Environmental credentials are very important, but it’s not often you see kit with a green promise as striking as “over 90% of this product is recycled or from bio-sourced materials”.
That’s exactly what Urge claims about its Treps helmet, which it says is its most advanced helmet ever.
The Treps is an open-face MTB helmet for aggressive trail and light enduro riding, sitting between Urge's most aggressive Rascas open-face and trail-focused All Trail lids in the range.
The Treps boasts features such as a pop-off visor, scientifically designed pads and a Fidlock buckle. So, how has Urge achieved such impressive eco-friendly credentials?
Eco-friendly mission
Cycling, particularly mountain biking and gravel riding, is dependent in large part on having swathes of the natural world to ride about in. Cyclists and the bike industry should have their finger on the pulse when it comes to sustainability and conserving the environment.
French protection manufacturer Urge made it a key mission to reduce the environmental impact of its products.
For a brand specialising in helmets, this was a tall order because modern designs use predominantly plastic, which is a non-renewable resource, in their construction.
However, using recycled plastic and renewable materials such as bamboo, Urge says it has made the Treps more than 90 per cent recycled or sustainable in its construction.
Safety first
A helmet’s primary job, ahead of fashion, sustainability and comfort, is to protect the rider’s head in the event of an impact.
In the case of the Treps, safety is taken care of by Energy Reduction Technology (ERT) pads and a pop-off peak.
ERT is a series of soft, polymer helmet pads engineered to manage rotational and linear impact energy. This technology is designed to provide added protection against brain injuries. Urge says that where harder materials only respond to high-impact hits, ERT activates immediately, even in lower-energy impacts.
Urge thinks most helmets are designed primarily to pass certification tests simulating worst-case impact forces in excess of 300g.
However, Urge has also focused on designing the Treps to mitigate the lower-impact energy often associated with Traumatic Brain Injuries and concussions.
According to the Urge website, after testing at the University of Strasbourg, helmets with ERT showed better linear and rotational energy management than those without, in all crash scenarios.
Urge says ERT is proven to enhance energy management in lower-level impacts, but without compromising a helmet's performance in higher-G tests.
The helmet is kept in place for all this tech to do its job using an occipital adjustment system, which is made from 100 per cent recycled plastic.
A neat safety feature is the Pop-Off peak, which is designed to detach during a crash. Urge says the quick-release of the peak upon impact reduces the risk of facial and neck injuries because it can reduce forces exerted on the head and neck.
The Pop-Off peak has a default low position and a high position for storing MTB glasses or goggles underneath the peak. Oh, and it’s made from 100 per cent recycled plastic.
Environmental impact
Urge says of the components that make up the Treps helmet, only 10 per cent come from non-renewable or non-recycled sources. The 90 per cent is made up of recycled plastics and bio-materials from renewable resources.
Water-based paint helps reduce the environmental impact of the helmet, thanks to using less volatile organic compounds, and the Ultra Violet ink is cured under UV rays instead of air-drying.
Bamboo is an abundant and fast-growing material, but what’s that got to do with helmets? Well, Urge has worked out a way to use bamboo in its helmet padding.
The brand claims bamboo-based padding does not compromise on comfort compared to non-renewable alternatives, explaining that bamboo fibre offers a unique combination of resistance, flexibility and comfort.
Urge also says bamboo has moisture-wicking properties that help regulate the rider’s temperature, while the bamboo pads are claimed to be durable, too.
The liner is created from recycled expanded polystyrene and the shell from reground plastic. All non-safety critical parts are made from recycled ocean plastic. The straps are made from recycled water bottles and the strap divider is made of – you guessed it – 100 per cent recycled plastic.
Even the packaging is reduced to a strict minimum and Urge says it’s all either compostable or recyclable.
Buckle up
The Treps has a Fidlock fastener on the chin strap, a magnetically assisted helmet catch for ease of attachment and release of the buckle. I’ve found these especially useful with gloved hands or in cold weather.
Crashes happen
Urge seems to care about sustainability for your wallet as well as the planet, because the Treps (like all Urge lids) comes with a two-year warranty and an additional crash replacement programme. This offers customers a 50 per cent discount on a similar or equivalent helmet for up to five years.
Airflow
Urge says good helmet ventilation is defined by the ability to dissipate heat, both actively and passively. The Treps has large external vents at the front and rear for passive airflow, while internal airflow channels actively guide warm air away from your head.
Compatible with goggles and glasses
Goggles or glasses can be stored under the peak in a conveniently shaped space, in case you want some extra face ventilation on the climbs.
Two sizes are on offer: S/M (54-58cm) and L/XL (58-62cm). The cheerfully named colourways are Bloom Beam, Sander, Verdant Spirit, Vivid Pulse and Prime Omen.
- €159
