Brief

Vancouver Startup Pikio Unveils Helmet with Record‑Low Safety Score

Pikio's new Si Oblik road helmet achieves the lowest STAR rating score ever recorded, using a novel modular foam design inspired by woodpeckers.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 10 Oct 2026 18:00:50 GMT

Vancouver‑based startup Pikio announced that its Si Oblik road‑cycling helmet has earned a 4.61 score in Virginia Tech’s STAR safety test, the lowest (and therefore safest) rating ever recorded, according to Wired.

The STAR (Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk) program, launched by Virginia Tech in 2018, evaluates helmets on both linear and rotational impacts. A lower score indicates better protection; helmets scoring 10.1 or lower receive a five‑star rating. Pikio’s 4.61 score is 2.21 points lower than the previous best, Canyon’s Deflectr, which scored 6.82, representing roughly a 32 percent improvement.

Founder Daniel Abram attributes the breakthrough to 18 years of research in impact protection. After studying mechanical engineering, Abram worked on helmet research at Simon Fraser University, contributing to the BrainShield system that reduces rotational forces. He later founded BiaGuard, which MIPS acquired for about $1 million in 2022.

The Si Oblik helmet departs from the conventional single‑block EPS foam design. Instead, the foam is divided into independently mounted sections attached to the base layer with flexible connectors. In a severe impact, each section can move or detach, allowing the helmet to absorb energy while limiting the twisting forces that cause brain injury. Dual‑density foam further cushions direct impacts.

Industry standards have shifted in recent years from focusing solely on linear impacts to addressing rotational forces, a change driven by research showing that brain tissue can twist and stretch during a crash. Multidirectional Impact Protection System (MIPS), introduced in 2007, was an early commercial response. Virginia Tech’s STAR ratings have pushed manufacturers to improve, with the number of five‑star helmets rising from four of the first 30 tested to 167 of 272 by 2025.

According to Wired, Pikio’s score of 4.61 places the Si Oblik at the top of the market, offering cyclists a helmet that not only meets but exceeds current safety expectations without waiting for regulatory updates from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Key facts

Pikio's Si Oblik helmet scored 4.61 in Virginia Tech's STAR safety test, the lowest score ever recorded. (wired.com)
The STAR program rates helmets on linear and rotational impacts; a lower score means better protection. (wired.com)
The Si Oblik uses modular foam sections with flexible connectors to reduce rotational forces. (wired.com)
Previous best STAR score was Canyon Deflectr's 6.82, making Pikio's result about 32% lower. (wired.com)
Founder Daniel Abram spent 18 years researching impact protection, previously working on BrainShield and founding BiaGuard, which MIPS bought in 2022. (wired.com)