History of Bike Helmets
Bike helmets first came into being in the 1880s to help prevent head injuries. Leather helmets - or 'hairnets' - often padded with styrofoam, were the first helmets on the scene. This was the case up until the 1970s, when it became clear that a revamp of the helmet was needed to increase safety and reduce the number of deaths caused by head injuries. Many cyclists simply wore helmets designed for other sports, although soon specific lightweight bicycle helmets were designed using modern plastics and synthetic materials. These modernized helmets included vents for breathability and were better suited for impact absorption.
Bike Helmet Buying Guide
Bike helmets come in many different shapes and sizes, depending on the style of biking you’re doing. Road bike helmets have an aerodynamic design and and don’t usually have visors, unlike mountain bike helmets which always have visors for added protection. If you’re an MTB rider, you can also opt for a fullface helmet. These helmets are exactly what they sound like: they cover your whole face. A chin guard wraps around the bottom half of your face to protect your chin, jawline and teeth if you have a nasty crash. Recreational helmets are used by the majority of casual riders and commuters, and usually include visors to shield your eyes from the sun. Most bike helmets have a hard plastic shell, which is designed to remain intact upon impact, and a liner made of expanded polystyrene foam to dissipate the force of the impact. If you’re someone who likes to push your limits, we’d recommend buying a MIPS helmet. MIPS stands for “Multi-directional Impact Protection System,” an innovative approach to helmet design that protects against impacts that occur from all directions.
Best Bike Helmets
The best road bike helmet brands include Giro, Bell, Diadora and SH+. Particular models to look out for include:
- Giro Trinity: an affordable helmet for the mass market
- Bell Zephyr MIPS: a slightly larger helmet that provides increased ventilation
Mountain bike helmet brands you should check out include Giro and Outrider. Some specific models to check out include:
- Giro Chronicle MIPS: an affordable option for riders who are just starting out
- Bell Sixer MIPS: for more advanced or daring MTB riders, this helmet includes an action camera mount so you can hitch your GoPro on and record your runs
