Hit-Air

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Overview

Hit-Air is a brand of wearable airbag vests and jackets manufactured by Mugen Denko Co., Ltd., primarily for horse riding and motorcycling to protect the neck, back, chest, sides, and hips during falls.¹³⁴ The system uses a coiled lanyard attached to the saddle or bike, deploying CO2 inflation in under 0.25 seconds upon separation beyond the activation distance.⁴⁷ It holds a market-leading position with sales in over 30 countries, supplies to police and imperial guards in Japan and elsewhere, and over 250,000 units sold.¹⁸

History

Mugen Denko Co., Ltd. began marketing the Hit-Air airbag system worldwide since 1985, launching the first airbag jacket for motorcyclists in 1998 and adapting it for horse riding in 2003.¹³⁴⁵ Key milestones include supplying Japanese Police Headquarters in 2003, Imperial Guard in 2006, winning awards like Gold Trophy at Salon du Cheval in 2000 and JPMS in 2005, obtaining EU CE marking in 2003, and developing sensor-equipped vests with NEXCO CENTRAL in 2018.¹ The company remains family-owned, achieving around $9 million USD turnover in 2020.⁴

Product Lines

Product Line	Positioning	Price Range
Equestrian Airbag Vests	Protection for horse riders across disciplines	$500 - $1,200
Motorcycle Airbag Jackets	Safety gear for motorcyclists	$400 - $900
MLV3-H Equestrian Vest	CE certified soft stretchy airbag vest	$600 - $800
Airbag Jackets with YKK Connectors	Enhanced reliability for daily use	$450 - $850

Manufacturing

Hit-Air airbag vests are manufactured by Mugen Denko Co., Ltd. in Japan.³⁴ Products are assembled and checked in their workshop employing around 30 people.⁴ Developments like buckle connectors and key boxes were jointly made with YKK.¹

Notable Products

MLV3-H - CE certified equestrian airbag vest with soft stretchy fabric for horse riding.
Hit-Air Jacket (2001) - Early airbag jacket model launched post-motorcycle vest success.
Y-type Key Box Vest - Smaller, lighter activation system for improved usability in vests and jackets.
Extretcher-S - Airbag stretcher with sliding board launched in 2018.
Sensor-Equipped Vests - Airbag vests developed with NEXCO CENTRAL for advanced deployment.

Reputation

Hit-Air is regarded by equestrians and motorcyclists as a reliable pioneer in airbag protection, with extensive testing showing over 50% reduction in head acceleration and 70% in body acceleration, and supplies to official forces enhancing credibility.¹² Enthusiasts value its lightweight, breathable design that maintains mobility unlike stiff body protectors.³⁶ Some note the deployment sound and hug-like inflation feel, with no reported injuries from inflation and over 250,000 units sold safely.⁸

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