mo'cycle's airbag jeans inflate to protect the lower body from motorcycle accidents

Airbag jeans from mo’cycle

Inflatables that protect parts of the body from accidents and crashes include a pair of inflatable trousers, a parachute-like backpack that becomes protective gear, and a bike helmet that doubles as a cushioned hood. A new entry comes from Swedish company Mo’cycle whose airbag jeans balloon to protect the rider’s lower body parts in case of accidents and crashes.

One of the main features of airbag jeans is that they are reusable, meaning riders can treat them as regular jeans before inflation. They can remove the airbag module that gets triggered during impacts, throw the jeans in the washing machine, dry them, and wear them again to complete their stylish look.

images courtesy of Mo’cycle

Mo’cycle claims that its material is stronger and lighter than steel since it is using a sturdy denim material named Armalith, which is a single-layer fabric manufactured to handle abrasion forces while the installed airbag handles the impact forces.

‘The Armalith technology is utilized on the fiber level, a blend of fibers (including UHMWPE) are ring spun and blended to achieve the extreme abrasion resistant properties, while at the same time being stretchy and resemble regular denim fabric,’ the company believes. Mo’cycle plans to launch the airbag jeans later this month (February 2023), but the date is still yet to be pinned down.

air module inside the jeans

Absorbing impact with swift inflation

Mo’cycle’s airbag jeans have flat inflatables inserted into the fabric which can’t be felt unless they are triggered. When the rider flies off their vehicle, the airbag activates, and the trigger mechanism is a tether that connects the pants to the motorcycle and acts as a dead man’s switch.

The airbag protects previously exposed portions of the lower body, such as the thighs, the back of the torso, and the tailbone. ‘It is revolutionary to use airbag technology to protect the first bone of the spinal column, because spinal column injuries are what paralyze motorcycle riders,’ Mo’cycle claims.

Mo’cycle knows that the motorcycle jeans being offered these days have pads for the knees and hips, but the design team also knows that such a style leaves the rest of the lower body unprotected from impact hits. With airbag jeans, it hopes to fool accidents and crashes by wrapping the rider’s body with airbag cushions that the company believes can absorb tenfold the impact energy compared to traditional pads.

the jeans double as regular denimwear