New gadgets are always an exciting prospect but I've rarely, despite being a keen and fairly long serving cyclist been enlivened by the idea of cycle helmets. They are in my opinion a necessary evil (bulky hair flatteners that are anything but flattering) and something I'd rather do without. But since a number of recent misses with buses and cars alike I was intrigued to try out a helmet that would not only keep me safe but not get in the way when I'm not using it. Stash is the "multi-sports folding helmet" that "packs away instantly for easy storage". "Great" I thought. No more would I have to worry about my helmet falling off the table with a "clunk" when I was having drinks with friends or risk tripping me or anyone else up if I "neatly" stowed it under the table. I'd be able to slip my Stash in my bag and not risk forgetting it when I got up to go. What a shame I'd have to buy a bigger bag as the Stash turns out not to be quite as compact as I'd hoped.

The Stash is intended to solve the cyclist's problem of what to do with their bulky helmets when not wearing them. No longer do we need to leave our helmets with our bikes when we park up, where they're prone to damage and the certainty of getting wet and in my case, being stolen with my bike. Instead we can fold it up easily and quickly and pop it into our bags. It works easily, the sides folding in on pivots, two at the front and two at the back of the helmet transforming the familiar solid dome into a crescent shape. This reduces the width of the helmet by 30% and the volume by 40%. To ensure the best fit there are two sizes to choose from and after purchase, two sets of easily fitted foam inserts for a tailored fit. The benefits of a good fit are not only in safety but in comfort too. This is a relatively comfortable helmet. It comes with its own little bag to keep it neat and tidy and protect it from scuffing. And if you want to be sure of finding the perfect bag to accommodate your Stash you can also buy either a Stash shoulder bag or backpack.

The Stash is a remarkably easy thing to use, no finger pinching and thankfully no folding in on your head as you wear it, both I had feared before meeting it face to face. And it is very light and get the fit right, it's comfortable too. New concept or not, this helmet does exactly what it should, it helps protect your head from head injuries and reassuringly it reports to be 45% stronger than the requirements under EU regulations. It looks good on the shelf in its black and white box and intriguing in its folded state. But the aesthetics of this helmet leave much to be desired. There's no fear in not being seen while wearing your Stash. The Stash comes only in white and it served the purpose of adding a good 4 inches to my height helping me be seen above the stream of traffic. I did feel as if I'd be better abseiling in this rather than peddling the streets of London. But safety first vanity last. As for the reasons behind this new design- stow-ability, it proved no more convenient than any other helmet I have owned. The Stash is surprisingly bulky. This is an expensive buy too. You're paying for the pivots after all. At £49.99 it is £20 more than I think is necessary to pay for a good helmet unless you're keen to buy something that makes you look like a pro peddler.

So why buy this helmet? Why spend the extra money when faced with so many other options? I'd say there's no real need. The Stash is expensive and certainly fails to noticeably make life any easier. I do have a tendency to spend frustrating minutes threading my helmet onto the chain when locking up my bike. Even so I rarely cursed my old helmet for not being able to squeeze into my bag. I was frustrated by the Stash not being small enough. It became a choice of helmet or laptop. Laptop won out. I like the idea but it failed to convert me from the conventional cycle helmet.
Stash is available from www.getstash.com and retails at £49.99 (incl. P&P)