If this works, it is certainly amazing! Wheres the manly version???

Bullshit. Do you mean, this is secure enough, then you can also take a aluminium foil for your head - it looks better :)

Nice concept... but does it take a beating? will it save your head? looks doubtful.

it's not that nice, is it? looks like a fruit on your head.

Looks like a mushroom from the pictures in the fairy tales:)

This is stupid. A helmet is not a fashion accessory. There's no way any "textile" is going to prevent your head from being cracked open. It's pretty irresponsible design to take a safety item and make it... unsafe...
Sure, folding up is convenient. Dying isn't as convenient, however.

I think this serves no purpose structurally where the very fundamental function of any helmet it to distribute the impact wave laterally along the helmet surface. Impact on this helmet will drive straight through to the skull almost creating a point-load condition which would act like hitting a knife on the head, slicing it into two. You are more likely to suffer less injury if you fell without this helmet.

This seems a little too good to be true. I've got to side with "G" on this one. That said, I'll reserve my final judgment until it comes out for real.

- AreYouHereToConfuseMe.com

I'll join the chorus. Very skeptical that this will ever pass the tests that certify helmets for safety. See http://www.bhsi.org/standard.htm

I have to say I agree with the doubters, rather be safe than fashionable. It looks like a dodgy cheap lampshade from the early 70s to me anyway.

Haha this is the funniest post I've seen in a long time. Not only would this "piece of paper" helmet prove completely incapable of helping your head in a crash but most people seeing you wearing this thing would rightfully so assume that you're mentally retarded.

Is that for real? It's a nice idea...but the girl modeling it is on a motor scooter.
Anyone on scooters needs double the protection...not even a bike helmet will do (nor would it be legal?) !

Picturing this helmet between me and a semi trailer....err, no thanks.

To SydneyGirl :

It's a Velib' not a motor scooter !
Those are the bikes to rent in Paris.

I love how nobody has seen this helmet or knows what it's made of and it's already failing safety standards. Do you know what your normal bike helmet is made of? Styrofoam. Same stuff you make disposable smoothie cups from.

All a bike helmet has to do is protect someone's head in a low speed impact. Low speed in this case means "falling off your bike" or "slamming your head against the wall after reading idiotic blog comments." if you think that your foam hat is going to help you at all in a serious crash, you're deluding yourself (which is ok, that's exactly what the helmet manufacturers want). Similarly, if you think we don't have the tech to create a folding helmet that can protect you from a clipped-in spill onto sidewalk, you're similarly deluded. I get the feeling this helmet isn't made from crepe paper like some seem to be assuming; it certainly can't be worse than the giant packing peanut you currently wear.

Furthermore, it seems to me that a helmet design with the capability to conform to your head has the potential to be MUCH safer than a traditional helmet, which have been known to cause hematomas if ill-fitting and crashed.

Have to agree with Jaytee and I wonder how many of the commenters have actually worn or even closely inspected bike helmets. Ugly, ill-fitting styrofoam caps that balance on your head like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine, with cheap uncomfortable nylon straps that did into your chin, cutting off the circulation and forcing you into a uncomfortable choice between fastening it too loosely to do any good or swallowing.
It's possible that it may not be strong enough to protect your head in a crash but the technology certainly exists to make it as good or better than the existing form (yes, even out of textiles) and people who actually ride bikes on a regular basis would certainly appreciate anything that folds up flat enough to fit in a purse or briefcase.
It's a great concept even if it doesn't "work" at the moment because it allows industrial manufacturers who do have the ability to make one that does to see an idea they may never have thought of on their own. Which is pretty much the definition of concept.

Commenters like these destroy creativity.

"Low speed in this case means "falling off your bike" or "slamming your head against the wall after reading idiotic blog comments."

That has to be the quote of the week. Nicely said.

Great initiative for design! Keep working on it.
And remember to make it fresh or at least like sunshade and breeze too, I live in hot climate... +30C all year round!

LOL. If this thing were tough enough to not crumple on impact, it would focus the pressure along the narrow areas where the helmet contacts the head.

That don't protect your head look at it! you can see the head threw it! What a waste of time and money! (N) Your a numpty if you buy it!

What a load of rubbish! It looks like a mushroom! Waste of time and money! (N)

Absolutely wonderful... if you want to look like a Mushroom all day!

In it's current flimsy paper form it would provide no protection at all. Make the material a lot stiffer and I can just picture having this honeycomb shape permanently carved into the your flesh should you ever actually collide with something.

How do I buy one?