The Hövding is an airbag-style bicycle helmet designed in Sweden that aims to be unobtrusive, while offering superior protection compared to traditional equipment. The question is: do the Dutch public care? We took the Hövding to the streets of Amsterdam to find out.
“It’s both terrifyingly interesting and interestingly terrifying”
According to VICE, TNW Conference is quite the event
Oh, and we set it off in a trampoline park, of course. Watch the whole thing below.
Using the Hövding was a breeze. It was easy to put on and was surprisingly comfortable for something that looks a bit like a fancy dog collar.
The technology inside it is also pretty cool. The airbag is deployed when the accelerometer in the Hövding detects the type of movement experienced in a bike crash, something the company pumped time into tracking and trialling. Each Hövding also has a black box in it, which the company analyses after each accident to improve the experience.
You can see an example of this in the video. We tried setting it off with a jump to the side, but it wasn’t until my body was more airborne that it actually inflated. When this happened, there was a strong, bitter, and gas-like smell from the device and, in a split second, my head was rigidly encased. It felt both impressive and safe. And, to be honest, kinda freaky.
But…
There are some glaring issues with the Hövding and the public picked up on them: price and re-use. €299 is a lot of money for a single use item, even though many insurers will cover its cost if you get into an accident. Maybe if you do purchase a Hövding, stumping up for a bit of insurance isn’t the worst idea in the world.
The fact that it needs to be charged to operate – which isn’t surprising when you consider the tech inside – feels… strange. There’s something about having to charge a helmet that seems counter-intuitive, especially when you don’t really see it using the power.
We also have to consider the cultural attitude to helmets. Judging by the Dutch public’s reaction to the device, it seems unlikely that the Hövding will gain traction in countries without a helmet habit or strict cycling laws.
So, who’s it for?
Basically, someone who really, really hates regular helmets, but still wants to be safe. The Hövding is unobtrusive, comfortable and, importantly, won’t mess up your beautiful bouffant while cycling. And, you know, it’ll protect you pretty well too.
Myself? It was fun to use, but I’m probably not going to shell out for one too soon. It is cool though.
If you’ve been looking for a novel way to look after your noggin, you can buy the Hövding here.
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