German company VACO Technology has teamed up with snow sports company Amplid to bring a revolutionary new snow helmet to market. VACO has replaced the traditional inner foam helmet padding with an auto fitting system that self-adapts to the shape of your head. The technology has been used within the medical industry for years and is now being adapted for the outdoor industry for use in gear such as back protectors, ski boots and now snow helmets.
Outdoor companies as well as sports companies of all types are constantly looking for new technology to improve helmet performance. A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has shown that wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injury for skiers and snowboarders while not increasing the risk of neck injuries. The report states that head injuries account for 9% to 19% of all injuries on the slopes and your risk of head injury can be reduced by 35% when wearing a helmet.
The secret behind VACO helmet technology is a vacuum cushion filled with thousands of tiny polystyrene beads. As you place your head in the helmet, air is pressed out through a special valve, reducing the space between the beads and forming the cushion perfectly to the shape of your skull. Once you remove the helmet, the air comes back in through the valve and pops the vacuum cushion back into its original shape.
When a crash occurs, the subtle flowing movement of the beads prevents distinct impact pressure points and instead evenly distributes the energy across the cushion. Unlike conventional helmets, the filling does not forward the impact energy in towards your head but instead naturally pushes the energy towards the outside of your helmet, reducing your chance of injury.
The Amplid snow helmet with VACO Technology should be available for next winter sports season.