The Tech-Air 5 is Alpinestars' standalone airbag: no cable to the bike, it protects your chest, ribs, back and shoulders and fits under any jacket. It costs €799.95; it is expensive, but it is the system that best balances coverage, autonomy and everyday usability if you ride the road seriously. Score: 9/10.
What it covers: the upper body, well protected
The great difference between the Tech-Air 5 and cheaper systems is the coverage. It protects the chest, the ribs, the entire back and the shoulders, with a full integrated back protector. It is the configuration that matters on the road: the torso is where most serious injuries concentrate, and the 5 covers it better than the simpler Tech-Air 3, which skips the shoulders and ribs.
Autonomous: no cable, no excuses
It works without a tether to the bike (tetherless). The system reads the ride in real time and deploys before impact, thanks to its accelerometers and gyroscopes. You charge it and forget it: the battery gives up to 30 hours of riding per charge. That is the key to wearing it every day — the airbag you leave at home because "it is a hassle" does not protect you.
Certification, weight and price
The Tech-Air 5 is certified as an airbag to EN 1621-4:2013 Level 1, the back protector to EN 1621-2:2014 Level 1 and the garment to EN 17092-6:2020 Class C. It weighs about 1,530 g and costs €799.95. It is premium money, but you are paying for the most mature autonomous system on the market, not for a novelty.
Tech-Air 3, 5 or 10: which one is for you?
The range divides clearly: the Tech-Air 3 is the light and simple option for the street; the Tech-Air 5 adds shoulders and ribs for road and occasional track; and the Tech-Air 10 is the maximum-coverage race system. For the vast majority of road riders, the 5 is the sweet spot between protection, weight and price.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Coverage: chest, ribs, back and shoulders, more complete than the Tech-Air 3.
- Autonomy: up to 30 hours per charge and no tether to the bike.
- Maturity: the most proven autonomous airbag on the market.
Cons
- Price: €799.95 is a big outlay on top of a jacket.
- Weight: 1,530 g that you notice at the end of a long day.
Verdict
The Tech-Air 5 is the airbag to buy if you ride on the road seriously. It is expensive, but it is the system that best balances coverage, autonomy and everyday usability. If you can afford it, there is no better torso protection this side of a race suit.
Score: 9/10
