snazpizaz

Hi

Wondering what people think of folding bike helmets ?

I've looked at a number and i'm settling on the Fend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgekhEELo90
https://fend.io/

Seems like an elegant design and folds by about 50%
I like the vent proportions. I've heard supply can be a bit patchy as it's a start up - but seems improved in it's 2nd year.

I also like the Cairbull Find, but i can't find (hoho) anything on it at all:
https://www.cairbullsport.com/helmets/69-en.html

I've considered and rejected:
Morpher, which folds flat but this vid has put me off:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQqTRdGTQFs&t=237s

Overade Plixi, because i wondered about the capactiy of the axles/ joints to survive a hit:
https://www.overade.com/shop/en/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag6vl9zX7_M

Others i rejected:
Brooks / Carerra
Closca / Fuga
Ftiier
Anything else still in development.

Advice and comments welcome...
cheers
sp

mr_bill

My review from earlier this year.

It’s great for what it’s good at - having a helmet with you that’s easy to cary in a bag. So for bikeshare and travel it’s great.

Reiterate - be careful of worthless knockoffs - even on Amazon. Search for “collapsible bicycle helmet” and the first result is a counterfeit Fend.

-mr. bill

snazpizaz

thanks for review link - that's a lot of hopping around town activity.
I'm not sure what a lime is ? But i get the sweaty manky helmet issue.
I've checked out the headkayse and overade and rejected them both.
https://www.hedkayse.com/products/hedkayse-one-black
https://www.overade.com/shop/en/plix...11-color-black
hedkayse seemed prone to grubby issues
overade way to bulky and kinda cheap feeling
I cant view a FEND in the UK yet.
I like the park and diamond one at the moment. But again it's US only just now
https://www.park-and-diamond.com/

sp

mr_bill

Lime is just one of the dockless bike shares.

Fend will ship to the UK, but you’d have to pay for the return if you don’t like it. (At least until January 31.)

As far as I know Park and Diamond are still preorder.

-mr. bill

genec

Mr B... nice review... lousy video. I can't quite tell how big the helmet is from their video. Looks like small football shape... like maybe nerf football size?

So how do you tell if it is the genuine article?

Seems pretty rugged, well vented.

I'm not a messenger bag all the time guy... I go for a small rugged backpack... a habit from my college days and carrying books. But hey, personal choice.

I like the whole concept of the folding helmet, and have to agree, I feel naked without a domecover... except in the most calm of park settings... then, a hat works. (Still gotta cover the dome...)

mr_bill

This is the best shot showing the size of the unfolded and folded helmet (btw, the last color I'd want for a helmet in NYC is yellow cab):



The ones that look like the Kickstarter prototype webbing instead of rigid cross braces are knock offs. At least they usually don't knock off the rivits.



-mr. bill

Borisb

Why did you reject the Brooks / Carrera one ? I have a friend that rides with one of these and he told me nothing but good things about it. I'm curious!

mr_bill

I know you are talking to the OP, but each of the earlier (and even later vapor) collapsible/foldable helmets were nope for me too.

The Brooks/Carrera simply doesn’t fold/collapse that much. Others collapse/fold into awkward shapes.

The Fend was the first one I tried that wore like a helmet and collapsed small enough that I’d pay extra for the “privilege” of it collapsing smaller and being able to put it inside my bag.

I doubt I would have got to yes if I wasn’t able to hold it and try it on at the Cooper Hewitt.

-mr. bill

Borisb

Oh yes, that. Now that you say it I see it.

ironwood

I didn't know that there were helmets designed for people who rode folding bicycles.

mr_bill

Tires too.

-mr. bill

CliffordK

Interesting group of helmets.

I just clip the chin strip of my helmet to the outside of my backpack, so size really doesn't matter as it doesn't take up space inside the bag.
@gugie commented that thieves aren't them most safety conscious individuals, so he just leaves his clipped to the handlebars.

I've also locked my helmet with the bike, usually just catching the straps. So, any theft solution would be destructive.

mr_bill

Leaving your helmet with your own bike is a perfectly rational choice. (It's not that thieves are or are not safety conscious, just the street value of a used bicycle helmet approaches the street value of a used cigarette butt.)

Leaving your helmet with a bike share bike is not wise.

-mr. bill