Bridger designed the Highline as the first modular helmet supporting biking and snowsports. A patent-pending removable shell lets the wearer swap between profiles, ventilation, and insulation.
Boston-based Bridger says the helmet industry has “stagnated for more than a decade.” Its new modular setup seeks to shake up the status quo.
“There’s no reason that we should be stuck wearing the same stodgy, tired-looking helmet for years on end,” co-founder Ryan Eiler said. “[Existing] gear and clothing can adapt to the weather and to our activities, but our helmets can’t keep up in the same way.”
That’s why Bridger designed the Highline as a single helmet for all-weather, year-round use. The concept is pretty simple: Choose the Zephyr shell to let your dome breathe on hot days and the Thermic shell to keep you toasty in the snow.
The system arrives after 4 years of patenting, designing, and testing. Bridger says it churned through over 550 prototypes to pursue the finished product.
Bridger Highline Ski and Bike Modular Helmet Details
A proprietary retention system allows users to change out the shell as needed. Low-profile anchors on each side of the helmet lock the shell down. Bridger says it prioritized weight and safety in the design, which also hides the anchors from view.
As a secondary benefit, Highline users can inspect the helmet’s foam guts for integrity anytime, just by removing the shell.
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Eiler explained that many riders “aren’t aware that they’re riding around right now with cracked or structurally compromised helmets.” During the Highline development process, he realized that heat drying had shriveled the insulation in his old ski helmet to the point that it would have been “nearly useless” in an impact.
G-Form foam inside the Highline has a memory foam-like consistency for comfort but firms during impact. Finishing touches include ergonomic ear pads that aim to cup (rather than press) your ears and a magnetic buckle.
A planned recycling program is the last piece in the Bridger Highline puzzle. Further details are currently unavailable. But Eiler reasoned that “[f]ewer helmets purchased means less plastic and foam usage, along with the ability for spent plastic to be reused elsewhere.”
Bridger Highline Launch and Pricing Info
The Bridger Highline launched in nine different colors on Kickstarter this week. Customers can choose from multiple variants, mix and match colors, or add a visor.
The company estimates MSRP at $280 for a complete modular helmet kit, including one Zephyr shell. Extra shells (Zephyr or Thermic) clock in at $35 apiece. However, a limited number of early backers will get a discount of 30% or more. The Highline debuted on Kickstarter at $190 for a helmet with the Zephyr shell and $190 for the Thermic.
Learn more at Bridger’s website.