Helmets

Recharging the battery of a bike helmet with built-in lights can (conceivably) be awkward, as the whole helmet has to be placed near an outlet. A new model gets around that problem, though, with a removable tail light module.

Although there are now many turn-indicator-equipped helmets, cyclists still ought to also use arm signals. That's where the Classon helmet comes in, as its indicators are trigged by the rider's arm gestures – plus it warns of cars coming from behind.

Bike helmets work by absorbing impact energy that would otherwise be passed through to the wearer's head. An experimental new helmet is claimed to do so better than conventional models, thanks to a special resin.

Why just wear a plain ol' bike helmet, when you can wear one with a built-in headlight, tail lights, turn indicators and brake light? That's the thinking behind the Lumos Ultra, which I recently had the chance to try out on real-world roads.

While cyclists can get away with jerseys that are a little tight or baggy, it's vitally important that their helmet fit correctly. The KAV R1 helmet was designed with this in mind, as each one is 3D-printed to the measurements of its wearer's head.

Six years ago, Chinese manufacturer Livall debuted one of the first "smart" bicycle helmets. Well, the company is still at it, with a lighter, sleeker new model that's currently on Indiegogo.

Even though a properly-fitted sports helmet is vital to avoiding brain injuries, the fitting process is still largely a subjective one. A new pressure-sensitive cap, however, could objectively ensure that each athlete gets the right helmet.

Light-equipped bike helmets are now fairly common, but most of them still have to be plugged into a charger, and manually turned on and off as needed. The just-announced Omne Eternal, however, lets ambient light do all the work.

While a vented bike helmet may keep your head cool on hot days, it certainly doesn't help keep it warm on cold days. That's why the Bridger helmet was created, as it sports interchangeable shells for different types of weather.

Although there are now many light-equipped bike helmets on the market, the Torch T1 was one of the first. Its makers have now returned to Kickstarter, with a model that features LED panels which can be removed as needed.

Engineers at Michigan State University have crafted a new type of liquid foam lining they say can help football helmets better sustain repeated impacts, improving their longevity and the safety of those wearing them.

Some people refuse to wear bike helmets because they find the things to be big, heavy and gawky-looking. The Danish-made Newton-Rider helmet is a bit different, in that it's sleek, thin, and made of semi-soft materials.