Nutcase Multisport Helmet

www.nutcasehelmets.com
Inject a bit of joy into your daily ride by ditching the boring helmet of yore and wear burst of mad color and design from Portland, OR-based Nutcase.  The structure of the helmet itself is fairly straightforward: an injection-molded ABS shell with a poly inner foam for high-impact protection, paired with three sets of differently sized internal pads to help achieve the perfect fit.  Up top you find two front intake valves, with seven top-mounted and two rear-mounted exhaust vents, an adjustable spin dial for the perfect fit, and a great, anti-pinching cloth-lined magnetic chin strap that clasps together like magic—all of it CPSC-certified for safe bike riding. But Nutcase’s dedication to design—bright, brilliant patterns and colors (as well as more subdued varieties)—really set these helmets apart, from watermelon to polka-dot to paisley. The helmets do run hot compared to the more race-friendly models on the market. A midday urban ride in Portland and Washington, DC, left more than one tester warmer than a traditionally vented helmet, though they were great on 40-degree autumn mornings..  But these aren’t made for century rides in the heat of summer; they’re to let you express your inner child while on your daily commute. And naturally they make a bunch of equally fantastic (and equally safe) children’s helmets for $60.

Product Type
Bike Helmets
Good For
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Tested In
City riding in Portland, OR; daily commuting in Washington, DC; mountain biking in Bend, Or

Factory Visit: Nutcase Helmets

The colorful wall of helmets at Nutcase HQ.

If you hear the story of how Portland, OR-based Nutcase Helmets got started, you’ll understand how they so effortlessly captured the whimsical part of the market for adult multisport helmets.  Back in the fall of 2000, Nutcase creator and founder Michael Morrow was looking for a graphic way to show his support for the Oregon State Beavers at the “Civil War” football game against U of O. His solution? Four-inch metal screws super-glued to the top of an old orange-and-black Oregon State helmet; he then impaled yellow rubber duckies on the screws to demonstrate the fate awaiting the Oregon Ducks.

The response to the helmet was instantaneous—as was Morrow’s light bulb moment:  adult helmets are boring, and not indicative of the fun everyone has while biking, skiing, and skating.  What started out as a garage operation with Morrow and his kind-hearted wife has now blossomed into company with 12 employees, with orders flooding in from all over globe and annual deliveries in the hundreds of thousands.

The decal-applied helmet designs come in all variety of color and style, from watermelons to polka dots to graphics that support your favorite team or city. The chinstrap boasts a one-handed magnetic buckle that works like magic and a simple dial to adjust the helmet’s fit.  All helmets comply with U.S. CPSC Safety Standards for riders ages five and older. The line includes street sport helmets as well as models for cycle/skate, snow sports, motor sports, and water sports.

We also love the whimsical collection of bells.

And we really like that their spacious HQ is above Portland’s amazing Ford Food and Drink, which makes a breakfast buttermilk biscuit with mozzarella, pesto, and organic relish that has no business tasting as good as it does. Craft beer goes for $4 a pint—which was almost enough to convince us to have one with our biscuit.

Fun fact: In Portlandia, the mayor of Portland (played by Kyle MacLachlan) wears the first official Nutcase helmet.

We’re testing one of their helmets right now and will report back soon.

Product Type
Bike Helmets
Good For
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Tested In
So far? Mountain biking in Bend and urban pedaling in Portland.

POC Trabec Race Bike Helmet

www.pocsports.com, 11.9 ounces
POC makes some of the most protective helmets available. The company has upped the stakes in the alpine ski industry with standard-breaking technology, now that same advanced protection is available to mountain bikers. The new Trabec Race helmet has it all: a tough outer shell with an internal aramid shell bonded to a shock-absorbent expanded polystyrene liner. Aramid fibers are used for ballistic-rated body armor fabric, exactly what you want when you’re charging at top speed down rocky singletrack or playing virtual pinball with lodge pole pine. The design offers more head coverage than most traditional helmets, coming down lower on the sides and back of the head. Our first reaction was concern that the helmet would be hot and sweaty—16 passive vents on the top, sides, rear, and front of the helmet alleviated that worry with a gentle flow of fresh air. Inside you’ll find comfortable foam padding that can be personalized for a custom fit, and can be removed for cleaning, a boon if you are riding in muddy conditions or prone to head sweat. Adjustable straps and a rear harness keep the helmet secure on the head without pinching or slippage. The price tag might seem steep, but the helmet is designed to withstand multiple impacts, and, compared to a trip to the ER for a CAT Scan, a flat-out bargain.
Comes in XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL, three colors (we like the Orange for extra visibility)

Product Type
Bike Helmets
Good For
Tested In
Leogang Bike Park, Austria; Whistler Bike Park, BC; Phil’s Trail, OR

Interbike: Kali Maraka XC Helmet

Kali‘s new Maraka XC Helmet employs three technologies into one cross-country mountain bike lid, including a bumper fit for a snug, custom fit that also absorbs shock on impact (pictured right). We’re most excited about the composite fusion, which employs the use of softer foam for the touch points where you head meets the helmet. But our heads will likely appreciate the new venting technology, which reinforces the helmet’s venting architecture to make it much stronger against impact.

Product Type
Bike Helmets
Good For
,
Tested In
Coming soon.

Petzl PICCHU Kid’s Climbing and Cycling Helmet

www.petzl.com, 11.2 ounces
Too much equipment can be confusing—hard to keep track of, and bothersome to store. Thankfully, the kid-specific PICCHU does double duty, serving for both climbing and cycling. The highly adjustable helmet fits kids with head diameters from 48 to 54 cm (a.k.a. big two year olds to small ten year olds). The lightweight helmet has an injection-molded ABS shell and expanded polystyrene liner. Translation: the shell and lining offer plenty of protection from impacts (rated to standards for European cycling (CE EN 1078), US cycling (CPSC safety standard for cycling helmets for five-year-olds and older) and international climbing equipment safety standards (CE EN 12492 / UIAA). Petzl doesn’t test the helmet for water sports, skateboards, scooters, or free running, but our daredevil mini-testers used it for all of the above, with no contusions, concussions, or cracks in the shell. Three of our testers used it on multi-pitch climbs. While parents will appreciate the safety factor, kids like the easily adjustable chin strap. Even more, they love the three pages of stickers (so they can customize their helmet with something other than SpongeBob and Barbie decals) and the small, removable red signal light for twilight biking (or playing tag with after dark).
Colors:  Cherry Red, Apple Green

Product Type
Bike Helmets, Climbing Helmet
Good For
, , ,
Tested In
Yosemite, Countless Hours on Local Bike Trails and in Climbing Gyms