Many people travel from A to B by bicycle or e-bike – this not only has a positive impact on the environment, but also on physical fitness. Wearing a helmet is the easiest and best way to protect yourself, says ÖAMTC technician Steffan Kerbl. “We know from accident research that even the weakest models are better than not wearing a helmet at all,” says ÖAMTC technician Steffan Kerbl.
The ÖAMTC tested eleven bicycle helmets with the partner organizations according to the criteria Accident protection, handling and pollution. Three models were rated “good” and seven “satisfactory”. A helmet fell through.
A good helmet doesn’t have to be expensive
The Urban Planet LED model from Uvex performed best. “This helmet leaves the other products behind in terms of both accident protection and handling and is also free of harmful substances,” says Kerbl. However, the ends of the straps are not sewn around, which can cause fastening parts to come loose – which is why the helmet only received a grade of “good”. The Alpina Gent MIPS and Limar Torino helmets also performed well in the test.
Image: ÖAMTC
The latter proves that a good helmet doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. While the models from Uvex and Alpina are at the upper end of the price scale, the Limar helmet is significantly cheaper. The fifth-placed helmet from Lidl/Crivit, which was rated “satisfactory”, is even significantly cheaper. “The helmet performs better than some models that cost seven to eight times as much,” says Kerbl.
“Not enough” for expensive helmet
The E.Motion 2 helmet from Casco – which is priced in the upper segment – failed the test. The reason for the poor rating: The belt buckle broke in two different tests. The helmet is a solidly made and comfortable helmet that protects the head well in accidents, says the ÖAMTC expert. However, this is of no use if the fastener breaks in a fall and the helmet is lost as a result.
There is a need for improvement in those helmets that were rated “satisfactory”, especially in terms of protection of the temple area and shock absorption properties. “What should not be underestimated is that some helmets do not reflect or reflect only insufficiently – visibility in traffic is an essential safety factor,” says Kerbl.
