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Park & Diamond hides helmet in a baseball cap, collapses it to the size of a bottle

Written by Cory Benson
Park and Diamond bicycle helmet collapsible folding baseball cap style urban commuter cycling helmet
12 Comments
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Upstart Park & Diamond have developed a new collapsible urban cycling helmet disguised as a baseball cap that packs down surprisingly small. Actually promising improved safety over a conventional one-piece EPS helmet, the unique energy dispersing tech is proven, and the new helmet is ramping up to production with a crowdfunding pre-order campaign.

Park & Diamond collapsible cap, urban cycling helmet

The team behind Park & Diamond developed the collapsible baseball cap helmet in an attempt to get more urban cyclists to wear a protective helmet. One of the founders’ sister was hit while riding without a helmet and spent four months in a coma before recovering. So they set out to develop a commuter helmet that was more comfortable, more of an off-the-bike style, and more convenient to carry once you pedal to your destination.

Park and Diamond bicycle helmet collapsible folding baseball cap style urban commuter cycling helmet

The team behind Park & Diamond developed the collapsible baseball cap helmet in an attempt to get more urban cyclists to wear a protective helmet. One of the founders’ sister was hit while riding without a helmet and spent four months in a coma before recovering. So they set out to develop a commuter helmet that was more comfortable, more of an off-the-bike style, and more convenient to carry once you pedal to your destination. Now after three years of development the project is almost complete. And an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign is the last step to kickstart the helmet towards consumer availability.

Park & Diamond foldable bicycle helmet Tech Details

Park and Diamond bicycle helmet collapsible folding baseball cap style urban commuter cycling helmet

The folding helmet features a fabric outer skin that gives it the baseball cap look, and an inner skin for a comfortable fit on your head. Both are removable and can be hand washed, or swapped out when new styles are introduced.

In between, a proprietary energy dissipating composite shell (not simply EPS like a standard helmet) is made up of many smaller geometric elements that together are able to absorb the energy of an impact. In its expanded position their interlocking shape allows the elements to transmit energy to each other in a crash, while also allowing the entire thing to pack down rather compactly – to about the size of a large water bottle, so it doesn’t take up too much space in your bag.

Park and Diamond bicycle helmet collapsible folding baseball cap style urban commuter cycling helmet

Park & Diamond have crash tested their system in development saying it surpasses the US CPSC certification standard, and is expected to receive EU EN-1078 certification as well.

The Park & Diamond collapsible helmet will be available in three adult sizes (S, M, L) and has a claimed light weigh of approximately 8oz/230g.

Park & Diamond Bicycle Helmet Pricing & Delivery Estimates

Park and Diamond bicycle helmet collapsible folding baseball cap style urban commuter cycling helmet

The Park & Diamond helmet is available for pre-order starting today over at Indiegogo.com. Half off pre-order pricing starts at $79 for the helmet, including the standard black removable baseball cap cover. Additional covers will be introduced later in 2019. The crowdfunding campaign for the collapsible helmet runs until the end of October, with deliveries to Indiegogo backers slated for the first months of 2019.

Park-and-Diamond.com
Cory Benson
4,485 articles

Cory Benson is the EU Tech Editor of Bikerumor.com.

Cory has been writing about mountain bikes, enduro, cyclocross, all-road, gravel bikes & bikepacking for over 25 years, even before the industry created some of these names. Prior to Bikerumor, Cory was a practicing Architect specializing in environmental sustainability, has designed bike shops & bike components, and worked as a bike shop mechanic.

Based in the Czech Republic for 15+ years, he is a technical mountain biker, adventurous gravel rider, and short & medium-haul bikepacker. Cory travels extensively across Europe riding bikes, meeting with key European product developers, industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new, and what’s coming next.

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Maus Haus
Maus Haus
6 years ago

If it works as good as it states, could be a great product design. Envision street or enduro branding/style to appeal to offroad/urban crowd. Like it a lot.

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Scott
Scott
6 years ago

Make one that looks like a cycling cap (bonus point for mapei pattern) and the style will catch on immediatly for racers.

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mud+rock
mud+rock
6 years ago

It is so much more low profile than an EPS helmet, I’m surprised it passes the EN test.

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TheKaiser
TheKaiser
6 years ago

That will be really impressive if truly passes the standard certifications. The article sounds kind of like they have done preliminary testing, but not the official version for the sticker, and sometimes things change a bit in the latter stages of getting a product produced and tested. I’d like to see a cutaway.

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Cal C
Cal C
6 years ago

Looks like a baseball cap* – it actually looks like a horse riding helmet. (*If baseball caps had straps.)

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Piet The Dullard
Piet The Dullard
6 years ago

Would the cloth outer not get the opposite result of a MIPS helmet?
increasing the friction on the ground and increasing the rotational motion of the head.
Or did MIPS people do a very good job of selling the fear, and rotational forces are not something most people have to worry about?

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Berlin
Berlin
6 years ago
Reply to  Piet The Dullard

Very good point, didn’t think about it.

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Michael P Mackin
Michael P Mackin
5 years ago
Reply to  Piet The Dullard

I believe the Low Friction Layer in the MIPS helmet is on the inside of the helmet not the outside

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alanm9
alanm9
5 years ago

I’m very skeptical about this and certainly not defending it. Just pointing out that it doesn’t appear to be marketed to us bicyclists who already wear helmets. It’s marketed to urban hipsters who don’t wear helmets, hoping they will.

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sammccloud
sammccloud
5 years ago
Reply to  alanm9

I’m a longtime cyclist and have always worn helmets. Also way too old and unhip to be a hipster. But I don’t much like the rigid shell on my head, nor the bulk. If they can actually make these, I’m in.

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Vadim
Vadim
5 years ago

I am not a professional rider. After having read one posted comment about rotational forces, I looked at this product under scientific angle. First thing that alerted was fold-ability. It means that at any given time of accident only ONE fold-able part of the helmet takes ENTIRE hit and suppose magically protect a part of rider’s head that has contact with this part. It is hard to believe. THE energy from HIT WILL BARELY BE DISTRIBUTED (or absorbed) to other parts of the helmet because they don’t constitute solid piece.
Thicker material has more ability to absorb and dissipate energy caused by impact. This helmet is way far thinner that classic one.

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RICHARD A NIESENBAUM
RICHARD A NIESENBAUM
5 years ago

I just saw an ad for this exact product on Instagram charging $29. The photos and language were all from the park & Diamond Indiegogo page. All of the comments below the ad indicated the offer was a scam and that purchasers received only a cheap baseball hat from China. Customer service did not respond to them. Seeing and ad before receiving my perk was problematic. Either this is another company that stole your images and information, and is using it to scam others; or Park & Diamond are scammers. They need to address this & reassure early investors or other purchasers The delays and lack of response to comments on their Indiegogo page are enough to cause concern. This instagram ad only reinforces these concerns. I urge Park & Diamond to reach out and reassure their supporters as soon as possible. Until then I recommend that you DO NOT INVEST IN OR BUY THIS PRODUCT

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