Vaikobi Launches the Impact Protection Series

by Vaikobi 5 Dec 2025 10:30 NZDT

Vaikobi Bump Hats - Impact Protect Series © Vaikobi

A New Era of Lightweight Head Protection for Surf and Watersports

Vaikobi has announced the launch of its groundbreaking Impact Protection Series of Headwear, a new collection of lightweight, EN 812-certified impact hats engineered to protect watersports athletes from head knocks, bumps and scratches, without compromising comfort, performance, or style.

Designed for sailors, foilers, surfers and paddlers, the new range features three styles: the Bump Hat Surf (cap with buckle and strap), Bump Hat Hydro (Cap with drawcord), and Bucket Bump Hat (brim hat with buckle and strap), each available in multiple colours.

Watersports head protection that looks and wears just like a hat.

Vaikobi Impact Protection Series (IPS) hats will reduce the risk of minor head knocks, cuts, scrapes, and bruises during high-speed or high-impact watersports activity.

The IPS range empowers wind and watersports athletes to push their limits with confidence, thanks to heavy-duty Cordura fabrics, a 2mm lightweight rigid ABS shell (engineered to disperse point loads from sharp edges) and a 6mm moulded foam that absorbs impact so your head doesn't have to.

With a sleek, hat-like design, Vaikobi's IPS caps and bucket hat deliver unmatched comfort and secure fit in even the most challenging surf conditions.

Choose a cap style in Ocean Blue, Orange, Light Grey or Black.
Choose a bucket hat in Orange, Black or Light Grey.

"Athletes push harder when they feel confident. The Impact Protection Series was created to give water athletes lightweight protection without compromise," said Bart Milczarczyk, Head of Design at Vaikobi. "This collection sets a new benchmark for comfort, safety, and performance on the water - without looking like a kook."

Vaikobi CEO and Founder added, "This product has finally arrived after a long period of market research and product development. What we identified was that safety and style do not have to be mutually exclusive and there are many instances where water sport users would absolutely benefit from increased head protection if provided an option which did not make them feel uncomfortable wearing a bulky helmet". The trade response to this product has been amazing and we can't wait to get our expanded range out to the many ocean frothers around the world!"

Key Features:

EN 812-certified
Head protection against bumps, cuts, scrapes, and bruises
Rigid lightweight 2mm ABS shell with moulded grooves for stiffness and structure without added weight
Heavy-duty Cordura outer with UV50+ sun protection
Integrated ear and chin strap with flat buckle for a secure, streamlined fit (Surf model)
Adjustable lightweight drawcord for minimal wind drag (Hydro model)
360 brim with reinforced front half that won't fall over the face
Rear flat buckle and webbing adjuster for personalised sizing
Curved peak with black underside to reduce glare and enhance upward visibility
Large vented panels for airflow and cooling

Watch the testing team smash a watermelon with and without the IPS hats to see the impact protection for yourself!