Innovative New Cycle Helmet

Sleek, thin, squishy foldable bike helmet hardens itself in case of collision.

Wearing a helmet while biking can help you avoid severe injuries, or worse, in the case of an accident. But people often refuse to wear this clunky head gear because they find it too bulky, heavy, or just plain uncomfortable. These are all things that the Danish-made Newton-Rider helmet aims to solve, as it’s sleek, thin, and made of semi-soft materials.

The helmet consists of a flexible, stretchable liner on the inside, joined to a series of “viscoelastic” and “non-Newtonian” pads on the outside, which means it’s semi-soft during regular riding but hardens in case of an impact, absorbing the energy that would otherwise be delivered to the head. And yes, the Newton-Rider reportedly does meet EN 1078 (Europe) and CPSC (US) safety standards.

As a result of these material properties, the helmet is foldable and it can adjust to the contours of the rider’s head, making it convenient to carry around and comfortable to wear. And, the Newton-Rider is twice as thin compared to traditional polystyrene foam helmets, being just 16 mm thick, while weighing no more than 460g (16oz).

Unlike polystyrene-lined helmets which break after impact, these clever new helmets soften back to their original shape after a collision, and can therefore be re-used.

Should you be interested, the Newton-Rider helmet is currently the subject of an Indiegogo campaign. A pledge of €69 (about US$81) will get you one, when and if they reach production. The planned retail price is €99 ($116). OGN will keep you updated!

Source: New Atlas