Alpinestars TechAir 5 Plasma review: standalone motorcycle airbag tested

2026 brought with it a host of new track and road riding launches, and it’s fair to say that this launch season has been the busiest in ten years I’ve been doing this job. But this year, I’ve made a change, as, with the addition of some new non-airbag RST leathers, I needed to figure out the best way to protect myself.

I’ll get into the decision to not opt for the In&Motion system that RST offers in a moment, but as you can probably tell from the title of this review, I settled on the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma, the Italian brand’s lightest and most slimline system to date.

The reasons for leaving the In&Motion system out of my leathers came about from a dislike of the system’s clunkiness. In short, I wanted a standalone system, from the first time I take it out of the box to wear it, until the last. I also wanted something that would work in a multitude of scenarios, including riding on the road, track and off-road. 

Since the airbag vest arrived earlier this year, it’s been across Europe with me, riding on track at circuits like Jerez, Monteblanco, and Modena, as well as on multiple on-road and off-road riding events. For this review, I’ll be focusing on the comfort and usability of the system, as up until now (*touches wood*), I’ve not had the misfortune of having a crash while wearing it.

Spec and features

At £699.99, the Tech-Air 5 Plasma sits towards the premium end of the standalone airbag market, although it undercuts some rival systems once subscriptions and ongoing costs are taken into account. It's designed as an under-jacket airbag suitable for road, track and off-road riding, offering protection for the chest, ribs, shoulders and back through a combination of its inflatable bladder and integrated Nucleon Plasma back protector.

The system weighs 1,530g, making it more than 25 per cent lighter than the standard Tech-Air 5, while its slim profile means it fits under a wide variety of riding kit. Riders can switch between Street, Race (Track) and Off-Road modes, and it’s claimed to have a battery life of up to 30 hours between charges.

The single-canister design also allows the gas inflator to be replaced by the user in certain markets, while the airbag bladder itself is certified for up to six deployments before replacement is required.

Review

Included in the box is everything needed to get started, which was one of the reasons I ended up choosing the Tech-Air 5 Plasma in the first place. As mentioned earlier, I wasn't looking for another system that required subscriptions, extra accounts, daily firmware updates or a lengthy setup procedure before use. While Alpinestars does offer an accompanying app that allows you to monitor the system, track rides, and adjust the modes, you don't actually need to use it.

I stuck it on charge straight out of the box, and while Alpinestars quotes around four hours for a full charge, mine reached full battery in closer to two. I should point out that my first attempt wasn't exactly successful, largely because I hadn't read the instructions properly and hadn't actually switched the unit on before plugging it in.

Thankfully, accessing the power switch is straightforward enough. Unzip the rear panel, hook a finger under the black cover and pull it away. The Velcro securing it is surprisingly strong, which makes perfect sense when you remember what's hiding underneath, but it does take a firmer tug than you initially expect.

Once switched on, it's worth treating the vest with a little respect. I know of one journalist who managed to deploy his while taking it off. As the vest fell to the floor after a ride, the magnetic connectors found each other on the way down and, before the airbag had hit the floor, it did exactly what it was designed to do.

Living with the vest day-to-day takes a bit of practice initially. Getting it positioned correctly underneath leathers can feel like an upper-body flexibility test. I've found the best technique is a combination of rolling my shoulders and leaning my head back to help settle the back protector down and into place. Having somebody nearby to help makes life considerably easier.

And it is important to get that positioning right, as if the back protector sits too high, it can restrict movement and become uncomfortable, particularly when tucked into race leathers.

Once everything is where it should be, though, the Tech-Air 5 Plasma largely disappears. The back protector just squeezes into the hump of my custom RST leathers and, for the most part, I forget it's there.

Heat while riding is the only real compromise during use. Any airbag vest adds another layer between you and your leathers, and no amount of clever mesh construction completely gets around that fact. During track riding in southern Spain this summer, airflow was noticeably reduced compared with wearing my perforated leathers on their own. While riding, it’s manageable, although while standing still in the pit lane afterwards, it can get toasty.

The combination of sweat, heat and a snug-fitting airbag vest can also make removal something of a wrestling match, and I frequently end up pulling the sleeves inside out while trying to escape from it. You'll also quickly discover that a bottle of Febreze becomes an essential piece of riding equipment.

There are a couple of quirks worth mentioning. The first is the magnetic front connector. Initially, I found it slightly fiddly to engage consistently. You'll know when it's connected because the control unit responds with a fairly aggressive vibration. These days, I connect the magnets just before fully zipping the vest up, which seems to work every time.

The second is changing riding modes. Switching between Street, Race and Off-Road requires a specific combination of button presses and hold times. During the first few rides, I found myself repeatedly missing the timing and wondering why nothing was happening. After a few rides, it became second nature, which suggests the issue was probably user error rather than poor design.

Verdict

Beyond a couple of minor learning curves, I've had very little to criticise about the Tech-Air 5 Plasma. In fact, one of the strongest endorsements I can give it is that despite the user manual running to more than 70 pages, I've barely needed to look at it. Once you've figured out the fit, the magnetic closure and the mode switching, it simply gets on with the job.

That's ultimately what makes the Tech-Air 5 Plasma so easy to recommend. It's lighter, slimmer and easier to live with than previous Tech-Air systems, works equally well on the road, track and trail, and doesn't require constant interaction from the rider. Yes, it adds a bit of heat in hot weather, and there's a short settling-in period while you learn its quirks, but those are small compromises in the grand scheme of things.

I haven't had the opportunity – or misfortune – to test its crash performance, which is obviously the most important part of any airbag system. Judged purely on comfort, usability and how seamlessly it integrates into everyday riding, though, the Tech-Air 5 Plasma has become one of those products that I now feel slightly uncomfortable riding without.