The Finest Good Helmets Presently Out there (and a Few on the Horizon)

It doesn’t matter in the event you journey a street bike, mountain bike, ebike, or bike, a very good helmet is important to staying protected. However these days, even the straightforward helmet is getting a high-tech makeover, with all types of good components being added. As soon as the stuff of science fiction, good helmets are actually a really actual product, bringing built-in microphones, audio system, rear-facing cameras, and lots of different useful options with them. The very best good helmets mix a number of of those gizmos to make your using expertise safer and extra satisfying.

Helmets should be the bane of many a haircut however they continue to be a vital a part of any rider’s wardrobe. Right here, we’ve scoured the market to search out the good helmets and equipment, all of which can be found now or are at the moment in growth. Whether or not you journey a bicycle or a bike, learn on to see if any of them may be a very good match for you.

Observe: A number of of this stuff are at the moment solely accessible by way of crowdfunding web sites corresponding to Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Investing in a majority of these tasks generally is a danger, and there’s no assure that you just’ll find yourself receiving something. We make no ensures, as we’re not affiliated with any of those corporations.

Helmets you should purchase proper now

Livall Bling BH60

The Livall Bling BH60 has been a staple on the listing of greatest good helmets for years — and it’s for good motive. With its built-in LED strips on the highest and rear — which will be managed utilizing a distant affixed to the handlebars — riders are usually not solely extra seen, however they will point out which course they’re turning, too. The helmet additionally works with the official Livall app (iOS/Android) to difficulty automated SOS influence alerts ought to the wearer fall or be struck by a automobile. In these conditions, the app mechanically alerts the rider’s emergency contact to tell them of the incident.

A windbreak microphone and Bluetooth speaker even enable for hands-free calling and playback of music, as nicely. There’s additionally a walkie-talkie function which permits riders to remain involved with different Bling customers of their group whereas on the path or street.

If the Bling BH60 isn’t to your liking, Livall gives an array of different helmets that function totally different designs, however provide the identical set of options and know-how. As an illustration, the corporate’s Bling MT1 was particularly made with mountain bikers in thoughts. There are even good helmet choices for youths, too.

Learn our full Livall Bling evaluate right here

Lumos Helmet

Constructed for biking at night time, the Lumos Helmet is outfitted with flip indicators in each the entrance and rear, that are linked to a handlebar distant that provides a number of months of battery life between recharges. Computerized brake lights are additionally included, although these drain the helmet’s juice fairly rapidly. To preserve battery life, Lumos does give riders the choice to show them off.

This helmet can be waterproof, permitting it to outlive surprising rain showers — or anticipated, if that’s the way you wish to journey. For those who’re solely biking to and from work, it might not be the only option due primarily to the actual fact the lights aren’t significantly seen throughout daytime. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless fashionable, reasonably priced, and gives loads of safety to go together with its good options.

Our full Lumos Helmet evaluate

Coros Omni

Many cyclists get pleasure from listening to music whereas using, however that may be a harmful behavior, particularly when traversing high-density city areas with a lot of visitors. Coros overcomes this difficulty by creating good biking helmets which permit for protected listening by utilizing bone conduction audio system to switch sound immediately by means of your ear bones (bizarre, proper?). The result’s an honest listening expertise that doesn’t forestall the rider from having the ability to hear the atmosphere round them.

The included good distant and mount snaps simply onto your handlebars and might management quantity, playback, and cellphone calls, whereas the inclusion of a wind-resistant precision microphone means you may have conversations on-the-go. Just like the Livall Bling, there’s additionally an onboard influence sensor that mechanically notifies emergency contacts within the occasion of a collision. The Omni is a pleasant improve over the model’s earlier launch, the Linx, including LED lights for higher visibility and compatibility with the extra sturdy Coros app (iOS/Android).

Sena Momentum and X1

Whether or not you pedal your bike or hearth up its engine, Sena has a wise helmet for you. The corporate makes noggin safety for each cyclists and bikers, each of which come filled with some significantly progressive know-how. The Momentum is Sena’s flagship bike helmet, whereas the X1 is its prime biking possibility, with each sporting Bluetooth connectivity by way of a smartphone to supply the flexibility to take heed to music, take cellphone calls, obtain GPS navigation directions, and extra. Each helmets are additionally geared up with onboard video cameras, FM radios, and an intercom system that permits hands-free communication with different riders.

Airwheel C5

Constructed for biking, skateboarding, climbing, or simply about another outside exercise the place a helmet could also be required, the Airwheel C5 packs quite a lot of options into a comparatively light-weight and handsome design. Not solely does this helmet enable the wearer to take cellphone calls fully handsfree, however its onboard Bluetooth speaker may also facilitate music and podcast playback, as nicely.

Better of all, the C5 options an onboard 2K high-def digicam for recording video and taking photographs and comes with 128 GB of built-in storage. Its rechargeable battery supplies as much as three hours of recording time, whereas built-in WiFi connectivity makes it a breeze to add any video or photos to a different gadget for modifying. Airwheel even put thought into the helmet’s air flow system, making it comfy to put on for prolonged durations of time.

Swagtron Snowtide Bluetooth Ski and Snowboard Helmet

Good helmets are lastly beginning to make their strategy to the slopes, with Swagtron serving to to paved the way. The corporate’s Snowtide Bluetooth Ski and Snowboard Helmet not solely gives onboard audio to take heed to your favourite music and podcasts on the hill, nevertheless it additionally includes a one-button push-to-talk service that permits wearers to remain involved with their mates. Better of all, the helmet comes with an automated SOS possibility that sends an alert to a predefined emergency contact ought to it detect a major influence with the bottom. This has the potential to be a lifesaving function ought to an accident happen whereas snowboarding.

After all, the helmet can be designed to offer loads of safety as nicely, providing a sturdy ABS outer shell, which is paired with an interior EPS layer designed to soak up any influence. The end result is a great helmet that gives a bunch of technological features, together with wonderful security measure, all of which will be had at an amazing worth.

Skully Fenix AR

One other high-tech bike helmet scheduled for launch in 2018 is the Skully Fenix AR. This gadget includes a head-up show within the type of a small, built-in display that not solely gives turn-by-turn navigational cues however supplies 360-degree consciousness because of a rear-facing digicam built-into the again of the helmet. Music streaming and handsfree cellphone calls are additionally a part of the bundle, as nicely.

Produced from a carbon fiber shell, the Fenix AR guarantees to be light-weight and comfy to put on. It features a visor that resists fogging, emergency quick-release straps, a chin skirt, and is accessible in six sixes. Preorders are being taken now, with a promised supply date of summer time in the US and Canada, with European fashions coming later.

Helmets that may very well be coming quickly

Livemap

Helmet-mounted shows will ultimately be like flat screens — as soon as leading edge tech that has now develop into commonplace. As soon as projection and good applied sciences develop into simpler to handle, head-up shows are prone to be in every single place. Livemap is a prototype bike helmet that makes use of augmented actuality for navigation; road names, pace, and turn-by-turn instructions are displayed immediately over the world round you, negating the necessity to shift focus from the street. Sluggish to a cease and you’ll pop up a map to offer it a extra thorough examination. The helmet additionally features a microphone and audio system for voice management, cellphone calls, and listening to music.

The catch? It’s not accessible but and it prices $2,000. You possibly can reserve one now for a $500 deposit, although we’re unsure when it’ll really launch. The corporate stated it was coming in 2018, however the gadget nonetheless hasn’t been launched. For now, try the Livemap web site (you may nonetheless contribute to the mission) to remain updated on developments. The helmet’s software program is predicated on the Android platform, so maybe builders will ultimately be capable of construct apps particularly for Livemap.

LiveMap

Cross Helmet X1

The Cross Helmet X1 is definitely the good (and most futuristic) wanting helmet on our listing, permitting riders to seem like an motion hero and, doubtlessly journey like one too. Marketed as a “next-generation helmet,” the X1 will function sound management, Bluetooth connectivity, a devoted smartphone app, and — look forward to it — a 360-degree vary of imaginative and prescient, which is achieved by way of a rear digicam displayed on the prime of the visor, full with a digital clock and navigational knowledge.

Together with the wide-view visor, riders will be capable of see the whole street, making the X1 one of many most secure helmets ever constructed – assuming it really works as supposed after all. The app controls noise isolation, too, making it attainable to dam out the sound of visitors or open your ears when cruising by means of extra serene environments. Extra options like group speak performance and security lighting will solely make the X1 extra engaging when it begins delivery in 2019. It can price $1,600.

Cross Helmet

Jarvish Good Helmet

A smash hit on Kickstarter, the Jarvish Good Helmet guarantees to ship a bunch of options to bike riders at a comparatively reasonably priced worth. As an illustration, the gadget will come geared up with an augmented actuality show that gives pace, climate, navigational cues, and different knowledge at a look. It additionally consists of Alexa integration, voice instructions, each entrance and rear cameras, and noise-reduction know-how to make for a quieter journey. The helmet is even made out of carbon fiber, which not solely helps to maintain it light-weight, but additionally extremely protecting too. The Jarvish is at the moment set for launch within the spring of 2019 and can reportedly promote for lower than $700.

Jarvish

Equipment to smarten your helmet

Forward Bluetooth Speaker

By now, we are able to in all probability all agree: Good helmets are superior. What’s not superior is spending tons of cash to switch your favourite domepiece with a high-tech head-cage which will or might not match comfortably. Forward, a Samsung-funded Kickstarter mission led by a gaggle known as Analogue Plus appears to treatment that drawback. It’s a bit of gadget that affixes to an current helmet — a wide range of totally different mounts are included, so most any helmet is suitable — and makes use of an oscillator to conduct sound by means of the helmet and into your ears.

Connecting Forward to your smartphone by way of the devoted app permits customers to take heed to music, make cellphone calls, activate your digital assistant, and monitor varied health metrics, amongst different issues. Twin narrow-angle microphones on both facet of the gadget additionally make sure that ambient noise is eradicated, even at speeds as much as 40 miles per hour. Plus, it’s sturdy and IP45 rated for water and mud, so it ought to survive most rides, even in inclement circumstances. It prices $160.

Amazon

Sena 20s EVO Bluetooth Comms Package

One of many coolest upgrades for current bike helmets, the Sena 20s EVO is constructed to facilitate communications whereas using. The gadget slips into the helmet you already personal, giving it the flexibility to carry non-public conversations with different riders inside 1.2 miles. Utilizing Bluetooth four.1 know-how, riders may even stream music and get audio cues from their GPS, all with wonderful sound high quality, and all on the similar time. In different phrases, this add-on unit can flip nearly any helmet into a wise helmet, with out breaking the financial institution.

Lightmode Proton Package

Lightmode is an attachment designed to work with any bike helmet. That is extra ornamental than “good” know-how. Good for Tron cosplay, you merely have to attach these lights on with the supplied two-part adhesive to make sure they maintain at excessive speeds. A versatile sticky mount holds a tiny controller for the lights, the latter of which last as long as 13 hours on two AA batteries and options three modes (fixed, gradual blink, and quick blink).

Lightmode additionally is available in three equipment sizes, with the bigger Proton equipment affording you about 15 ft of piping in certainly one of seven colours. The corporate crushed its preliminary Kickstarter marketing campaign in 2014 and has since upgraded all of its choices with a brand new, extra environment friendly, controller. The kits can be found in an array of various colours and choices for a wide range of helmet varieties, with costs beginning at $129.

BE-Hyperlink

The BE-Hyperlink is one other Kickstarter mission and although it isn’t a wise helmet per se, it’s a handy add-on that delivers some good options. The BE-Hyperlink is basically a pair of wired headphones that may be put in in any helmet with a die-cut Velcro cradle or the devoted BE-Hyperlink Cradle mount ($15). A type of two choices works with just about each helmet in the marketplace, which implies you may add Bluetooth to your rig, or rapidly switch it between totally different helmets as wanted. And, because you’re supposed to switch your bike helmet each three years, this might prevent a couple of bucks in the long term.

An up to date four.zero model of the BE-Hyperlink can be accessible, providing improved sound, extra management, and further options, for $149.

Amazon Be Headwear