- TOM’s helped develop an unusual helmet inspired by growing bear fears in Japan.
- Face shield aims to reduce facial injury risks during scary outdoor encounters.
- Maker repeatedly stresses it doesn’t guarantee protection against bear attacks.
If someone told you they’d just placed an order with TOM’s you might imagine them waiting on a set of coilovers for a Lexus, an exhaust for a GR Yaris or maybe a flawless AE86 resto. Even with a gazillion guesses you’d never think the motorsport outfit’s latest innovation was bear protection gear.
Yes, bears, the furry things that live and do their thing in the woods. TOM’s, the legendary Japanese tuning and motorsports company best known for decades of success with Toyota and Lexus machinery, has helped develop a new helmet called Protect Light to keep people safe from them. It’s aimed at farmers, walkers, and anyone uneasy about Japan‘s growing number of bear sightings.
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The project was created by TOM’s subsidiary Ishino Shokai in partnership with Tohoku Tachibana. Ishino has spent more than four decades producing motorcycle and bicycle helmets, making it a logical candidate for an unusual challenge that has little to do with racing and everything to do with wildlife.
At first glance, Protect Light looks like a cross between an early 1960s grand prix helmet and something council workers might use when cutting brush at the side of a freeway. The shell itself, available in white or gray, is based on a certified bicycle helmet, but a large polycarbonate shield hangs in front of the wearer’s face and can be lowered close to the chin. The idea is to place a protective barrier between the face and whatever might come into contact with it.
The Bear Still Might Win
The 540 g (1.2 lbs) helmet was developed after increasing concern over bear encounters and the potential for facial injuries during outdoor activities. But don’t go treating it like anti-bear armor. Multiple warnings explain that the helmet isn’t designed to guarantee protection from bears or other wild animals. The shield could still be damaged or penetrated by strong impacts, claws, or teeth.
Priced at 14,800 yen (about $90), Protect Light may be one of the most unusual products ever connected to the TOM’s name – and this from a company that makes tuning products for the Toyota Alphard minivan. And something tells us not to expect copycat versions from Spoon, Mugen or Manthey Racing.