Tony Walker and Andy Creak wanted to solve a problem most cyclists didn’t know they had. Specifically, that polystyrene bike helmets aren’t tough enough for the London commuter: every time we knock them off our desk or drop them on the ground, this causes damage, reducing their ability to withstand a crash.

Their new high-tech helmet aims to solve this: a technically designed, collapsible helmet dubbed “the world’s toughest” that’s capable of withstanding multiple impacts, from being hit by a bus to run over by a car.

Meet Hedkayse One.

It’s the result of four years of research and development by a team of British designers and uses a pioneering new wonder material called Enkayse, which dissipates energy on impact, rather than crumpling. This means it’s still totally safe to use after a crash or knock — that’s crucial if you need to get back on the bike after coming off.

“That’s the freaky part: people don’t understand that their old helmets wouldn’t be safe any more after that,” says technical director George Fox. “When we’re talking about London, everyone ends up down the side of a van at some stage. If it cuts you off and you come off your bike, you don’t have to worry about your head any more. Yes, you’ve had a crash but your helmet is safe.”

He insists that Hedkayse can be hit 200 times and still be “100 per cent wearable” — it even passed European safety standards after being driven over by a car (“without a head in, of course”).

Crucially, Hedkayse also shrugs offsmaller bumps and scrapes. While polystyrene is only designed to crumple at high speeds when there’s a risk of impacting your skull, Hedkayse is built for the daily grind. It cushions small bumps, preventing cumulative damage to both the helmet and your head — according to researchers, it’s this kind of long-term cumulative damage that can lead to brain disease.

Hedkayse may be tough but it’s also surprisingly nimble. It was originally designed as a collapsible helmet and this patented folding design is still a large part of its appeal, says Fox. Hedkayse One folds down to half of its width, the same size as a large book, so you can fit it inside your handbag or briefcase — perfect for the urban commuter.

Other details have been reimagined for Londoners, too. Hedkayse comes in 10 different colours, the material is antibacterial for easy handwashing and the chin strap features a patented ratchet system for super-quick release. Pull the red tab and the strap will ping open — useful if you’re in a rush (or if you’re prone to catching it on your beard).

It weighs the same as a normal helmet and is one-size-fits-all (it fits head sizes 49cm-62cm) — just use the adjustable head strap at the back to customise the size, and when you’re not wearing it, the strap doubles up as an easy way to secure the helmet to your rucksack.

It doesn’t stop there. Fox says his team has other Hedkayse models in the pipeline and wants to offer the Enkayse material to other brands for adding a multi-impact layer to their helmet. For now though, Hedkayse is the only Enkayse product available to order — it was funded on Indiegogo and the first batch will be dispatched in early Spring — and certainly the only one that’s foldable.

No one-hit wonder, then: finally a helmet to survive life on London’s roads.

Pre-order for £149.99

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4. See.Sense ICON2: Smart lights that react to your environment using built-in sensors: they’ll automatically flash brighter and faster at junctions or in risky traffic situations, helping to increase your visibility.

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