# Protecting Inflatable Vests The Hit Air Airbag Cushions Fallen Horseback Riders By Meghan Young | Published 2010-08-24 | Updated 2010-08-26 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hit-air-airbag References: [dvice](http://dvice.com/archives/2010/08/airbag-vest-pre.php) & [geeky-gadgets](http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/equestrian-air-bags-spares-you-from-cracked-ribs-and-other-injuries-24-08-2010/#more-51042) Horseback riding can be a dangerous sport, Christopher Reeves was paralyzed because of a tragic equestrian accident; the Hit Air Airbag could prevent many of these unfortunate and unseen accidents. As an [inflatable body vest](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-airbag-platform), it is triggered when the rider loses his or her grip on the saddle. Aside from being developed by a Japanese company, the American company [Point Two Air](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-dark-fairy-cocktail) jackets also offers something similar to the Hit Air Airbag. It attaches to the saddle via a short cord and when it is jerked significantly, the vest inflates. Priced between $400 to $700, it has already been credited to saving some lives. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 54% | Activity: 51% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Inflatable Safety Equipment:** The development of inflatable safety equipment for different sports activities has the potential to prevent accidents and reduce fatalities. - **Smart Sensors:** Integrating smart sensors with inflatable safety equipment can help improve the accuracy of detection and make the equipment more effective. - **Affordable Safety Gears:** Developing more efficient and affordable safety gears could increase the adoption rate and save more lives. ### Where This Applies - **Sports:** The sports industry can benefit from the development of inflatable safety equipment to protect athletes from injuries and fatalities. - **Automotive:** Automotive companies can explore the use of inflatable safety equipment in vehicles to improve safety in the event of accidents. - **Law Enforcement:** Law enforcement agencies can use inflatable safety equipment to protect their personnel during high-risk operations and reduce the risk of injuries. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Airbag-Integrated Bicycle Helmets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airbag-bicycle-helmet.md) - [Lifesaving Swimming Vests](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/swimming-vest.md) - [Airbag-Deploying Travel Backpacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stan-airbag.md) - [Safety-Precaution Wearable Airbags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ydb-airbag.md) - [Protective Airbag Jeans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mocycle.md) - [Commuter-Focused Motorcyclist Airbags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alpinestars-techair-3.md) - [Self-Inflating Bicycle Helmets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bumpair-20.md) - [Under-Arm Rescue Floatation Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ua80-evolution-vest.md) - [Winter Sport Survivalist Vests](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/db-snow-pro-vest.md)