Dainese is one of the biggest and most popular gear brands out there. If you’re just casually familiar with the name, you probably think they only make gloves, jackets, pants, and boots specific to us motorized two-wheel-loving folk.
But there’s more to the Dainese group than meets the eye. The company also owns some really big names like AGV and TCX. So yes, helmets (and some damn good ones, at that) are part of the lineup, too. Plus, they make gear for mountain biking, snowmobiling, and other action-packed sports.
Oh, and here’s a fun fact—Dainese even developed the SkinSuit. Nope, it’s not some high-tech motorcycle racing suit but rather, a suit for astronauts. The SkinSuit is said to give them better range of motion during space missions. How badass is that?
So yeah, Dainese obviously knows a thing or two about making gear that’s both functional and aesthetic—not just for motorcycles but for all kinds of extreme situations. And now, the Italian marque is taking its expertise to the snowy slopes, bringing airbag technology into the world of skiing.
Airbags have been a game-changer in motorcycle safety. They started on the racetrack and are now used by tons of street riders and track enthusiasts. So it makes total sense to bring this tech to skiing, where athletes hit some insane speeds. In fact, starting in the 2024-2025 season, the Ski World Cup is making airbag vests mandatory for added safety. But not everyone’s on board with the idea.
According to an article by German powersports publication Speedweek, 38 athletes have already scored exemptions from wearing them. The main complaints? They say the vests are bulky, uncomfortable, and limit their range of motion.
Dainese isn’t ignoring the feedback, though. They’ve redesigned their airbag suit to be more compact and streamlined. According to Marco Pastore, Dainese’s race director, the new vest only covers the chest and back to protect vital organs. It’s also lightning fast, deploying in just 35 milliseconds.
Still, not everyone’s thrilled about the new rule. But hey, racing is racing, and new safety regulations are just part of the game. At the end of the day, Dainese’s airbag tech could be a game-changer for skiing—just like it was for motorcycling.
But outside the context of racing, it’s clearly gonna be a different story. Unlike motorcycling, skiing is something that’s strictly a leisure sport, so I don’t think mandating the use of airbags for recreational skiing will really fly—just like how airbag vests aren’t at all mandatory for motorcyclists. But hey, extra safety and the peace of mind that accompanies it is always a good thing, right?
