Airbag helmet: The Hövding 3 for cyclists in the star check

2023-09-18 06:15:00

Test

Head protection Safe without a helmet: The Hövding 3 airbag for cyclists in the star check

Who is the Hövding 3 airbag suitable for? How does the 800 gram collar feel while cycling? The helmet alternative from Sweden stern-Check.

Helmet grouches and hipsters pay attention! A few years ago, two clever minds from Sweden came up with a hairstyle-friendly and visually attractive alternative to the classic bicycle helmet. The Hövding 3 in stern-Check.

One thing in advance: We didn’t risk anything on our test drive with the Hövding 3. The fact that the Chief (Swedish: Hövding) triggers lightning-fast and reliably in the event of an accident is proven, among other things, by test series by the General German Automobile Club (ADAC). That’s why we primarily focused on comfort, feel and fashionable accessories that can be used to visually enhance the third generation of the Hövding (available since November 2019).

Hövding 3 airbag collar: idea and functionality

Before we take a closer look at the Hövding 3, a few thoughts on the idea. In 2006, two students from Malmö, Sweden, apparently couldn’t find a bicycle helmet that met their aesthetic requirements. Or they simply didn’t want to ruin their hairstyles. In any case, as part of their diploma thesis at Lund University, the two were looking for alternative (and invisible) protection for cyclists’ heads. The industrial designers Terese Alstin and Anna Haupt worked for six years. The result is a kind of collar that is placed around the neck like a scarf and closed with a zipper under the chin. The heart of the Hövding 1 was a module that sat in the neck (and still sits today). The gas cartridge hidden inside is supposed to be triggered according to a certain algorithm and open the airbag within a tenth of a second. This then wraps around the entire head like a protective hood and prevents a hard impact with the skull. Built-in sensors monitor and register the movements of the “chieftain” once activated (more on this later). An AI analyzes and interprets the reported movement patterns and position changes. If this algorithm detects a dangerous situation, it reflexively inflates the airbag.

Important note: Once inflated, the Hövding is no longer of any use. In return, he presumably prevented a serious head injury.

Unboxing: The first impression

In addition to the Hövding, a USB-C charging cable and a fall out of the box black cover, which is placed over the Hövding. There is also a compact operating instructions and a slightly more detailed manual. The Hövding airbag has an official weight. The invisible helmet weighs 810 grams. Included Cover you put a good 860 grams around your neck. That’s about three times as much as a classic bicycle helmet. The lion’s share of this is likely to be taken up by the gas cartridge hidden in a black plastic box. At the bottom of this box, Hövding has hidden an LED with a control button next to the USB-C charging socket to check the charging status.

Also noticeable: the Boa Fit system, which was installed for the first time in the third generation. With the twist lock, also known from sports shoes and ski helmets, the Hövding can be easily adjusted to the collar size. Smart: The key figures for neck and head circumference were noted on small stickers sewn on the inside. You can also find the serial number of the product there. Sketches show the most important steps before, during and after getting on the bike. Useful: the hanger marked with brackets, with which the Hövding can be stored in a space-saving manner and always within easy reach.

All in all, there is nothing to complain about externally. The Hövding is accurately crafted. However, given the investment required for this, this is to be expected.

The check

As mentioned at the beginning, we decided not to test the emergency with the Hövding 3. Independent crash tests suggest that the airbag for cyclists deploys reliably when danger is imminent. The truth is that there are known cases in which the Hövding’s algorithm was fooled and activated the airbag even though there was no crash.

But back to our check. It started with a first fitting. You can’t go wrong here. The short zipper under the chin takes some getting used to. After a few tries, it can be closed in just a few seconds, even with your eyes closed. But how do you adjust the Hövding to your neck and head circumference? Zip back up and focus on the boa closure on the inside. This is set to neutral by pulling the knob up. To adjust it, press it down and turn the wheel tightly clockwise, accompanied by a constant clicking sound. This worked without any problems in the test. The two ends of the Hövding get closer with each stop. In our case, two and a half turns were enough to adjust the airbag correctly. Tip: Ideally, there should be two finger widths between the neck and the zipper. Complete. Almost anyway.

Before the Hövding is activated and the tour can start, a cover is placed over the airbag. This washable cover serves two functions. On the one hand, it protects the technology against sweat and rain. For some, the aesthetic aspect may be at least as important. Because without a cover, the Hövding doesn’t look much. In addition to the standard black cover, four other monochrome designs are currently available. There is also one in a leopard look and one with the “Airbag inside” print. A matter of taste. Dressing itself is not for those with gross motor skills. Since there aren’t too many options, we finally found the right counterpart for both zippers. And when packed up, the Hövding easily passes as a fashion accessory. In order to activate the airbag, i.e. to start the permanent movement analysis, the strap marked with a yellow tab must be closed. A short acoustic signal can be viewed as the starting signal. A green flashing LED confirms the correct connection. And here we go.

The most important closure on the Hövding 3: The tab must be connected to the counterpart (left) in order to activate the algorithm that records movements while cycling.

On the barely 15 kilometer long test drive through Hamburg it quickly becomes clear why Hövding puts his invisible helmet close to his heart (and around his neck), especially to “urban cyclists”. Because the sitting position is crucial for comfort with the Hövding. A leisurely cruise through the city on a Dutch bike, a city bike to the beer garden, a relaxing day trip to the lake on an e-bike. As long as you sit on the bike with your back straight, the airbag adapts perfectly. If the setup is a little sportier, such as on a racing bike or gravel bike, it becomes uncomfortable. As soon as your head goes back a little while driving, you can feel the black box in your cervical spine. This is uncomfortable in the long run. In short: cyclists, triathletes and gravel bikers will continue to have to use classic bicycle helmets in training and competition. And not just for reasons of comfort. The Hövding reaches its limits, especially when biking on rough terrain. It is not possible for the built-in AI to distinguish between whether the wearer is jumping over roots on a trail or actually getting into a dangerous situation. This is one of the reasons why the Hövding 3 is approved for racing cycling and mountain biking, but is explicitly recommended by the Swedes for cycling in cities.