Ventete, a UK-based design and innovation company, has developed the aH-1, a micro-collapsible bicycle helmet that uses air instead of conventional foam. The team designed the helmet in the United Kingdom and manufactures it in Switzerland. The project focuses on safety, material performance and everyday use.

Pneumatic Construction And Textile Technology

The aH-1 helmet uses a patented pneumatic system with eleven interconnected air chambers. This structure allows the helmet to deform under impact in a controlled way. As a result, it offers an alternative to expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, which is commonly used in helmets.

According to the manufacturer, the helmet meets CE and UKCA safety standards (EN 1078). Independent tests show that the structure absorbs both linear and rotational impacts.

Ventete produces the outer shell from multiple layers of impact-resistant nylon. Fibreglass-reinforced ribs provide additional strength and shape stability. The team uses high-frequency welding to join the textile layers and seal the air chambers. This technique is more common in technical textiles and medical products than in consumer helmets.

Compact Design For Urban Use

When deflated, the helmet measures around 3.5 to 4 cm in thickness. Users can store it in a backpack or bag. A small rechargeable pump inflates the helmet in around 30 seconds. An integrated pressure indicator shows when the helmet reaches the correct air level.

This compact design responds to changes in urban mobility. More people now use shared bicycles, e-bikes and electric scooters. In these contexts, easy storage and portability play an important role.

Ventilation And Thermal Comfort

The pneumatic structure also affects ventilation. Air can circulate freely around the head, unlike in foam-based helmets. Tests at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) show that the helmet allows efficient heat dissipation. The cooling performance approaches that of an uncovered head.

For designers working on wearable products, this project highlights how material choices influence comfort and thermal behaviour.

Material Efficiency In Product Design

The helmet demonstrates material efficiency by replacing solid mass with air. The design reduces material volume while maintaining structural performance.

For designers exploring lightweight systems and alternative impact protection, the Ventete aH-1 offers insight into how pneumatic structures can function in consumer products.

Source: Ventete press release via v2com-newswire
Photos: Dan Tobin Smith