Mycranium is a completely bio-based mountain bike helmet, designed specifically for the circular economy. Despite using a range of new novel materials, the helmet is still able to offer the same levels of protection, if not more, than its current petrochemical based competitors.

Matt Stoddart drew on his personal experience as well as feedback from users in the mountain bike community to design the helmet. It features its own proprietary version of an anti-rotational protection system, protecting the brain from the rotational forces exerted in a crash, often the cause of concussion. Using natural latex to achieve this means the helmet is also comfortable to wear.

An Instron drop test machine was used to compare the energy absorbing properties of both mycelium and EPS (the expanded foam plastic used in most cycle helmets). The results showed that mycelium actually outperformed EPS, meaning the helmet would not only pass the British standard with ease, but would actually likely be even safer.

Stoddart’s work has focussed on designing outdoor and adventure sports equipment and is having grown up in the Peak District, is actively  involved in outdoor and adventure sports. “I try to draw on my own experience to make the products I design both practical and something people want to use.”

He secured a placement at Equip Outdoor Technologies working as a designer for Rab where he worked across the design and development team making products for the Autumn/Winter 2019,  Spring/Summer 2020 and Autumn/Winter 2020 seasons. As well as valuable experience and knowledge of the outdoor industry the placement gave him the chance to take some products of his own from conception through to market, the latest of which, the Outpost jacket, was released recently. He worked on every stage of the product including working with fabric mills, factories and suppliers in the Asia.

Since finishing his degree, Stoddart has been working as a designer/developer in the scuba diving industry for Northern Diver and is now learning the specifics of garment construction and pattern cutting.