A cardboard cycle helmet? And we thought we’d seen it all!

A cardboard cycle helmet? Sounds about as much use as a glass mallet! But no, it’s real. And it’s not the hairbrained idea of some crackpot inventor holed up in a shed – Germany’s Abus have actually put it into production. And here it is – the Abus Kranium AKS 1 Limited Edition.

Okay, so it’s not entirely made from cardboard – it’s got a thick plastic outer shell and EPS foam inner. Which begs the question, why bother with the cardboard at all?! Is it just an attempt to extract cash from the green lobby loons? Not according to its creator, Anirudha Surabhi.

The Kranium is made from recycled paper, but Ani says it’s protection that’s the driving force behind it, not eco-friendliness. He reckons it can absorb three times the amount of energy of a regular EPS lid and says it can stand up to multiple impacts too. Won’t it get soggy in the rain? Nope, the card’s been treated with a waterproof solution.

The AKS 1 is aimed at commuters but if the technology lives up to Ani’s claims, there’s no reason it couldn’t be used in trail lids and full-faces too. Check out the video and pics below to find out more. Got a friend who’s a hipster or city centre wobbler? They can pick one up from London’s Velorution for £79.99.

Source: Kranium_The Journey from Kranium Design

That’s dual-density honeycomb paperboard that you can see under the plastic shell

Rib sections are laser-cut from a sheet of paperboard and arranged in a lattice

The framework is designed to flex in some areas and remain rigid in others

The plastic shell is there to ward off scuffs and help the helmet slide if you crash – the paper has been waterproofed

There are thin vents at the front and rear...

... along with air holes in the inner shell. But we don't reckon this is a lid for hot climates

The interior is pretty standard, with a dial-fit retention system. The magnetic buckle is a neat touch

In this picture you can see just how thick that plastic shell is. That might go some way to explaining the lid's 535g weight

Want to learn more? Head over to BikeRadar for an in-depth look at the new lid. There’s more info at facebook.com/KraniumDesign too.