Looking for a new bike helmet that will support mounted lights

September 25, 2023 10:36 AM

I'm looking for a new bike helmet that has mounts or a good shape/holes for mounting a front and rear light. Details inside.

My bike helmet, an old Bell Citi, is probably 20 years old and looking worse for the wear. I would like to replace it with a new helmet with MIPs protection.

The reason I have not yet replaced the Citi over so many years is because I love the way I can mount lights to it. It has a "strap" across the back of the helmet (shown in above link) that will accept a clip-on style rear flasher (i.e., the kind with the plastic tongue that you insert into a bracket - the tongue slides right into the strap on the helmet). On the front/top of the helmet, there is a center vent that is broken up by some "cross bar" type plastic (picture a figure 8 with plastic dividing the two circles) and I can wrap a knog blinker light through the holes. I think my helmet-mounted lights are super important for safety - I can direct my head at oncoming turning cars, etc., and make sure I am visible. I know some people worry that lights may be harmful in a crash - i.e., if your head hits the pavement and the lights somehow get caught -- but visibility seems much more important to me in avoiding a wreck.

So - here is my question: can you recommend a new helmet that has: (1) a good way to mount a rear light, such as a strap in the back; and (2) has a good center hole pattern or other way to wrap a front-facing light into the vents? Alternatively, are the helmets with built in lights any good? They look pretty goofy, I think? Maybe no more goofy than my setup.

posted by Mid to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (7 answers total)

The helmet light mounts that I have seen rely on mounting tape, so I'd look for a helmet with a reasonably large, smooth surface to apply the tape. This describes most commuter-style helmets, which tend to be solid shells with a few vents. POC's helmets tend to have broad flat surfaces, so if you're not looking for a commuter helmet, maybe check them out.

All roadie and MTB helmets (and some commuter lids) these days come with a strap that runs around the occipital ridge, which I'm guessing is where you'd attach a clip-on taillight.

They're expensive (and apparently out of stock at the moment), but Exposure makes a single front/rear light intended to be attached to the top of a helmet. There may be others like this.

I'm not a big fan of those helmets with integrated lights just on principle: when the helmet wears out or is in a collision, you're throwing away the lights too. Also, the headlights on those are "be seen" lights, not "see by" lights.
posted by adamrice at 11:05 AM on September 25, 2023

I have the Giro Escape MIPS bike helmet which has built-in lights and I love it. I don't think it looks any goofier than any other commuter helmet and the lights are hella bright. They can be on steady or blinking.

I have about a 45min each way commute and charge the lights every day. I think I could get away with every other day but I haven't tested it.

It is a bit toasty in the summer, so on hot days I use a different helmet without lights and with way more venting if I'm riding during the day and have no chance of being caught out after dark.

It's also a bit heavy, but it's my first MIPS helmet so idk how much is the lights and battery and how much is the helmet technology/type.

In the winter it's perfect and keeps my noggin pretty toasty with just a merino wool cycling cap or buff; plus that's when both halves of my commute are in the dark and I most need the lights.
posted by misskaz at 11:27 AM on September 25, 2023

I have a Lumos Ultra helmet, and I love it. As with misskaz, it's a little heavier than an average helmet because of the lights/battery, but not so heavy as to be noticeable on even long rides. And it's on sale right now!

I always had this maybe-irrational-and-maybe-not fear that a light mounted on a helmet would, in case of collision, drive itself through my helmet into my head, so I love the built-in lights available on several modern helmets.

And I don't think built-in light helmets look goofy at all. Especially when I'm riding in rain pants and a mismatched rain jacket on a bike with square white buckets where panniers should go. Riding a bike is a goofy-looking adventure at times; lean into it, don't fear it...hahaha.
posted by pdb at 12:22 PM on September 25, 2023 [2 favorites]

I also have a Lumos Ultra. I would not say that I love it but I do like it very much.

I was considering switching to this but it's pricey.
posted by dobbs at 5:20 PM on September 25, 2023

My helmet is not anything special, a Poc Octal X. I attach a Planet Bike Spok 50 blinkie light to the top. It’s just a rubber strap. Lezyne also makes (or made at least) a specific helmet light that has front and rear lights.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:30 PM on September 25, 2023

I have an older Lumos as well and love it. I used to occasionally forget my lights, with the helmet no problem. And the battery seems to last a long time. It probably does look goofy but no more so than a bike helmet with lights strapped to it, I imagine.
posted by stray at 5:56 AM on September 26, 2023

I have a Thousand helmet that has a magnetic rear light. I think you could probably mount a front light through the vents if you wanted to. The magnetic rear light is great and I'm happy with the helmet overall.
posted by mjcon at 8:25 PM on September 26, 2023