Although most people may not realise it, cycling helmets grow more advanced every year. They become lighter, more streamlined and even carry gizmos like heart rate monitors and Bluetooth to take calls.
However, all this tinkering pales into insignificance in the face of the changes the Headkayse is aiming to introduce. A new material, Enkayse, is at the core of what the manufacturer promises will be the safest helmet on the market and, thanks to its ability to sustain repeated impacts without becoming unsafe, it may be the last helmet you’ll ever need to buy.
The Headkayse’s design improves on traditional helmets in two main ways to protect your noggin. First, the material can withstand multiple impacts, unlike the expanded polystyrene (EPS) used in most helmets, which absorbs the blow by cracking. This means you’re never one collision away from having to replace your helmet, and are protected if you sustain multiple blows in one accident.
It’s also more effective at blocking soft blows. EPS transfers the impact of small knocks straight onto your skull – you can test this by grabbing a mallet, discarding your sense of self-preservation in the name of science, and gently tapping on your regular helmet – whereas the Headkayse, rather handily, absorbs them.
Of course you’re not going to hit yourself over the head, even on our recommendation, but let’s watch one of the Headkayse guys repeatedly headbutt a wooden beam.
Good news if you like to ride a Boris bike to the pub, but leave your helmet at home because it’s too bulky. The Headkayse’s design means it flattens to 5cm wide, so it can be slipped inside a bag. More impressively, it’s one-size-fits-all, from kids right up to the most boulder-headed adult.
The back of the helmet can be adjusted to achieve this feat, and the soft material on the inside moulds to ensure a comfortable fit on heads of every size and shape. Given that the effectiveness of traditional helmets can be vastly reduced if they don’t fit properly, the ease with which the Headkayse is set up is a real boon.
The team have launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to raise £60,000. They’re offering the basic helmet for £65 (it’ll go for £89 in shops) as well, and at the time of writing, have 21 days to raise another £26,000.
Check out the Headkayse website for more information.
