Evo in the AM

EVO-AMOur friends at BikeRadar have gotten up early to check out the new Evo AM helmet from SixSixOne, which they reported is light yet well-fitting. It provides more coverage at the rear of the helmet to provide the wearer in a crash, yet still has plenty of vents to keep the head cool.

The helmet is made of Contigo foam, which also has greater shock-absorbing properties than EPS foam. It will be available in two versions including on with MIPS, a system aimed to reduce the chance of rotational injury in certain types of impacts.

[Via BikeRadar: SixSixOne Evo AM helmet – first look]

Red Dot on the Forefront

ForeFrontSmith Opitcs’ had received the prestigious Red Dot Award in the Outdoor/Leisure/Sports/Fun category for its new mountain bike helmet, the Forefront. Germany’s Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen last month said the helmet, “set itself apart from all comparable projects thanks to excellent design.”

The Forefront also won the 2014 iF Design Award for innovative design; the GOLD Award in the category of Design & Innovation 2014 by Enduro Mountainbike Magazine; and the Best of Interbike Show Awards last year from Outside magazine and Gear Junkie.

This helmet is designed to provide all-mountain protection with road-race weigh. Instead of EPS, it features an Aerocore liner that provides better ventilation and impact properties and lower weight.

Smith Optics Forefront Official Website

Rockwell Bean Bucket

RockwellThere have been numerous attempts to make a better bike helmet, but German designer Rockwell Headgear has looked to a concept we first covered back in 2012 when it was introduced for ski and snowboarding helmets. Instead of a foam liner the Rockwell utilizes Vaco12 technology, which consists of pods of beans that are spread out to absorb energy on impact.

The Rockwell helmets feature a Vaco12 layer along with a hard outer shell and a textile softshell in between. The result is a helmet that has layers to take the blunt of an impact – which is better than the head taking it!

Rockwell Headgear Official Website

Giant Has You Covered

GiantGiant is on a streak, or rather Giant has a Streak and a Rev, the two new helmets from the bicycle manufacturer for the 2014 season. Both models feature Giant’s ratchet dual Cinch+ system that makes for a snug fit, and each is available in three colors. The Rev will weigh in at 254grams while the Streak tips the scales at 300grams, and both will be ready to roll this summer.

Giant Official Website

SIA Snow Show: Worn Out

POCWhen it comes to our sporting goods these can become like old friends, and we use them until they are truly past their expected life. This is actually not a good idea. Shoes should be replaced regularly for example. In fact using old or damaged products can often result in injury. But how do we know when something is at its end of usable life? It isn’t like the product can tell us.

Actually, at the recent SIA Snow Show in Denver POC introduced a new helmet that features an internal sensor, which can report when it is past the point of no return. This multi-impact helmet is made of EPP (Expanded Polyproylene) and thus recovers it shape after a spill or two. While it can withstand numerous impacts it won’t last forever. To this end the company has integrated a Helmet Integrity Sensor that can report back when it’s had enough.

POC Official Website
[Via GearJunkie: Sensor-Equipped Snowsports Helmet Alerts User When It’s Worn Out]

Light Headed

K2-RouteAt the recent Outdoor Retailer Show winter sports gear maker K2 showed it was headed in the right direction with the Route, which it claimed was “the lightest snow-certified helmet” ever made. It weighs just 320 grams and features 59 vent holes, ear warmers and boa closure to provide a tight fit. The company noted this is actually a multi-sport helmet that could be used for mountain biking as well as snowsports, but either way it provides plenty of airflow to help keep the head cool.

K2 Helmets Official Website

POC is all Blue for Garmin

POCSwedish helmet and eyewear maker POC is all blue over Garmin. The company has signed on a sponsor for the Garmin-Sharp Pro Team for the next three years, and as such will supply helmets and eyewear to the team. Riders will reportedly be outfitted with Octal, Octal Aero and Tempor TT Helmets, and will be able to choose from a variety of POC’s different eyewear frames. This is a big move for the helmet maker, which first released a ski and snowboard helmet in 2005.

[Via Bicycle Retailer: POC goes blue for Team Garmin-Sharp]

Fold in the Snow

Snow-Foldable-HelmetWe saw a number of innovative designs in foldable helmets for cycling, and Carrera is looking to take the concept of compactable headgear to the slopes with its Foldable Snow Helmet. It features a patented flexible frame, elastic fitting system and passive ventilation system – but most importantly all this means it can get small to fit in a bag and take less room when you’re heading to the mountains.

The new Snow Foldable Helmet comes in four exclusive colors including Hot Red, Metal Black, Alpine Blue and Alpine White. It is made of leather and carbon fiber and can be fitted with most traditional winter sport goggles.

Carrera Foldable Snow Helmet Official Website

XS Marks the Spot on the Trail

XS-Trail-RS-HelmetThe new XS Trail RS helmet is now ready to hit the trail in America. This helmet, which was three years in development from freeride pioneer Richie Schley, is aimed at endure, trail and cross country (XC) riders. It features full inmold coverage, 22 vents plus internal air channels, a ratchet safety closure, crash-release visor and Y-clip adjustable strap system, and is offered in black, gray, blue or green in sizes S/M and M/L.

North American distribution is being handled by Gravity Cartel, and we expect to see this helmet on trails in the New Year.

Gravity Cartel Official Website

Do Helmet Laws Discourage Cycling

SpainLast month the Spanish cabinet approved amendments to the existing Law on Traffic, Circulation, Motor Vehicles and Road Safety, and then passed the proposed bill to the Spanish Parliament for approval. Under the heading “Improving Road Safety’ is an amendment that could make bicycle helmets mandatory for all cyclists under the age of 18 on all roads (urban and rural).

This may sound like a good idea, but the European Cyclists’ Federation noted that mandatory helmet laws could actually discourage people from cycling. The above poster – in Spanish – noted “20 children are run over per year. Would you feel safer if your child wore a helmet? The danger for children are cars, not riding bicycles.”

The ECF also added:
“Research in the field of cycling in Australia (a country with a MHL) has led to the conclusion that “the greatest effect of the helmet law was not to encourage cyclists to wear helmets but to discourage cycling” (Robinson 1996). By portraying cycling as a dangerous activity, MHLs dissuade people from cycling.”

This is something to consider. While recommended use of helmets could warn people why a helmet is necessary, making these mandatory could have the effect of keeping people off bikes.

[Via ECF: Mandatory Helmets: An Attack on Spanish Cycling]

Octoplus Has You Covered

OctoplusDon’t toss that old cycling helmet just because the liner has seen better days. While we all know that helmets should be replaced on a regular basis the internal liner often wears out long before the outer shell. Italian cycling company Effeto Mariposa has shown that it reaches out in many directions and fitting has introduced the “Octoplus” a replacement helmet pad system.

The non-allergic, anti-microbial and machine washable kit – which includes a star-shaped main pad along with several smaller pads, provides a solid fit for most helmets. Video after the jump

CHIPS it On

CHIPSThere are helmets with built in speakers, but the Outdoor Tech audio CHIPS make bringing some tunes with existing helmets a little easier. This wireless drop-in audio system works universally in all helmets with audio ready liners. Users can listen to music or take a quick call free of cords.

The speakers are compatible with Bluetooth-enabled devices with one-touch pairing, while two button control system allows users to adjust volume, change tracks, play/pause music and answer calls from outside your helmet knit without the need remove the gloves. This one features a rugged, minimal design fits into virtually any helmet designed to take audio drop-ins, and is IPX4 sweat and water resistant. It runs via a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that offers 10 hours of playtime and has a range of up to 30 feet.

Outdoor Tech CHIPS