Best and Safest Helmets for Electric Unicycling (in 2023)

It’s common knowledge to us that a helmet is the quintessential safety item when riding an electric unicycle, or any other type of cycle for that matter. Yet, there are so many helmets on the market we are left asking ourselves a question: What is the best helmet for electric unicycling, and what criteria do we use to judge that?

What is the best full-face helmet for electric unicycling?

Right now, the best full-face helmet for electric unicycling is called the TSG Pass. It is ASTM F1952 and EN1078 rated, as well as being certified by the International Downhill Federation as the best longboard downhill helmet available. This helmet has the most safety standard certifications of any other helmet on the market currently. The field of view is generous and the second you wear it your badass factor increases tenfold.

tsg pass fullface helmet

Check out the “TSG Pass” on Amazon

What is the best half-shell helmet for electric unicycling?

The best half shell helmet is the Triple 8 Dual Certified. It is not only dual certified like the name suggests, but has four certifications and has proven to be the most popular helmet amongst skaters and BMX bikers.

triple 8 dual certified

Check out the “Triple 8 Dual Certified” on Amazon

Why do we need to wear a helmet when e-cycling?

For those of you who still ride an e-cycle without a helmet (hooligans!), I highly recommend you utilize this article right now and find the best helmet for you. Wearing a helmet is not a choice and is required in most U.S. States. If you choose not to wear a helmet, check to make sure you’re in accordance with your local laws. Even if it isn’t illegal, misfortunes happen frequently and your life may be drastically changed in the blink of an eye. Even small falls can cause severe injury. Whenever you embark on your electric unicycle, you are risking your life. During a fall or collision, a helmet will absorb the majority of the impact rather than your skull and brain.

What if I don’t want to look like a dork?

The stigma against helmets is ridiculous, and no one wearing a helmet looks like a dork. Though it is normal to feel that way, in the e-cycling community it is perfectly fine, normal and conventional to wear a helmet. In fact, if you’re not wearing a helmet you’re considered a fool.

Helmets these days have evolved much further than before. Nowadays, there are lots of styled helmets that look rad as hell. Many beginners will buy cheap helmets online without measuring their heads properly. Due to this, their helmet might not fit correctly. These beginners end up not wearing their helmet because it feels awkward, but this is due to a false fit and can be prevented easily.

What is the Best Electric Unicycle Helmet?

Get yourself a helmet that fits you, has the correct safety certifications, and has a look you enjoy.

Invest in a quality helmet and measure your head according to the size charts. I selected the best-looking highly certified helmets that you can feel comfortable with looking good while using these every day.

Full Face Helmets for Electric Unicycle

Full face protection is generally the best choice when riding an electric unicycle, especially if you live in an area with lots of traffic and/or pedestrians. Your head will be protected in all directions and from all angles. This helmet eradicates the inconvenience of rocks flying into your face, kicked up from a nearby vehicle. A helmet with a tinted visor will also protect your eyes from wind and sunlight, which is very nice to have whenever you’re cycling.

TSG Pass

The TSG Pass has a multi-layer fiberglass shell for a high ratio of surface area to weight resulting in a strong but light full-face helmet. The TSG Pass also has a wide viewing angle that allows for good peripheral vision. Engineered not to fog up using a combination of ventilation that draws breath out of the helmet, an anti-fog coating ensures good visibility at all times. Ear slots allow for a clear perception of ambient noises. The cheek pads are adjustable to custom fit different head comfortably, and the inner lining is removable for washing. The shell is designed to fit the human head and is shorter in the front compared to other helmets. This makes it safer, more aerodynamic, and better looking.

It is International Downhill Federation Certified and lined with EPS Impact Foam. EPS offers good penetration resistance and kinetic energy redistribution. EPS foam liners are the industry standard for action sports. It includes 2 spherically rounded visors, one electric silver and one clear. Both of these visors offer 100% UVA and UVB protection. Find out more about the TSG Pass in our review.

tsg pass fullface helmet

It’s ASTM F1952 and EN1078 rated, as well as being certified by the International Downhill Federation as the best Longboard Downhill helmet available on the market.

Price: $$$ – Check the current price on Amazon here.
Price: €259.95 on their website

Pros:
+ Full-face construction protects your entire face
+ Wide field of view
+ 2 safety certifications
+ considered as the Safest longboard downhill helmet by International Downhill Federation
Cons:
– Pricey
– often out of stock

SIZE CHART – Measure around the forehead by wrapped the widest part of the head with a measuring device.

Size inchcm
Small21.3 – 22”54 – 56 cm
Medium22 – 22.8”56 – 58 cm
Large22.8 – 23.6”58 – 60 cm
Extra Large23.6 – 24”60 – 61 cm

Convertibles – Half Shell and Full Face Helmets for Electric Unicycles – The Hybris

Convertible Helmet Certifications:

CPSC StandardEN 1078ASTM F1952MIPS Available
Bell Super 3R
Giro Switchblade

Bell Super 3R (MIPS)

The Super 3R gives you a half lid combined with a full-face helmet. It has a unique removable chin bar, giving you almost two helmets in one. You can remove and carry the chin bar in a bag during long rides, then lock it into place for that addest boost of confidence for fast rides or on dangerous terrain.  The easy, tool-free installation and removal process only takes seconds. The Bell 3R has breakaway screws to ensure that if you take a hard fall, the visor will break away to avoid an outstretching neck. It comes with a goggle guide adjustable visor system and has an integrated breakaway camera mount.

The Bell Super 3R MIPS has two safety certifications: CE EN1078, CPSC Bicycle

Bell Super 3R convertible helmet

Price- $209.95 – $325.00 (size dependant)
Check the current price on Amazon here.

Pros:
+ Comes with MIPS
+ Half-lid and full-face in one helmet
+ Wide field of view
+ 2 safety certifications
Cons:
– Does not have the highest certifications
– Does not provide the same protection as other full-face models

SIZE CHART  – Measure around the forehead by wrapping a measuring device around the widest part of the head.

Size inchcm
Small20.5 – 22 inch52 – 56 cm
Medium21.7 – 23.2 inch55 – 59 cm
Large22.8 – 24.4 inch58 – 62 cm

What is MIPS?

MIPS is a revolutionary new standard in helmet safety technology. It was developed by brain surgeons and scientists to reduce rotational forces during angled impacts to the head.

Giro Switchblade MIPS

The Giro Switchblade MIPS is an ATSM Downhill Certified full-face helmet with a removable chin bar, so you can easily switch to rowdy when it’s time to push your boundaries. Similar to the Bell Super 3R MIPS, it basically gives you two helmets in one. With a removable chin bar, you can secure it in your bag or in place for that increased confidence for speedy rides or rough terrain. Also, like the Bell Super 3R, it is very to remove the chin bar and requires no tools.

The biggest difference to the Bell Super 3R MIPS is the level of protection and ventilation. The Bell has more ventilation holes and therefore will be a lot cooler even on hot days. The Giro, on the other hand, does not have a lot of ventilation but more protection instead.

Giro Switchblade MIPS

The Giro Switchblade has three safety certifications: ASTM-1952-DH, CE EN1078, CPSC Bicycle — with and without the chin bar.

Price: $$$
Check the current price on Amazon here.

Pros:
+ Comes with MIPS
+ Half-lid and full-face in one helmet
+ Wide field of view
+ 3 safety certifications
+ ATSM-Downhill certified
Cons:
– Lack of ventilation
– Pretty Heavy
– Does not provide the same protection as other full-face models do

SIZE CHART – To determine the correct helmet size, wrap a measuring tape around the head, keeping the tape just above the ears and level front to back. Use the guide along with the measurement to determine size.

Size inchcm
Small20 – 21.65 in51 – 55 cm
Medium21.65 – 23.25 in55 – 59 cm
Large23.25 – 24.8 in59 – 63 cm

Half-shell helmet for electric unicycles

If you’re not riding seriously and don’t extend to high speed, or just hate the design and look of a full-face helmet, you should still wear at least a half-shell helmet. There is also a big chance that electric unicycling is not legal in your country or area, therefore it is easy to understand that stealth is of the utmost importance. Full-face helmets are not very inconspicuous. With a hub motor electric unicycle, a half-shell helmet and a regular peal push you can easily be rated as a normal unicyclist.

If you are in need of a lightweight helmet that can offer certified protection without being too bulky and still look good, read below

Half-shell Helmet Certifications:

CPSC StandardEN 1078ASTM F1492AS/NZS 2063MIPS Available
Triple 8 Dual Cert
S1 Lifer
Triple 8 Gotham
Bern Watts
Thousand Helmet
Pro-Tec Classic Cert

Triple 8 Dual Certified

Complies with U.S. CPSC Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets for persons age 5 and older as well as ASTM F-1492-08 Safety Standards for skateboarding. Triple 8 put everything they know about helmet technology into this updated version of our timeless helmet shape. This helmet is Dual Certified for biking and skating, and also has a model with the patented MIPS technology low-friction layer to reduce rotational forces caused by angled impacts. The company worked closely with our top riders invert, longboarding, BMX, commuting, and derby to refine the shape, fit and function.

triple 8 dual certified

Complies with CE EN 1078 – Helmets for pedal cyclists, skateboarders, and roller skaters and with AS/NZS 2063 – Bicycle Helmets

Price – $29.23 – $99.95 (size and MIPS included dependant)
Check the price here on Amazon.

Pros:
+ 4 times certified
+ MIPS available
+ Available in several colors
Cons:
– Sometimes too small (better size up)

SIZE CHART – To ensure a perfect fit, measure the circumference of your head starting in the middle of your forehead and match it with the sizes below.

Size inchcm
XS/S 19.7 – 21.5 in50 – 55 cm
S/M21.5 – 22.75 in55 – 58 cm
L/XL22.75 – 24 in58 – 61 cm

S1 Lifer

S1 Lifer helmet claims to have specially formulated EPS Fusion Foam that is 5x more protective than regular skate helmets. It also comes with padding in all sizes so you can customize the tightness of the fit. Many people claim the S1 Lifer helmet gets its comfort from the deep fit design.

What is Deep Fit Design? Deep fit design means that the helmet will sit lower than other helmets. This will offer more protection and a better fit. There are a plethora of colors and finishes available.

S1 Lifer Helmet

Price: $60
Check the price here on Amazon.

Pros:
+ High certified (Certified Multi-Impact [ASTM] and Certified High Impact [CPSC])
+ proven to be one of the safest helmets on the market
+ Available in many colors
Cons:
– Sometimes too small (better size up)

Triple Eight Gotham

This helmet is very urban. The Dual Certified Gotham helmet just got smarter with MIPS technology. MIPS is a low-friction layer in the helmet that absorbs much of the rotational force during a crash. The Gotham also features the patented Conehead EPS liner, Triple Eight logo vents, and a subtle brim. Few other helmets come close to the comfort, safety, and looks associated with the Gotham and MIPS. It is completed with their renowned Sweatsaver Fit Pads for added comfort, and has an adjustable fit dial system with a reflective dial to create a custom fit. The grooved EPS allows for excellent airflow.

Dual Certified: Complies with U.S. CPSC Bike and ASTM Skate Safety Standards

triple 8 gotham

Price: $ (size dependent)
Check the price here on Amazon.

Pros:
+ Dual certified
+ trendy looking
+ Great cold weather helmet
+ MIPS available
Cons:
– No Air Vents – could be too hot in summer

SIZE CHART – To ensure a perfect fit, measure the circumference of your head starting in the middle of your forehead and match it with the sizes below:

Size inchcm
XS/S 18.9 – 21.3 in48 – 54 cm
S/M21.7 – 22.8 in55 – 58 cm
L/XL23.2 – 24 in59 – 61 cm

Bern Watts

The Watts is Bern’s blue-collar special. With a baseball-hat-inspired hard visor, true all-season versatility, and classic Bern stylization, the Watts is perfect for the morning commute, the evening beer run, the ski area, or even on the bike path. Featuring the crank fit dial-adjustable fit system, tried and true EPS/ABS construction, and a moisture-controlling premium liner, the watts fits, looks, and feels great. The Watts also passes both bike and snow safety certifications, making this a true all-season helmet!

  • ALL-SEASON – Pick the model that best fits your style and customize your helmet with their range of seasonal upgrades! 
  • BIKE LIGHT COMPATIBLE – The asteroid and meteoroid fit all new and older Bern helmet with a two-hole mount located in the rear of the shell. Light available separately.
  • CRANK FIT – Tried and true proprietary dial adjustment system. Simple and durable. Meets Safety Certification CPSC EN1077B, EN1078
  • THIN SHELL – Their tested technology, the thin shell is the ultimate balance between hard ABS or polycarbonate shell thickness and interior EPS foam thickness. It’s safe, durable, and strong.
Bern Watts

Price- $60 – $80 (size dependant)
Check it out here on Amazon.

Pros:
+ Three times certified
+ With special bike lights compatible
+ customizable for different seasons
Cons:
– Small Air Vents

SIZE CHART: To ensure a perfect fit, measure the circumference of your head starting in the middle of your forehead and match it with the sizes below:

Size Hat Sizecm
S 6 1/2 – 752 – 55.5 cm
M7 – 7 3/855.5 – 59 cm
L7 3/8 – 7 7/859 – 62 cm

Thousand Helmet

Lightweight helmet at 410g (s) 450g (m) or 490g (l). It is built to meet CPSC and CE EN 1078 standards. The helmet includes 2 sets of interior padding for a great custom fit with a secret pop lock that allows you to lock your helmet with your cycle.

Thousand Helmet

Price- $89.90
Check this model here on Amazon.

Pros:
+ Dual certified
+ Pop-hole to lock the helmet
+ Stylish design
Very light
Cons:
– Almost no Air Vents
– Pricey

If you can’t choose between sizes, the company recommends taking a smaller size.

LED Helmets for electric unicycling

LED Helmet Certifications:

CPSC StandardEN 1078ASTM F1492AS/NZS 2063MIPS Available
Lumos Matrix
Lumos Street
Lumos Kickstart

New Lumos Helmets – Lumos Matrix and Lumos Street

Lumos helmets have integrated LEDs on the front and back of the helmet, helping a lot when it comes to being seen at night.

The popular Lumos helmet now has an upgraded model. Lumos offers two models: the Lumos Matrix and the Lumos Street, both of which come with the ability to indicate turns and brake lights. The Matrix has a bigger LED Panel at the back of the helmet with which you can even program your own backlighting modes. The Lumos Street is a bit simpler and has only three LED strips integrated into the back of the helmet. The helmets come with a 10h battery runtime and a remote with which you can indicate the turn signals. Even with all these safety features and tech, the helmet only weighs 580g. That’s damn light! You can also connect to the Lumos app to  track your rides and share data with Apple Health or Google Fit. The best thing about the Lumos helmets is all of the safety certificates. It has 4 of them: CPSC / F1492 / EN1078 / AS2063. 

lumos matrix

Lumos Original

The Lumos Original has white LEDs on the front side and red LEDs on the backside. It will dramatically increase your visibility and therefore it will automatically be a safer ride. It has some more advantages as well, with accelerometers built into the helmet that can detect acceleration and braking. Due to that, you will have functioning brake lights. When the accelerometer detects braking, the red backlight on your helmet will grow brighter. You can even indicate your turns with blinking arrows that will point in the correct direction on the helmet. There are plenty of positive reviews and customers seem to love this helmet.

lumos original helmet

T2 Torch Bike Helmet

Like the Lumos helmet, the torch bike helmet comes with integrated LEDs. It has white LEDs on the front side and red LEDs on the backside. This will increase your visibility.

torch t2 helmet

Foldable Helmets

Foldable Helmet Certifications:

CPSC StandardEN 1078
Morpher Helmet
Overade Plixi

Morpher Helmet

Morpher is a foldable bicycle helmet. It began raising funds in November of 2013 through Indiegog to launch a new line of helmets. When folded, this helmet has four internal magnets that help to keep it flat. Morpher produces a CPSC model as well.

morpher foldable

Overade Plixi

Overade has a folding hardshell helmet called the Plixi with a complex folding mechanism. It meets the CPSC and CEN helmet standards. Consumer reports rated its impact performance as ‘very good’ in their 2016 helmet article, but downrated it for fit and ventilation.

overade plixi

Things to Consider Before Buying an Electric Unicycle Helmet

There are numerous essential factors to consider when choosing a helmet for electric unicycling. Before you rush into the process looking for the best looking helmet, think about your purchase and how it can keep your safe and comfortable while riding.

Half-shell or Full-face helmet?

We can sort helmets into two categories: full-face and half(or egg)-shell helmets. The main difference between these two styles being that full-face helmets offer protection to your jaw area as well as your skull. High-performance riders, who are e-unicycling at high speeds like to wear these full-face helmets. Daily commuters who don’t want to attract attention are safe riding at their lower speeds in a half-shell helmet.

If you’re commuting, ride at lower speeds, not very regularly, and put emphasis in looking like a normal skate, you can pick a half-shell helmet.

Size and Fit

When selecting the helmet it’s important to make sure it fits properly and feels comfortable. While we can wear a cap or beanie how we want to, a helmet should sit horizontally on your head.

How to properly measure your head to fit a helmet:

To measure your head properly you require a measuring tape or a cord in addition to a pocket ruler or folding meter stick. You need to wrap the measuring tape or cord around your head above your eyebrow level around your forehead. The tape or cord should abut on your head but not gush. At the intersection, you can easily read off your circumference or if you used a cord, mark the intersection with a marker and use your ruler to measure it.

Now that you’ve successfully measured your head circumference, you can begin shopping online for your helmet! For that, you just need to look at the size charts and look for your circumference.

Tips for the Perfect Fit

Firstly, we adapt the helm width:

Normally we can adapt the helmet width with an adjustable strap. The most comfortable helmet might not necessarily be the most expensive one.

Check: Try to shake your head and bend yourself over without closing the chin strap. Ideally, your helmet should not fall off.

Secondly, we adapt the chin strap:

The chin straps should run flat and tightly past the ears down to the chin. It is recommended that one finger should fit between the strap and your chin when the buckle is closed and the chin strap is adjusted accordingly.

Check: With an adjusted and closed chin strap, you should not be able to pull the helmet to the top and away from your head.

Speed

At what speed are you planning to ride? If you exceed speeds over 25 km/h (15 mph) then you should get a full-face helmet. Fall at that speed can cause severe damage in places you’d probably prefer to keep healthy. At low speeds, a fall on the face can hurt a lot but often you just get bruises and scratches. However, at higher speeds, you can break your jaw. This is a very serious injury and you want to make sure it won’t happen to you. You might also want glasses or a helmet with a visor to protect your eyes from the wind. Otherwise, you’ll just be crying from the wind.

Safety Standards

You’ve only got one brain, I’d suggest you take care of it. If you don’t you can kiss e-cycling goodbye and say hello to hospital food. Please, just protect yourself.

“A helmet’s outer shell is usually made of polycarbonate plastic, kevlar or fiberglass. The core is generally constructed of polystyrene or polypropylene foam which upon impacts crushes. This process absorbs the energy that would otherwise have been forced upon your skull. So, after an impact (which can also occur if your helmet is dropped onto the pavement) it won’t be able to provide the expected level of protection even though the outer shell may still look like it’s in a good condition.”

The hard gray or black foam inside a helmet is called EPS (expanded polystyrene). EPS absorbs most of the impact force, so make sure your helmet’s EPS is certified by CPSC standards. The EPS being certified doesn’t mean the helmet is certified though, so be careful.

You will likely come across these safety standards regarding helmets:

  • CPSC Standard: Safety Standard of “The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission” for Bicycle Helmets
  • ASTM F1492: Standard specification for helmets used for Bicycling, Skateboarding, Trick Roller Skating
  • ASTM F1952: Safety Standard for Downhill Mountain Bicycle Helmets
  • ASTM F1447: Safety Standard for bicycle helmets
  • Snell N-94: This Standard describes helmets for use in non-motorized sports which includes bicycling. Helmets certified to this Standard, by the fact of this certification, have met all the requirements for the Snell Memorial Foundation’s Standard for bicyclist helmets. The Snell Memorial Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to research, education, testing and development of helmet safety standards.
  • EN 1078: European Safety Standard for Helmets for pedal cyclists, skateboarders, & roller skaters
  • AS/NZS 2063: Australian/New Zealand Safety Standard for Bicycle helmets.

Make sure at the LEAST that the helmet has the weakest certification. The bare minimum is the ATSM F1492 certification for helmets.

New vs. Second Hand

Before we delve deeper, do not buy a secondhand/used helmet. Not only will you be sharing some sweat with the previous owner, but far more importantly, the structural integrity of the helmet may have already been compromised with a fall. Helmets need to be replaced regularly to keep that structural integrity sound.

Field of View

The field of view is very important for an electric unicyclist, so be sure you’re able to detect holes and cracks in the pavement to avoid them or brace yourself for the coming bump. If you ride in urban areas, the field of view aspect is much more important as you constantly need to look out for traffic.

Weight

No one likes a heavy helmet! A heavy helmet will make you tired when riding for above-average length periods of time. Avoid an overly heavy helmet and your neck will thank you.

Price

Only buy helmets from a known and trusted brand, trying to get the cheapest helmet possible is a mistake. Unlike other parts of your body, you only have one head — and the rest of your body can not function without it. Protect it with any means necessary.

A half lid helmet will normally set you back $30-90
A full-face helmet may cost anywhere between $150-400

Design and Graphics

Get a helmet that you vibe with on a personal level. The graphics may not add safety, but you may find you wear the helmet less if you dislike the way it looks on you. Sometimes it’s worth the extra time or money to get that special helmet.

Climate / Weather

You should definitely keep climate in mind when purchasing a helmet. If you live in a hot area, many well-placed air vents and sweat liners are imperative. If you live somewhere much colder, a warm helmet with fewer air vents may be more appropriate.

Cooling and Air Vents

Air vents are the holes that you see on and around the helmets. These vents function as the cooling system for your helmet. The size and number of vents on each helmet will vary between brands. These vents are very important. A ride in the middle of the summer is very uncomfortable without impeccable ventilation on your helmet.

Sweat Liners

During physical activity of any kind, you can expect to sweat and e-unicycling is no exception. The sweat liner helps to minimize the amount of sweat that runs down your face while you cycle. One thing to note is that sweat liners should be replaced frequently to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Why Not Use a Motorcycle Helmet?

Motorcycle helmets are designed for crashes exceeding 65 mph. Due to this, they have a lot of EPS foam for appropriate protection, but this makes them very heavy. When it comes to cycling, motorcycle helmets are overkill. They have a bad field of view, are uncomfortable to wear, and may make your head very stiff.

Helmet Types That Do Work

  • Bicycle helmets
  • Skateboard helmets
  • Longboard helmets

When Should I Replace My Electric Unicycle Helmet?

Helmets are built to protect your head and, therefore, are built to last. Helmets usually take a lot of abuse to break, but you should never wait for it to be completely destroyed before purchasing another new one.

Helmet manufacturers recommend replacing a helmet after 3-5 years of use, or 7 years after the production date of the helmet. They also recommend replacing the helmet if it ever sustains significant damage from a crash.

Bike, skateboard, and longboard helmets are designed to be one-time-impact protective gear. The foam that absorbs the blow is intended to crush under the pressure of the impact without rebounding. Thus, once an area is crushed it will not protect the rider on subsequent crashes.

Should I Replace a Helmet After Dropping It?

”Generally the answer is probably not. Helmets are one-use items, but are quite durable otherwise, at least the ones we certify. Frequent dropping or spiking a helmet on the ground, or other hard surfaces may eventually degrade the helmet’s performance. Similarly, if the helmet falls to the ground at highway speeds unoccupied, the owner must be aware that some degradation may have occurred. In general, the real damage comes when the helmet contacts an object with a head inside”

Summary:

  • Did you crash? Replace it.
  • Did you somehow drop it hard enough to crack the foam? Replace it.
  • Is it from the 80s? Dude…replace it.
  • Is it just the outside foam or cloth instead of plastic. Replace it!
  • Still can’t get it to fit correctly? I beg you, replace it.
  • Do you still like wearing it? If not, it’s time for a new one!

Final Thoughts

Buying a helmet when you have an electric skateboard and ride it regularly is inevitable. 

“But I look like an idiot and helmets aren’t cool!”

Nowadays, it’s the reverse. Riders without helmets seem reckless and idiotic because they’re not aware of how dangerous that is. You will often exceed speeds of 10 mph. You’re riding on hard pavement. Every fall can cause severe damage to your body or brain. Please wear a helmet.

Thank you for reading! If you have recommendations for other helmets I’d love to read them. If you feel I should have included something else, please send some feedback! It’s how we all grow!

Now it’s your turn!

Which helmet do you like most, and why? Let me know in the comments section below!

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