While some think bike helmets are cool, there are others who worry about how it will mess with their hair and overall fashion. If you fall into the latter category, you might recall that a couple of years ago we reported on the Hӧvding inflatable bike helmet. In case you missed it and have no clue what we’re talking about, the Hӧvding is an inflatable bike helmet that you wear around your collar and will only activate and form a protective helmet around your head in the event of an accident. Otherwise it remains hidden in your collar which is why some consider it to be “invisible”, therefore solving the problem of helmet hair.
The good news is that if the Hӧvding helmet managed to capture your attention, you will be interested to learn that it is available for purchase, although you will have to fork out $600 for it and it apparently is only good for one use. How does it work, you ask? It uses accelerometers and gyroscopes to detect typical motions that occur in an accident, which in turn will release a gas inflator to fill a nylon airbag with helium that will form a hood around your head and is said to be able to deploy in about 0.1 seconds. More info on the Hӧvding helmet can be found on its website and a demonstration of the Hӧvding in action can be seen in the video below.
The Invisible Bicycle Helmet | Fredrik Gertten from Focus Forward Films on Vimeo.
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