Abstract: A protective sports helmet includes a cap structure having a plurality of structurally independent cap portions and mutually connected to flexible interconnecting members such that the helmet has at least one overall configuration of minimum dimensions when not worn, with the parts of the cap mutually adjacent to each other, separate from an operating condition having maximum dimensions when worn. The parts of the cap are held together by interconnecting members in positions at a suitable distance from each other configured to enclose a user's head. The portions include corresponding sections each extending continuously between the frontal and occipital extremities, of longitudinal extent between those extremities which predominates in comparison with their transverse extent, the sections extending substantially parallel and at a distance from each other so that in the configuration having the minimum dimensions adjacent sections abut each other along lateral sides which transversely bound each section.