Each time I swing a leg over my motorbike, be it to trip to the grocery retailer or go on a thousand-mile journey, I by no means achieve this with out strapping on my helmet. However even I’ll admit that once I get on my bicycle, there are occasions once I’ll skip the helmet, both as a result of I’m too lazy or I’m simply biking close by.
Within the biking world, helmets aren’t as obligatory as they’re within the motorcycling world. However that doesn’t imply it’s best to hop in your pedal bike with out strapping a lid on first. However in fact, with none laws (in most elements of the world, at the very least) mandating bicycle helmets, plus the truth that bike helmets are usually dorky, uncool, and to not point out cumbersome while you’re off the bike, properly, folks merely aren’t incentivized to prioritize security.
That is the place a startup known as Ventete (pronounced “von-tet”) enters the image. It’s a UK-based firm that sells a really distinctive helmet, maybe in contrast to something you’ve ever seen earlier than. And that’s as a result of it’s an inflatable helmet that may slot in your pocket when not in use.
It’s known as the aH-1, and the best way it really works is fairly easy, and fairly frankly, it’s stunning that this tech is just now gaining traction. Merely inflate the helmet with the included electrical pump, strap it onto your head, and go in your merry method. When you attain your vacation spot, merely deflate it, fold it up, and stow it away in your bag. No want to fret about cumbersome helmet locks or utilizing your helmet as a basket within the grocery retailer.
Granted, Ventete isn’t precisely the primary of its type. But it surely does seem like a a lot sleeker, extra well-designed inflatable helmet than that of Inflabi, which truly appears like a tragic and poorly becoming bathe cap. In essence, Ventete appears to be a step in the best route, because it blends portability and security with type and aesthetics.
Ventete is the brainchild of architectural designer Colin Herperger, and was born out of his need to make security cool. It’s true, security, notably on a bicycle, is normally seen as dorky, with cumbersome helmets and hi-visibility vests normally related to gatekeeping boomers. However Ventete simply would possibly be capable to change this.
Beneath the floor, this factor is sort of a bit greater than only a balloon you strap onto your noggin. It’s made out of 11 woven nylon bladders ribbed with fiberglass on the high for some further sturdiness and influence absorption. All these are plastic-welded collectively for a sturdy, hermetic shell. The corporate claims that it takes simply 30 seconds or so to inflate this helmet with a handheld electrical pump. Granted, it’s about 10 occasions longer than strapping on a daily helmet, however hey, the added portability is unquestionably a worthy tradeoff.
However portability isn’t the one profit right here. In line with Ventete, the aH-1 is secure, in truth, even safer than most conventional helmets. You see, due to the truth that this factor makes use of air as its principal influence absorption materials, it has far more compression than foam. And when the corporate had its helmet examined by the Imperial School of London in a pool of 30 bike helmets, it got here out to be 25% safer than the opposite helmets within the check.
Clearly, all this info appears fairly darn convincing. However the challenge right here is that numerous it comes from Ventete itself. Certain, it’s been examined and authorized, however should you Google any precise opinions of this factor, your search will yield precisely zero outcomes, at the very least for now.
That mentioned, we’ll have to attend and see if this factor actually measures as much as all its claims. And hey, as somebody who recurrently commutes through bicycle and steadily offers with all of the faff that accompanies common bike helmets, I’d be very happy to attempt it out. So if the oldsters at Ventete are studying this and wish to ship me over an aH-1 to check out, properly, you understand how to get in contact.
However what do you assume? Does the aH-1 truly make security cool? Extra importantly, would you rock this futuristic lid? I’d love to listen to your ideas within the feedback under.
