Non-Dorky Bicycle Helmets: Brainwear for Smart People
August 21, 2008 · Print This Article
Tired of looking like a big dork every time you put on your bicycle helmet? We need to wear helmets for obvious reasons (unless you’re one of those folks who think they’re invincible), but they’ve never been particularly attractive. Even Barack Obama was made fun of for how he looked riding a bicycle earlier this summer (though the light wash mom jeans may have had something to do with that, too).
Well, bicycle riders (and Obama), you now have a reason to feel much more hip when getting to and fro. A group of Danish designers has created bicycle helmets that look like hats, though they do still have the requisite chin strap. You can get your very own ‘shell helmet’ with a choice of hats to cover it from Copenhagen-based company Yakkay for about $120. They aren’t available in the US quite yet but Yakkay has plans for an international launch shortly.
Link [Yakkay] via [Springwise]
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Any idea how they compare safety-wise to regular unfashionable bike helmets?
I don’t know. In a way, these are even more dorky. I mean, if they’re anything like real helmets they’re going to have to be big. And if that’s the case, and people don’t know it’s a helmet, then it will just look like you have an enormous head.
Come to think of it, it’s really amazing that this has no-one has thought of redesigning bike helmets in the past. I would actually say though, that so long as these are 70% as safe as bike helmets, they should promote these in a big way. Imagine 50% more cyclists wearing these helmets, the impact could be incredible.
This would be cool – except that is so expensive! Maybe once it gets mainstream the price will come down. My bike helmet looks super de duper dorky on me cause i am so small and it is BIG – the simple act of putting it on shrinks me right then and there. I would love to have something different like this.
Testing – is this comment going to be published?
Testing – am I a total idiot?
K-Man – why? Did you post a comment earlier that did not appear as well? If not, yes, you are an idiot.
These are awesome!
I love the orange hat/helmet.
What a great idea.
@DavidONE, please don’t take it personally. This is just my way of saying welcome to the community that comments here on EarthFirst.com.
I am looking forward to your next comment.
K-Man – Excuse my reaction. It happens when people call me ‘idiot’. If you’re a member of the reality-attached community we’ll get along fine.
P.S. Mods – please work out a method to let comments with multiple URLs appear without moderation – there are multiple options.
They also have no air flow which is the entire reason normal bike helmets look so stupid. Without the air vents you would overheat and die. OK, so maybe that is a little exaggeration, but you would at least be very uncomfortable, I hate looking dorky, but I go for comfort over cool when it comes to bike helmets.
I agree with two others on this post. They might look great sitting on a website but when you see the actual thing and they look about the size of a basketball you ARE going to look like a dork. Plus if you ride anywhere close to summer time you will sweat to death from no vents. And something that no one has commented on, they are probably a little heavy compared to regular bike helmets, (basically it is a helmet plus a large hat over it?)
I ride my bike 11 miles a day to work and back in sunny LA. I love this idea. Especially the one that looks like a fishermans hat. The styles that are on the market have very little sun protection. This is a great idea. I will purchase my first helmet with this company!
Yeah…I think there’s a reason those helmets aren’t shown on a model. They probably look absurd.
In America, until recent gas prices started making bike commuting and getting around more mainstream, bikes were for sport, so bike helmets were designed to look sporty. Which means they look silly if the rest of your attire isn’t sporty as well. So any bike helmet designed for transportation-minded (non-sport) cyclists is a step in the right direction. I’m sure there are lots of design possibilities once we lose the sporty look. Even the airflow vents are not that important if you’re just going a few blocks to the grocery store, or down to the pub for a drink–a couple of holes should do it. I say it’s about time.
Thsy look OK but I am not sure if they are safe…
Look more for going out on a boat… not a huge fan. And I have to agree, how safe are they?