A top-knot friendly bike helmet is finally here! Even better: it’s super stylish (and safe!)
When it comes to riding a bike, we’re pretty well-versed in combining style with safety. There are many ways to make almost any outfit bike friendly—maxi skirts can be tied up to avoid tire tangles and high heels actually help when kicking off at the curb. But when it comes to hair, few styles can withstand the tight, sweaty confines of a helmet. Not to mention the aesthetics: sure, helmets come in a range of colours and styles, but their bulky shape remains.
It was this un-stylish quandary that inspired Swedish industrial design students Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin. For the last seven years they’ve been working on creating an invisible bicycle helmet. It’s not magic, but it may as well be: the Hövding “helmet” is actually more like an airbag, stored within a black collar that resembles a scarf more than a safety device. When an accident happens the collar is triggered and a hood instantly inflates around your head, protecting it from impact. We’re not sure what’s more impressive: its brilliance as an invention or how something so functional can look so sleek. While it’s only available in Europe for now, the moment Hövding comes to Canada we’ll be the first to order.
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