

The inflation time of Helite's airbag systems is 100 ms — faster than the blink of an eye. This speed allows the system to inflate a large volume at optimal pressure.

Helite's airbags offer the biggest protection volume on the market, between 14 and 28 L depending on the size of the airbag. The bigger the volume, the more impact is absorbed in the event of a fall.

Yes. All Helite airbag systems are CE certified by ALIENOR CERTIFICATION, an independent French laboratory specializing in testing personal protective equipment.

No — the system is entirely mechanical, with no battery or electronics to charge. A simple annual check is all that's needed to keep it working properly.

Size

It's important to choose the right size of airbag system for optimal protection.

Hint: measuring your back is a good indication for finding the right size.

Caution: the minimum weight of the user must be 35 kg (77 pounds). Our airbag systems must always be worn over your clothing or rigid protection, so keep that in mind when measuring. For the AIRJACKET model, a fist-width of space should be left between the vest and the clothing worn underneath.

Disciplines

Helite equestrian airbag systems are provided with a mechanical detection system including one lanyard, one saddle strap to be installed on the horse's saddle, and one CO2 cartridge. To activate the system, the rider simply has to hook up the carabiner of the lanyard on the saddle strap. No tools or technical knowledge are required for this installation.

In case of a fall, the lanyard will unhook and the gas cartridge will deploy the airbag in less than 100 ms (faster than the blink of an eye). The airbag absorbs the impact and completely stabilizes the upper body from head to tailbone. After inflation, the system can be reused and reconditioned by the rider in less than 2 minutes — simply change the gas cartridge. For an airvest to deploy, the rider and the horse must be separated.

Noise

It's very rare that horses spook when the airbag deploys. The inflation happens so quickly that the horse has no time to register what happened and react to it.

How to wear the Helite Airvest Zip'in

All Helite airbag systems are delivered ready to use, meaning you can use the airbag directly after your purchase. Each airbag consists of one cartridge, one lanyard, and a saddle strap. Make sure to install the saddle strap correctly to the stirrup bars and read the user guide carefully.

The AirJacket is worn over your equipment (garment and rigid protection). The Zip'In Airbag is combined with a compatible outer via a zip, or can be worn on its own.

Caution: remember to close the adjustment straps (AirJacket) and the zip (Zip'In) to get the best protection in case of a fall.

Helite outers and airbags are designed for outdoor use, including when it rains. In case of heavy rain, we recommend adding a rain cape, and hanging the vest to dry once you're back at the barn.

For the AirJacket, there's no problem, since it's made to be worn on top of your equipment (jacket or rigid protection). For the Zip'in vest, it's not recommended, as it may fit very tightly under the vest.

The Helite equestrian airbag can be worn under a compatible garment or on top of any other garment. Please note that only clothing with the compatible logo guarantees your airbag will deploy correctly, ensuring maximum safety.

Don't wear the airbag under any garment that isn't labeled compatible — in the event of a fall, the airbag may not deploy correctly. Only garments with the "compatible" label ensure the airbag deploys correctly and protects the rider safely.

Cartridges

Cartridges come in three sizes — 50cc, 60cc, and 85cc — and the right one depends on the size of your airbag vest. The size is indicated inside the vest where the cartridge is inserted, on the cartridge label, in the user guide, or on the Helite website. Only genuine Helite cartridges should be used: if another brand is used, the warranty doesn't apply and Helite won't be responsible in case of a malfunction.

No, cartridges are single-use. Once a cartridge has fired, there's no more gas — recycle it where applicable in your area, or dispose of it in the garbage.

Unscrew the bearing cap, remove the spent cartridge, and replace the piston and key-ball. Close the bearing cap and screw in a new Helite cartridge of the same capacity — the whole process takes less than 2 minutes and doesn't require any tools.

Cartridges carry a 10-year warranty. We advise checking yours once a year: unscrew it and weigh it on a kitchen scale. The weight should be within ±3g of the labeled weight for 50cc and 60cc cartridges, or ±5g for 85cc cartridges. Discard and replace immediately if you notice any rust or corrosion.

Falling

After a fall and the deployment of the airbag, the rider can get back on their horse within a few minutes. The airbag is easy to recondition without any intervention on our part — simply replace the empty cartridge with a new Helite cartridge of the same capacity.

When the rider is ejected from the saddle, it pulls the key ball lanyard, activating the system so that gas deploys into the airbag in less than 100 ms (faster than the blink of an eye). The airbag absorbs the impact, stabilizing the upper body from head to tailbone, protecting internal organs, and helping prevent whiplash.

The airbag vest inflates in less than 100 ms, protecting and stabilizing the upper body for 15–20 seconds before slowly deflating. After 5–7 minutes it will be completely deflated.

Tip: to deflate the airbag more quickly, unscrew the cartridge. You can remove the airbag right after the fall.

Dismounting

It depends on the force of the pull. If you dismount smoothly, the system generally won't deploy; if you jump off, the system might deploy. Helite airbag systems include a mechanical safeguard preventing unexpected activation — the tractive force required to trigger the airbag is between 20 and 30 kg, depending on the size. If the rider forgets to detach before dismounting, they'll feel a strong tension on their garment. Like a seatbelt in a car, attaching and detaching the lanyard quickly becomes second nature.

Maintenance

We advise doing an annual check to make sure your airbag is working correctly.

Unscrew the CO2 cartridge and check its weight to make sure no gas has escaped.
Open the activation system (using the Allen key provided), clean the components with a cloth, and check for any abnormal deterioration or rust.

Watch: Annual inspection video

AirJacket: do not machine wash or immerse in water. Clean by rubbing gently with a soft cloth and soapy water.

Zip'in airbag: do not machine wash or immerse in water. Clean by rubbing gently with a soft cloth and soapy water (avoid detergents that could damage the fabric).

Outers: can be machine washed at 30°C / warm water. Do not tumble dry, or lay near a radiator or other source of intense heat. Once clean, store the airbag in a dry place away from humidity.

Warranty

All Helite airbag systems come with a standard 2-year warranty. Registering your product at my.helite.com within 3 months of purchase adds a further 2-year extension, for up to 4 years of coverage total. For registration, you'll need your serial number (located on your product), the date of purchase, and your invoice.

Cartridges carry a 10-year warranty. We recommend checking the weight yearly against the value printed on the cartridge label, and replacing it immediately if you notice any rust or corrosion.

Travelling with your airbag vest

You can travel with a Helite airbag by bus, car, or train without any restrictions. If you travel by plane, you may encounter some difficulty with security services regarding the CO2 cartridges used to inflate the airbag. Under IATA regulation, you're allowed to fly with 2 gas cartridges (each under 200cc), in the cabin or in the hold — though even where the regulation allows it, security services or the airline may still refuse to let you board with it.

We strongly recommend printing the IATA regulations and showing them to security or airline staff if asked for further explanation. Ultimately, it's airport security and the airline that make the final decision on whether the airbag is accepted on board.

Read: IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations