What is a Wavecel?
What is a Wavecel?
A new helmet technology from Bontrager it's up to 48 times better at preventing concussions than a standard cycling helmet. It is a collapsible material that sits inside the helmet. Designed to absorb impacts in three ways it will Flex, Crumple and Glide.
A standard helmet uses EPS (expanded polystyrene foam) which absorbs impact by cracking and changing shape. This means your head hits the floor, the helmet breaks, that's it. A Wavecel helmet has EPS outer shell and Wavecel liner, so the helmet can crack, change shape, flex and crumple. Wavecel also allows your head to glide within the helmet, reducing rotational shocks. Nearly 99 out of 100 times, concussion is prevented in common cycling accidents when wearing a Wavecel Helmet.*
The WaveCel lining does add some weight to the helmets. Bontrager says this averages out at about 53g, about the weight of an average energy bar. The WaveCel helmet also has better ventilation than a standard EPS helmet does.
Who designed and builds the Helmets?
Created by a partnership between Trek's Research & Design teams, orthopaedic surgeon Dr Steve Madey, and biomechanical engineer Dr Michael Bottlang. They have been working on reducing head injuries for over 15 years and have pioneered advances in head injury prevention. Their research has been independently tested and verified by Virginia Tech, and the helmets pass all relevant safety standards.
Bontrager currently have exclusive rights to the technology and they have started by releasing four different models of helmet:
*Results based on AIS 2 Injury (BriC) at 6.2 m/s test at 45° comparing a standard EPS Helmet and the same helmet modified with WaveCel insert as described in detail in Comparison of Bicycle Helmet Technologies in Realistic Oblique Impacts. For more information visit trekbikes.com/WaveCel
