The Stackhat was a bicycle helmet widely available in Australia in the 1980s. Due to government regulations and promotion by various State governments, the sturdy bright orange Stackhat had a near monopoly on bicycle helmets in the country for teenagers and children. Its distinctive design, bright orange colour, ubiquitous ownership in the 1980s, and fast disappearance in the 1990s, have combined to make "The Stackhat" a defining symbol of the 1980s for Australians.
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Australia was the first country to introduce national standards for bicycle helmet safety.[1] The Stackhat was one of the first helmets to meet that proposed standard and was promoted heavily by State governments. An imaginative and colourful television campaign featuring Molly Meldrum riding through an early computer-generated model of the Sydney Harbour Bridge also cemented the helmet in popular imagination.
The sturdy Stackhat was designed to emphasise safety over aerodynamics. Its appearance was more like something a crash-test dummy would wear than an elite cyclist. This aesthetic was a selling point for the various governments promoting the device to safety-conscious parents.
The Stackhat is designed to protect the skull and temple and is light, comfortable, colourful and streamlined. The 'hi-tech' graphics are designed to appeal to the youth market. Made from impact-modified and shock absorbent expanded polystyrene it is designed for use in sporting and leisure activities including cycling, cricket, equestrian and skiing.
The Stackhat is significant as it was one of the first helmets designed in Australia to comply with the Australian Standard 2063.
The helmet was initially only available in orange but after several years other colours, including black, white and pink became available.
The Stackhat derives its name from the verb "to stack", which basically means "to crash".
References to the Stackhat in Australian popular culture include The Red Paintings' 2004 song "The World's About to End, Don't Forget to Wear Your Stackhat"[1] and Rosie Burgess's 2010 song "Stackhat"[2].