Ikon and Ikon Nova

When sport climbing became an Olympic discipline a few years ago, it attracted a great deal of attention with spectacular images and performances. Yet the sport has been popular for much longer. Fans all over the world seek out challenges in bouldering gyms, on climbing walls, in the mountains and on ice. It doesn’t take much equipment to participate in the sport of climbing, but a helmet is an essential headgear item for climbs. The Ikon and the Ikon Nova each offer a compelling combination of protection and comfort to both beginners and experienced climbers. One aspect that makes the Ikon helmets particularly eye-catching is their unconventional design. They have an outer shell composed of robust ABS with honeycomb-shaped recesses on the sides that are reinforced with 3D profiles. The inside layer of polypropylene with a polystyrene surface performs an insulating and shock-absorbing function. On the one hand, the Ikon helmets offer the durability of hardshell technology. On the other, they are as light and comfortable to wear as in-mould models. This combination of the two technologies enhances the helmets’ safety and wearing comfort, while the large vent holes in the outer shell optimise ventilation performance. For a secure fit, there is an adjustment dial on the rear of the helmet. The Ikon Nova also has a dial that sits lower to accommodate people who wear ponytails. It can be easily adjusted with one hand or even when wearing gloves. Various details make it clear that the designers had real-life sport and climbing conditions in mind when developing the helmets. For example, there is a small groove at the front that initially appears to be a decorative element. It actually allows the user to quickly locate the clip for the headlamp, an essential accessory when visibility is poor, without having to remove the helmet. The jury was impressed by the well-thought-out features of the Ikon and Ikon Nova helmets and praised the fact that their hybrid design combines the best of both worlds.