Hovding 3 Airbag Helmet

While scrapes, cuts, and broken bones are all possible during a cycling accident, it's head injuries that pose the biggest threat. The Hovding 3 Airbag Helmet is designed for urban cyclists, promising to keep that risk to a minimum. Once activated, its sensors record the cyclist's movements 200 times a second and deploy the airbag if an accident is detected. The airbag itself is shaped like a hood and made from ultra-strong nylon fabric. It fixes the neck in place once deployed and stays inflated just long enough to protect against multiple impacts. The collar that contains the airbag is kept inside a tough fabric shell and also houses the USB-chargeable battery, which lasts for up to 15 hours of active cycling.

Photos: Alexander Crispin / Hovding