Freejump Voronoi Carbon — The Helmet That Protects Your Temples

When it comes to protecting your most important asset — your head — the Freejump Voronoï Carbon doesn't compromise. Born from the same Bordeaux workshop that revolutionised safety stirrups, this helmet represents the pinnacle of French equestrian engineering. It's not just another helmet with a carbon shell. It's the first riding helmet in the world designed with dedicated temporal protection — targeting the most vulnerable part of the skull that conventional helmets leave exposed.

For Australian riders competing at EA-affiliated shows, schooling at home, or simply wanting the best protection money can buy, the Voronoï Carbon delivers a combination of safety certifications, lightweight comfort, and unmistakable design that sits in a category of its own. At $1,799 AUD from iRide EQ, it's a premium investment — but one that reflects genuine innovation, not just branding.

In this guide, we break down everything you need to know: the technology behind the shell, what the safety certifications actually mean, how to size it correctly, and why the temporal protection feature is a genuine game-changer for equestrian safety.

What Is the Freejump Voronoï Carbon?

The Voronoï Carbon is Freejump's flagship riding helmet — the top of their helmet range — and the culmination of over two decades of safety-focused equestrian engineering. Founded in 2001 by Yann Dubourg in Bordeaux, Freejump built its reputation on single-branch safety stirrups before applying that same obsession with protection to head gear.

The helmet takes its name from the Voronoï mathematical pattern — a geometric cell structure visible on the outer shell that isn't just aesthetic. Each cell is strategically positioned to maximise structural strength and airflow simultaneously. Think of it as function expressed as beauty: the pattern that gives the helmet its striking look is the same one that distributes impact force more effectively across the shell.

The Three-Layer Construction

• Carbon fibre outer shell — Layers of interwoven carbon fibre create exceptional impact resistance while keeping weight to a minimum. The Voronoï Carbon weighs just ~500g without temporal protection, making it one of the lightest fully certified helmets available.
• In-moulding polycarbonate layer — Inspired by bicycle and ski helmet technology, a polycarbonate sheet is over-moulded directly onto the EPS foam. This creates an additional protective barrier between the outer carbon shell and the inner liner, offering impact resistance well beyond standard requirements.
• Low-density EPS inner foam — The carbon outer shell and in-moulding technology allow Freejump to use a particularly absorbent, low-density EPS foam inside — one that would be too soft for a traditional shell construction but is ideal within this three-layer system.

The result is a helmet that's simultaneously lighter, stronger, and more absorptive than conventional single-layer designs — which is precisely why it earned its triple certification.

The Safety Story: Why Temporal Protection Matters

This is the Voronoï Carbon's defining feature — and it's one that genuinely sets it apart from every other riding helmet on the market. Every year in France alone, over 150,000 head injuries result in emergency room visits, with a significant portion caused by sport and leisure accidents. The problem isn't just the force of impact — it's where that impact lands.

The temporal area (the sides of the skull above and in front of the ears) is the thinnest part of the human skull, responsible for 80% of serious brain lesions from head trauma. Behind the temporal bone runs the meningeal artery — damage this artery and a hematoma can form, compressing brain tissue with potentially fatal consequences. Despite this, virtually every riding helmet on the market leaves the temporal zone almost entirely unprotected.

The Voronoï Carbon is the first riding helmet to address this directly, with a dedicated removable temporal protection panel that absorbs and distributes shock waves across a wider area — precisely where conventional helmets stop short of the ear.

Safety Certifications Explained

Certifications matter — but understanding what they actually test is equally important. The Voronoï Carbon holds three independent certifications that together represent the highest safety standard currently available for equestrian helmets.

Certification	Standard	What It Tests
CE EN1384:2023	European (latest)	Impact absorption, penetration resistance, retention system, field of vision — replaces 2017 standard and integrates VG1
ASTM SEI F1163-23	American	Impact attenuation across multiple zones, chin strap strength, positional stability
Virginia Tech 3-Star Rating	Independent lab	Concussion risk modelling across 6 impact locations — STAR score 4.21, ranked in top tier of tested helmets

It's worth noting that equestrian helmet safety certification bodies like FEI do not certify or endorse specific helmet brands — the Voronoï Carbon meets current FEI competition requirements via its EN1384:2023 certification, but Freejump does not make FEI endorsement claims, which is the correct and honest approach.

Sizing, Fit & Customisation

The Voronoï Carbon comes in three outer shell sizes (Small, Medium, Large) with an interior liner range from 52cm to 62cm. This two-tier sizing system is important to understand: the shell determines the overall shape and fit profile, while the liner size fine-tunes the internal circumference.

How to Measure for the Voronoï Carbon

• Use a soft measuring tape placed 1–2cm above the eyebrows
• Wrap around the widest part of the head (just above the ears)
• Take 2–3 measurements and use the largest reading
• If between sizes, size up — you can fine-tune the fit with the liner

Colour & Finish Options at iRide EQ

The Voronoï Carbon is available in three colourways, all priced at $1,799 AUD:

• Black Carbon / Black Gloss — the classic carbon look
• Black Carbon / Blue Gloss — carbon shell with blue gloss accents
• Full Black Carbon — deep matte black for a stealthy finish

Each colourway is available in both gloss and matte shell finishes across all three sizes — making 18 individual variants in total. The visor, ear loops, vents, and grilles can all be customised for a fully personalised configuration.

Ventilation & Comfort

At 500g without temporal protection (600g with), the Voronoï Carbon is genuinely light for an all-day wear helmet. The two external vents on the outer carbon shell — one front, one rear — are designed around the Voronoï geometric pattern to optimise airflow. Inside the helmet, 20 internal vents work alongside the ABS air-directing half-moon on the front edge of the interior liner to pull fresh air through and exhaust heat from the rear.

The interior lining is Italian fabric — high-quality, breathable, and removable for washing at 30°C with natural drying. For Australian riders training through summer, this matters: the combination of carbon outer shell, multi-vent design, and moisture-wicking Italian liner makes the Voronoï Carbon noticeably more breathable than older helmet constructions.

Looking after your riding helmet properly extends its life and maintains its protective qualities. Freejump recommends replacing the helmet after any significant impact, every 5 years, or whenever the liner shows signs of compression — the same guidance that applies to all certified equestrian helmets.

How Does It Compare? The Honest Comparison

Other premium helmets in the market include the Charles Owen My PS and Samshield Premium ranges (not stocked at iRide EQ), which are well-regarded for fit and finish. However, neither features dedicated temporal protection, which is the Voronoï Carbon's defining advantage. For riders who want the most advanced head protection currently available in the market, the Voronoï Carbon's triple certification and unique temple protection design represent genuine innovation.

If budget is a primary consideration, iRide EQ also stocks a range of certified riding helmets at various price points — but for competition use and maximum protection, the Voronoï Carbon is in a class of its own within the Freejump range.

Pair your helmet with proper riding gloves, quality riding breeches, and certified riding boots to complete a competition-ready safety setup. You might also want to read our guide on the best stirrups for jumping in Australia — safety gear works best as a system.

The Full Voronoi Range — Helmets, Accessories & Intercom

The Voronoi Carbon is the flagship, but Freejump has built a complete helmet ecosystem around it. Whether you need a cross-country variant, a liner replacement, or the Cardo-powered Intercom system, every component is designed to work together.

Voronoi Helmet Variants

• Voronoi Carbon — flagship. Carbon fibre shell, in-moulding, temporal protection. Shop $1,799 AUD →
• Voronoi Carbon XC — cross-country variant, optimised for eventing and XC phases
• Voronoi Carbon XC BE — XC variant built to British Eventing competition rules
• Voronoi Carbon Crystal — Carbon shell with crystal detailing — the premium statement finish
• Voronoi — non-carbon version, same protection philosophy at a lower price point
• Voronoi XC / XC BE — cross-country variants of the standard (non-carbon) Voronoi

Accessories — Serviceable & Customisable

Every part of the Voronoi is replaceable, meaning you can extend the helmet's life and dial in the perfect fit without buying a whole new helmet:

• Voronoi Lining — replacement interior, sizes 52–62cm
• Voronoi Ear Foams — comfort inserts in different thicknesses for precise fit adjustment
• Voronoi Carbon Temple Protection — the removable side panels (can be added to the base model later)
• Voronoi Visor — standard and wide sizes, multiple colourways (black gloss, matte, blue gloss)
• Voronoi Winter Ear Paddings — insulated clip-in ear covers for cold weather riding
• Voronoi Side Pads — additional internal fit padding
• Voronoi Temporal Protection Screw Kit — replacement fixings for the temporal protection system

Freejump Intercom — Cardo Integration

Freejump has partnered with Cardo Systems to develop a dedicated equestrian Bluetooth intercom that integrates directly into the Voronoi's temporal protection mount. This is why Freejump recommends choosing the full configuration from day one — it prepares the helmet for intercom fitting without modification.

• Freejump Intercom Audio Kit (Cardo) — speaker and mic system
• Freejump Intercom All User Kit (Cardo) — full kit with helmet attachment hardware
• Freejump Mic & Headphones (Cardo) — standalone audio upgrades

For Australian riders coaching in large arenas or competing cross-country, the Cardo integration is a genuine differentiator — no other riding helmet brand currently offers a factory-integrated Bluetooth intercom solution like this.

Frequently Asked Questions