The Ventete aH-1 helmet represents the first wholesale deviation from bicycle helmet construction – since expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) and plastic replaced the leather hairnets of yesteryear.

The Ventete aH-1 helmet represents the first wholesale deviation from bicycle helmet construction – since expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) and plastic replaced the leather hairnets of yesteryear.

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.

It’s hard to imagine, but Ventete has developed a helmet that is inflatable and folds like origami into a flat package.

How the Ventete aH-1 Micro-Collapsible Helmet Works

The Ventete aH-1 helmet goes from fat to flat by letting the pressurised air out.

The heart of the design is the move away from foam as the helmet’s energy-absorbing structure and replacing it with pressurised 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 everyday commuters.

This departure from solid materials in cycling helmets awarded Ventete 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 tyre 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.

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). 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.

You can learn more about the Ventete on their website here