My buddy, Keefer, sent me a link to check out high-fashion bike helmets. I have to concede that they are the un-dorkiest helmets I’ve seen, although I have to agree with one comment to the review that your first reaction to seeing one in the wild would be, “WOW, that dude / dudette has the biggest head I’ve ever seen.”
Here’s the PR Blurb
YAKKAY “SMART ONE” is a new smart design that differs by its rounded ear straps and adjustment buckles in polished stainless steel. But the real difference shows when one of the many different covers is attached to helmet – It changes from its characteristics of a helmet to a hat and becomes an accessory to your outfit. You adjust the helmet to your head with a number of adhesive foam circles which have the added advantage that air can circulate between them. When you are riding your bicycle, air will be pushed into the helmet, and pleasantly cool down your head. In addition, your head will stay dry in rainy weather, as the covers are designed without open holes. The helmet fully meets the European CE standard (EN1078).
Cool looks don’t make a cool helmet
My gut reaction is that this looks like an old-fashioned brain bucket. I can’
t see how that could be anywhere near as cool as my Giro Atmos Helmet. (Temperature cool, not fashion cool.)
The Atmos has eight-gillion holes in it and I still snatch it off my head every chance I get. I can’t see how a half-bowling ball with about five holes in the top of it could work in hot weather. (For the record, I never ride without my helmet. Here’s the reason why.)
Maybe the WEARER makes it cool
Somehow or another, I don’t quite see myself wearing the fur model or the Tokyo Jazz Pink version. If you’re interested in seeing all the models in all their spendor, go to the YAKKAY site.
They ain’t cheap. $165 plus a ticket to Europe. I didn’t see any U.S. dealers nor anything about shipping to the states.
The site DOES have a short video about how to adjust the helmet that would apply to any helmet. (Don’t have it cocked too far back, nor pitched too far down.)
Yo!
I’m ready to fly to Europe and fork over whatever it takes for that fur model if what’s under the helmet in the photo comes with!
Bad news, Keef, a poster from an Australian forum at http://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11186 pointed out that the “Grippy fabric or fur helmet cover…. not going to meet current Australian Standard for helmets, creates a head rotation hazard.”
I didn’t disagree.
I observed, “I can see where turning your head to check out the fur-wearing model might be a hazardous head rotation if a spouse or Significant Other was present to observe the swivel.”
Don’t forget to call me when you get back from overseas.
I wear a big hat with a wide brim to keep the sun off my eyes, ears and neck and can keep rain off my eyes.
I’d love it if someone in the U.S. would/could make a reasonably-priced helmet that would combine my hat with the safety features of a helmet.
Commute by bike in Overland Park, Kansas. I ride ~2,500 miles a year, all year long. I kept following links to the company’s site and they still don’t really show the hat covered helments on people’s heads…
woooow–the first helmet looks so dammn cool.
where do i get it from. i m sick of ugly helmet looking
helmets :)
I don’t know any more about the helmet than what I wrote in this posting. If you buy one, let us know how you like it.
I like this post this is great! so stylish, thanks a lot for sharing.
Check out Bandbox helmets – they are way more attractive and comfortable than Yakkay with a greater choice in styles. Most importantly they meet US CPSC standards and a really comfortable.
I was going to delete your comment as spam until I went to the site. Interesting helmets. They’re worth a look.