As much as the cycling industry touts technological breakthroughs and the slimmest marginal gains in aerodynamics and weight, the most important piece of safety gear has remained largely unchanged in materials or construction since the mid-1970s.
Cycling helmets have become much lighter, safer, more aerodynamic, ventilated, and comfortable, but the basic construction still involves a hard plastic shell that covers an EPS liner. Relatively minor additions have emerged, like MIPS, and a few materials, like Koroyd, have replaced EPS on a few models. However, the basic premise of bicycle helmet construction prevails.
But a brand in England recently announced a helmet that will surely shake things up. It’s hard to imagine, but Ventete has developed a helmet that is inflatable and folds like origami into a flat package. The short video below displays the gist of the Ventete aH-1 Micro-Collapsible helmet. It represents the first significant departure in cycling helmet design and construction in the 40+ years I’ve been spinning pedals.
How the Ventete aH-1 Micro-Collapsible Helmet Works
The heart of the Ventete aH-1 design is the move away from foam as the helmet’s energy-absorbing structure and replaces it with pressurized air. This allows the helmet to collapse and fold flat to a size smaller than a laptop computer. This portability will surely be a significant feature for commuters.
This departure from solid materials in cycling helmets awarded Ventete with multiple patents after 10 years of development. Brand co-founder Colin Herperger said it all started with the question, “Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could have a helmet that could fold down like a piece of origami and fit in your pocket?”
The aH-1 bicycle helmet consists of 11 interconnected high-tenacity nylon chambers. Each chamber is reinforced by a polymer rib and lined with soft padding to provide protection against abrasion and punctures and limit elongation. Additionally, non-Newtonian RHEON pads absorb rotational impacts.
The helmet has a standard Presta air valve. Ventete includes a co-branded Fumpa USB-C rechargeable bicycle tire mini-pump for inflation. Next to the Presta valve, a visual gauge indicates the correct inflation air pressure.
Deflating the helmet reduces the volume by 90%, resulting in a 3.5cm-thick package in 30 seconds. The instructional video below shows all the above steps and fitting instructions.
Ventete aH-1 Ventilation and Weight
Common sense suggests that the Ventete aH-1 is a cooler helmet because it lacks an insulating foam layer (although dead air space is an excellent insulator). Brand communications state that the chambered design of its helmet ensures that it rests lightly on the head, allowing for continuous and unbroken airflow.
Almost unbelievably, Ventete claims that empirical testing by the Swiss Federal Lab for Material Science shows that the aH-1’s convective cooling ability is not only better than that of all foam helmets but also just as cool as a bare head.
Ventete claims a size medium helmet weighs 465 g. For comparison, the Specialized S-Works Prevail 3 weighs a verified 322 g in the large size, which is the airiest helmet I’ve tested to date.
But Is It Safe?
The Swiss-made Ventete aH-1 exceeds EN1078 testing requirements. It also holds CE/UKCA certification (BS EN 1078:2012 +AI:2012).
How Do I Get a Ventete aH-1 Micro-Collapsible Bicycle Helmet?
The only current point of purchase is the Ventete brand website, which takes email addresses to notify the availability of the second round of production units. The first round is sold out.
The only color listed is black. The MSRP is about $455 at the time of writing (the price is set at 350 pounds sterling). I’m awaiting a test unit and will have a review here on GearJunkie in the future.
