In the event you haven’t been paying consideration, 3D printing is popping up in all places on this planet of biking. From saddles, to dropouts, to sure, even helmets. Among the many firms creating helmets out of skinny air, KAV has been main the best way with latest honors for his or her Portola helmet like a Purple Dot award, a Design & Innovation Award, and certainly one of Time Journal’s Finest Innovations of 2022.
And now, KAV is unveiling the subsequent era of their 3D-printed bike helmet, the Portola: KAZE.
All photographs c. KAV
Relating to 3D printing, there are a selection of issues to contemplate, however some of the essential is the fabric itself. It has to lend itself to not solely the printing course of the place merchandise are constructed layer by layer however on this case, it additionally must carry out effectively as an precise helmet.
In line with KAV, the brand new Portola KAZE title is derived from the Japanese phrase for wind – a partial nod to the elevated air flow because of bigger vents. However the huge story right here appears to be the fabric used to print the helmet itself, with KAV working with “the main home supplier of filament to compound and check over 20 proprietary co-polymers.” That search led to the sourcing of a brand new polymer from Japan which has been combined with a proprietary mix of components to create what they’re calling KAV PolyCarbon.
This new filament materials supposedly absorbs 35% extra power than typical EPS foam, and likewise unlocks a brand new coloration possibility – Polar White. You’ll nonetheless have the ability to get the Portola KAZE in Cosmos Black as effectively.
KAV claims the KAZE performs 25% higher than the CPSC influence necessities, although we’d nonetheless wish to see the way it compares in third-party testing like that from Virginia Tech.
Because of revisions to the straps, padding, and tweaks to the inside honeycomb construction, the KAZE is now 10% lighter. Based mostly on our testing of a Portola, that may make it round 343g (although the custom-fit nature means a variety of precise weights). However a helmet that’s lighter with higher air flow and padding is certainly welcomed, and the brand new patent-pending sweat administration system sounds prefer it might be an fascinating addition. KAV additionally claims {that a} “new fusion building bonds moisture-wicking materials on to the helmet, eliminating adhesives and weight.”
Whereas the KAZE remains to be a premium helmet with a premium price ticket, KAV has taken an enormous chunk out of the price of the helmet shifting from $390 for the Portola, to $320 for the Portola KAZE. Made in Redwood Metropolis, CA utilizing renewable power, KAV helmets embrace a 30-day risk-free trial, 5-year guarantee, and a 100% crash alternative coverage.
