Helite Turtle 2 Airvest Review
What Are We Looking At Here? - Helite Turtle 2 Airvest
The Helite Turtle 2 Airvest is a pressure sensitive airvest, designed to inflate upon activation. Provides impact and abrasion protection against neck, thorax, and spinal injuries, with an additional back protector built in. It is intended for daily use, and for all styles of riding. This product was released in 2020, and is an upgrade to its 2015 predecessor, the Helite Turtle 1.
Features
Practicality
• Upgraded hi-vis design, with added retro-reflective stripes for improved night visibility.
• Rain proof and washable – can be washed using baby wipes, or lightly in the shower with a sponge and soap.
• New outside pocket, not previously found on the Turtle 1.
• Works with existing gear, and can be worn over the top of your motorcycle jacket.
Helite Turtle 2 Airvest (Front) & Contents
Retro-reflective Stripes (Front)
Comfort
• Soft neoprene collar for enhanced comfort.
• Interior textile 3D mesh, which improves air flow.
• 3 adjustable straps, for a better fit.
• Lightweight, and allows for full range of movements.
Neoprene Collar & 3 Adjustable Straps
Inner Textile 3D Mesh
Protection
• Optimal protection covering neck, back and thorax region.
• Multi-directional triggering system.
• Supports back and neck when inflated, preventing rag doll movement and hyperextension.
• CE certified and meets UK standards for protection, health and safety.
• Outer lining made from premium 600D Cordura fabric, which is abrasion resistant up to 150mph.
• Level 2 back protector serves dual purpose; even impact dispersion, and protects inflated air channels from abrasion damage.
600D Cordura Fabric & Level 2 Back Protector
Retro-reflective Stripes (Back)
The Helite Turtle 2 Airvest requires 25kg – 35kg of pressure to activate its inflation device, so it won’t be actuated by forgetting to unclip it when you get off your bike. Tugging it with your hand is equivalent to approximately 15kg, so it needs a strong yank to activate it.
When enough pressure is applied, the ball-bearing will separate from the piston and cause the spring inside the housing column to extend against the cap, thus thrusting the piston into the CO2 cartridge. A needle on the piston pierces the cartridge and releases the air, fully inflating the vest in under 100ms.
Inflating Mechanism
Tests show that this technology is 4x more effective than ordinary airbags of a similar size and shape.
The vest will remain inflated for 10 – 20 seconds, before beginning to deflate. It takes 5 – 7 minutes to expel all of the air from the vest, but this can be sped up significantly by removing the canister after recovery.
It is recommended that the vest is serviced after a severe crash, but provided there isn’t any damage to the vest, a replacement canister can be installed by the owner.
Replace used cartridges by unscrewing and disposing of them, then loosen the cap with a hex key.
Draw the spring back, reposition the piston and replace the ball-bearing in the piston’s recess.
Tighten the cap fully, while making sure the ball-bearing stays sitting cleanly in the recess.
Screw in a new cartridge. Make sure it is screwed tightly so it will be pierced properly when needed, otherwise the vest will inflate slowly on next use.
Range Of CO2 Canisters
CO2 Canister Attached To The Inflating Mechanism
Replacement cartridges cost around £20 each, or can be bought in packs of 3 for a discount. They have no expiration date, and come with a 10 year warranty.
There are 50cc, 60cc and 100cc cartridges available, so be careful to get the right cartridge as they vary for different vest sizes.
Pricing
Prices for the Helite Turtle 2 Airvest range from £525 – £575, depending on the size and colour. It is available in all sizes, with 3 colours to choose from; Hi-Vis Yellow, Hi-Vis Orange and Black.
Your airvest comes with a lanyard and one CO2 cartridge included. Purchase also includes a 2 year warranty, extendable to 4 years if you register the product online.
Stylish leather jackets, touring jackets and advanced racing protection are also available from their website
You can also try before you buy, or part exchange older airvests, by getting in touch with one of their team.
Helite Touring 2 Air Jacket
Helite Roadster Leather Air Jacket
Helite GP Air Track Vest
• Avoid getting the trigger system excessively wet, especially when washing.
• Check for any damage before each use. If the airvest is damaged during a crash, you can take it to an authorised dealer to be serviced.
• Remove any pointy objects from clothing, such as pens and glasses, before putting the airvest on.
• The lanyard should be connected no lower than the seat on the motorcycle’s frame. Do not connect it to the handlebars. Before riding, simply clip the lanyard into the airvest like a seatbelt.
Pros
1. Completely Unrestricted Movements – While I was wearing the vest, it was barely noticeable that I had it on. There was no added tightness across my back or shoulders, and I was able to make a full range of movements while riding. Even though I was clipped to my motorcycle with the lanyard, I could still change my seating position and move around freely.
2. Large Armholes – This may sound like a strange one, but they actually have two benefits. Firstly, they make the vest very easy to put on, which is especially appreciated if you’re wearing multiple layers and a leather jacket, like I was. Secondly, they have flexibility, which adds to the first pro, in that this vest does not limit the rider’s movements.
3. Springy Lanyard – The first time I got off the bike while wearing the vest, I forgot to unclip myself from the lanyard. And the second, and the third. Luckily, the springiness of the lanyard takes off some of the pressure that would otherwise be applied to the ball-bearing, which could cause accidental inflation at the petrol station! Even without that reduction of pressure from the lanyard, it is unlikely you’d accidentally inflate the jacket, because it requires 30kg of pressure to separate the ball-bearing from the recess. It’s still nice to have that extra peace of mind.
Cons
1. Tiny Pocket – The pocket is an added feature from the Turtle 1 model, and therefore should add some value. It doesn’t. It’s too small to store anything but a few coins or a bank card, and who’s going to store them in there anyway?
2. Pricey – This is down to the premium material and technology that you get with this vest. There’s no denying that it’s worth it when you need it, but this is one of the cheaper models available and it will still set you back over £500. If you want one of the more stylish leather jackets, you’ll be forking out even more.
3. Style – Again, this product is designed primarily to protect you against injury. Part of that is possible due to its visibility, hence the hi-vis yellow colour. Although you might feel like you’re wearing a vest made for a fishing trip, it could be the difference between coming home from that trip, or not. The touring and leather jackets are more subtle, trading a little bit of road presence for a much trendier look.
The Helite Turtle 2 Airvest is made of quality materials, and built to last. It can survive the effects of a crash and be reused, which means you shouldn’t have to replace it.
It won’t make you a fashion icon, but that’s not the point. What it will do is protect you from serious harm, by absorbing impact and stabilising your neck and back.
The fact that it’s so lightweight, and can be adjusted to fit snugly, make it comfortable and unimposing while riding.
When it comes to safety, this product has your back! It adds heaps of safety and reassurance to your ride, and with that in mind, it becomes an invaluable accessory to your riding gear.