Ventete presents air based helmet engineering for safer urban mobility
Ventete introduces a new confidence in movement through the aH-1 micro-collapsible helmet, a product shaped by a decade of concentrated research and refinement. Born in the UK and manufactured in Switzerland, the helmet signals a pivotal shift in the trajectory of protective gear.
For the first time, air becomes the primary structural medium, marking a transition from leather to foam and now to pneumatic systems, aligning with the modern pursuit of convenience, refined aesthetics, and advanced safety performance.
Urban mobility has undergone a profound shift over recent years. The widespread adoption of ride-sharing, alongside a surge in e-bikes and scooters, has reframed how people travel within cities. As these behaviours have matured, conventional bicycle helmets have failed to meet the needs imposed by spontaneous mobility.
This tension provided the initial spark for Ventete’s design team. Co-founder Colin Herperger recalls the foundational question that guided development: a helmet that could fold in on itself like origami and sit discreetly in a pocket. The founding intent was to empower movement and foster everyday confidence without inconvenience or compromise.
The aH-1 realizes this ambition by collapsing to a fraction of its size. When not in use, it reduces by 90% and stores at less than 4 cm thick, comparable to a laptop and easily managed by commuters throughout multi-leg journeys. The inflatable format is made practical through a collaboration with Fumpa Pumps.
Each helmet includes a rechargeable mini-pump that connects via USB-C and inflates the structure in only 30 seconds using an integrated Clik valve. A patented on-helmet pressure indicator provides clear visibility into safe operating pressure, while deflation returns the helmet to a compact 3.5 cm profile within seconds.
The core performance of the aH-1 stems from its multi-patented pneumatic structural system. The architecture was shaped by architects and engineers specializing in mechanical performance, materials science, and user experience.
Advancements in high-frequency fabric welding and technical textiles enabled Ventete to reach a structural solution that not only meets CE/UKCA safety requirements (EN1078) but surpasses them. Independent testing at Head Lab at Imperial College London confirms superior mitigation of both linear and rotational impacts, which are a primary cause of traumatic brain injury.
Ventilation further distinguishes the aH-1. Chambered construction suspends the helmet lightly while allowing unbroken airflow around the rider’s head. Tests conducted at EMPA, the Swiss Federal Laboratory for Material Science, demonstrate thermal performance that exceeds foam helmets and reaches cooling values comparable to riding with an uncovered head.
Ventete describes itself as an invention-driven design company, centring attention on the physical world and the behaviours emerging within it. Its products are made for movement, combining precision engineering with craftsmanship and an ethos of perseverance and excellence. Worn by those who push forward, Ventete’s work elevates the everyday.
Photography by Dan Tobin Smith, with courtesy of v2com
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