Unquestionably, a large portion of bicyclists consider wearing a helmet,
while riding, is entirely impractical and unfashionable. Others argue that fashion is of no concern
when it comes to safety, yet enjoyment is. Hence, Swedish engineers designed the Hövding for
those who find that wearing a helmet just isn't quite comfortable or convenient.
The Hövding is a safety helmet for cyclists that can be worn without being
seen. This nylon helmet is calculated to
inflate with helium gas in one-tenth of a second if the sensors detect any movements
of the cyclist being involved in an accident. The Hövding is worn as a collar;
therefore no one can detect it as a helmet. The Hövding also has different
color pouches to choose from, helping it blend with your outfit even more. The
helmet is completely undetectable, and this is why the creators refer to it as
“invisible”. If one is involved in an
accident with the Hövding, take note that it is not re-usable. However, the
company does provide a fifteen percent credit toward a brand new Hövding if the
one used is returned at the time of purchasing the new one. In addition, some
insurance agencies do cover part of the cost for a new Hövding if he or she is involved
in an accident. Certainly, the creation
of this innovative helmet was a direct response of the survey conducted on the Sweden’s
streets. They concluded that the primary reason for not wearing a helmet when
cycling was that it is impractical and uncomfortable in several ways: “They're
a pain to carry about, they all look hideous, they ruin your hair, nobody else
wears them, you can't get your hat on underneath.” The Hövding solves all of
these inconveniences, as well as increased visibility compared to a standard
bicycle helmet. The only unfavorable character of the Hövding is the $600 price
tag. In all, the Hövding allows cyclists to enjoy the outdoors entirely while
abiding by bicycle helmet and safety laws.
