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This revolutionary material is proven to be up to 48x more effective than standard EPS foam at preventing concussions from common cycling accidents.

WaveCel is a collapsible cellular material that lines the inside of Bontrager helmets.

It is the result of a four-year partnership between Trek’s Research & Design teams, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Steve Madey, and biomechanical engineer Dr. Michael Bottlang. Drs Madey and Bottlang have collaborated for the past 25 years and pioneered advances in fracture care, thoracic and pelvic trauma, and head injury prevention. They are funded by grants from the National Institute of Health to help prevent traumatic brain injuries amongst cyclists.

Unlike a standard foam helmet, which is designed to protect against direct impacts, WaveCel accounts for how most cycling accidents actually happen—ungracefully, with twists, turns, and angled impacts.

WaveCel absorbs energy in multiple ways. On impact, the layers of the WaveCel material move independently and flex until the cell walls crumple and then glide, actively absorbing direct and rotational energy and redirecting it away from your head.

This three-step change in material structure—flex, crumple, glide—is remarkably effective at dispersing the energy from an impact. Nearly 99 out of 100 times, WaveCel prevents concussions from common cycling accidents.*

Bontrager have launched 5 new helmets with the WaveCel technology installed