Helmets

Riding a motorcycle is already risky enough without adding obscured vision to the equation. That's where the Bikerguard is designed to come in. It's a visor wiper that can be attached to just about any motorcycle helmet to swipe away the rain.

Using a series of inflatable ribs, the Ventete aH-1 bicycle helmet folds like an accordion when deflated to carry as easily as a laptop. When it's time to saddle up, it inflates back into helmet form via an electric pocket pump in seconds.

If your doggo wants to join the armed forces, law enforcement, rescue services, or just look badass while guarding the front lawn, Dark Systems has Fido's back with its DarkFighter K9 helmet (hel-mutt?) GEN4 that combines protection and serious attitude.

While there are now a lot of light-equipped bike helmets on the market, many of them look quite tech-geeky. The Life helmet is different, in that it's sleek and stylish while still packing in multiple lighting features.

Bike helmets can be bulky things to carry around, which is why we've seen ones that fold or collapse when not in use. The Inflabi takes yet another approach, however, in that it simply gets deflated and rolled up.

Bike helmets with built-in LED turn indicators may be kinda cool, but most of them are activated via a handlebar-mounted remote control. The Gamel helmet is different, in that its indicators are triggered by the tilting of your head.

When deaf athletes with cochlear implants take part in sports, they have to wear headgear that protects the external parts of their implant. A new wearable serves that same purpose, while allowing users to hear the sounds around them much better.

While there are bicycle helmets with built-in radio communication systems, they do end up replacing what are otherwise perfectly good helmets. The Punks system is an alternative, as it adds wireless comms to bike helmets of pretty much any kind.

Carbon nanotubes have found use in everything from smart bandages to more efficient solar cells. Now, scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have used them in a helmet lining foam that offers better impact protection than regular foams.

AGV's ultra-lightweight Sportmodular helmet is still my all-time favorite flip-face brain bucket, and the company has backed it up with a more affordable Tourmodular lid focused on longer rides, with the option to add an integrated Cardo comms unit.

While bike helmets do provide a great deal of protection, it's still possible to sustain a head injury when wearing one. This fact prompted two Swedish companies to develop an airbag-equipped helmet, which could make a big difference in an accident.

We've seen bike helmets that fold up for storage and transit, plus ones that are equipped with lights. The Fend Super, however, is one of the first to combine both features in one helmet.