TL;DR
Get business pricing on garage and car supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
Imperial College London researchers tested 30 helmets and found that the six folding models had a higher average predicted risk of linear head injury than 24 conventional helmets: 24% versus 20%. The researchers also said rotational injury risk did not differ, and one Mips-equipped folding helmet ranked second overall. Newlane co-founder Dominic Cotton called the broad claim that folding helmets offer less protection “misleading,” arguing performance depends on design and technology.
Researchers at Imperial College London found that the six folding bike helmets in a 30-helmet test had a higher average predicted risk of linear head injury than the 24 conventional models, but a Mips-equipped folding helmet ranked second overall. The findings point to differences among individual designs, while Newlane co-founder Dominic Cotton disputes the broad claim that collapsible helmets are less protective.
The study, funded by the Road Safety Trust and conducted by researchers at Imperial’s Dyson School of Design Engineering, compared helmets sold in the UK. The researchers tested all six folding models then available in the UK alongside 24 conventional helmets. All met the minimum regulatory safety standards required for sale in the UK and Europe.
Researchers simulated impacts at four locations, measuring both linear and rotational head motion. Each impact was repeated three times using a new helmet sample, to account for manufacturing and testing variability. The researchers said the approach was intended to better reflect crash conditions, since cycling head impacts often happen at an angle rather than as a straight vertical drop.
The average predicted risk of linear injury was 24% for the folding helmets, compared with 20% for conventional models. The researchers found no difference between the two groups in protection against brain injuries associated with rotational head motion. These are predicted risks from the study’s tests, not a count of injuries observed in real-world crashes.
The folding models were 57% heavier on average: 461 grams compared with 294 grams for conventional helmets. The researchers said risk increased by 0.2 percentage points for every additional 10 grams. They also found that only one of the six folding helmets had a rotational-impact system such as Mips, compared with 12 of the 24 conventional models.
Design Matters More Than Folding
The findings matter to cyclists choosing a helmet for bike-share trips or everyday carrying, because folding models can take up less space but varied widely in the study’s safety rankings. The results do not establish that every folding helmet is less protective than every conventional one: the Newlane model with Mips placed second among all 30 helmets, while its model without Mips placed 26th.
The researchers said the performance gap was not inherent to collapsible designs, and suggested that lighter folding helmets with rotational-protection technology could improve results. Cotton made a similar distinction, arguing that a helmet’s safety depends on its particular design and technology, not simply whether it folds. The study offers comparative laboratory evidence, not a guarantee of how any helmet will perform in a specific crash.
Products Worth Considering
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2-Inch High Torque Impact Wrench with Friction Ring Kit
Milwaukee M12 Fuel 1/4 Hex Impact Driver Kit
DEWALT 20V MAX XR 3-Speed Cordless Impact Driver Kit (DCF845P1)
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How Researchers Tested Helmets
Folding helmets are designed to reduce in volume for storage and carrying, a feature that has become more relevant with the growth of urban bike-share use. The Imperial researchers described their work as the first comparison of protection from folding and conventional bike helmets in a crash test.
The study examined both linear impact, in which the head moves in a straight direction, and rotational motion caused by angled impacts. Mips, short for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, is one technology designed to allow movement within the helmet during an oblique impact and reduce rotational motion transferred to the head. The researchers’ comparison focused on the models available in the UK at the time of testing; the source does not identify the full set of helmet models or provide every individual test result.
“The overall results suggest that collapsible helmets can be an excellent solution to make helmet use more accessible for cyclists, and producing lighter weight alternatives with added rotational protection technologies can substantially improve helmets’ safety outcomes.”
— Imperial College London researchers, as reported by road.cc
Limits of the Test Results
The reported results do not show how the helmets perform across every type of crash or translate the predicted risk figures into observed injury rates. The source material does not provide the full test dataset, confidence intervals, or details needed to judge the statistical uncertainty around the difference between the group averages.
It is also unclear whether the tested models remain representative of the current market, or how later designs would score. The researchers’ results compare a small group of folding helmets with conventional models; they do not establish that folding helmets as a category are always less protective. The study also found no difference in rotational-injury protection between the groups, despite differences in how often helmets included rotational-protection systems.
Further Testing and Lighter Designs
The researchers said lighter folding helmets that include rotational-protection technology could improve safety outcomes. The source does not report a planned follow-up study, a new testing date, or a response from other manufacturers, so the next research milestone is not confirmed.
For now, consumers can compare specific helmet models rather than treating folding or conventional construction as a standalone safety measure. Any further conclusions will depend on additional testing and evidence, including how newer models perform under comparable impact conditions.
Key Questions
Were the folding helmets found to be less safe in every test?
No. The study found a higher average predicted linear injury risk for the six folding helmets, but no difference between the groups in protection against rotational brain injury. One folding model, equipped with Mips, ranked second among all 30 helmets.
What were the average predicted injury-risk figures?
The study reported an average predicted linear injury risk of 24% for folding helmets and 20% for conventional helmets. These are test-based predictions, not observed percentages of cyclists injured in crashes.
Why did Newlane call the study’s headline misleading?
Newlane co-founder Dominic Cotton said performance depends on a helmet’s design and technology, not simply whether it folds. He pointed to the company’s Mips-equipped folding helmet, which ranked second in the study.
Did all tested helmets meet safety rules?
According to the report, all 30 helmets met the minimum regulatory standards required for sale in the UK and Europe. The study compared test performance among helmets that met those standards.
What should a cyclist take from the findings?
The findings suggest comparing individual models and their safety features, including weight and rotational-impact technology. The study does not prove that every conventional helmet outperforms every folding helmet.
Source: road.cc
