Designed with city cyclists and commuters in thoughts, Bern has packed the Hudson with options together with an built-in rear mild and strengthened d-lock vents for added visibility and comfort whereas driving within the metropolis. We have a look at how the best mannequin in Bern’’s vary compares to the finest commuter bike helmets for city biking.
Bern Hudson MIPS: building
(Picture credit score: Anna Marie Abram)
The Hudson has an in-mold building and incorporates a low friction layer which permits the helmet to slip 10-15 millimeters in all instructions – that is the yellow liner that may be seen on the within of the helmet. It’s referred to as MIPS expertise, and it claims to scale back a few of the rotational movement transferred to the mind within the unlucky occasion of a crash. It’s expertise that we’ve seen built-in slickly into the top-end finest bike helmets, such because the Giro Aries Spherical, so it is encouraging to see the expertise trickle down into lower-priced lids, together with city helmets.
(Picture credit score: Anna Marie Abram)
The Hudson additionally meets the brand new NTA 8776 security normal. “This normal follows the identical security metrics however NTA 8776 differs with an elevated floor space for direct impression testing and a decrease allowable threshold of impression transference to account for bikes with auxiliary pedal help (A.Okay.A. E-bikes) as much as 45km/h,” Bern explains.
These security credentials have been assessed by an exterior tester, Virginia Tech Helmet Lab. After present process testing the Hudson earned a 5-star security score, which is the best score doable.
Except for its intensive consideration to security, Bern has developed a number of options that assist make this a cushty and handy helmet for city riders.
13 vents in whole may be discovered throughout the helmet to assist with temperature regulation. Two strengthened vents on the rear of the helmet double up as holes for threading a motorcycle lock by, so that you don’t have to hold your helmet round with you once you arrive within the metropolis.
(Picture credit score: Anna Marie Abram)
There’s an built-in LED mild on the rear of the helmet, too. It’s rated to six.6 lumens, and lasts as much as 10 hours. It’s micro-USB rechargeable, and straightforward to click on it in and misplaced when it’s time to prime up its battery or take it with you when you’re leaving the helmet together with your bike.
(Picture credit score: Anna Marie Abram)
The experience
With its skater-inspired fashion the Hudson is noticeably deeper than endurance or race-oriented biking helmets. And by this, I imply that it finishes a lot decrease down on the rear of my head. In consequence, I’ve needed to modify my ponytail in order that it loosely sits additional down my neck. Though it’s not my normal fashion, that works, and the remainder of the match is cosy and safe after twisting the rear dial to what feels proper.
I’ve discovered that the Hudson has been snug to put on for my hour-long commutes into Cardiff in the course of the spring. Now that we’re stepping into the summer season, although, I’m beginning to discover that the air flow is falling a bit in need of snug, even when biking in at a leisurely tempo.
I’ve been fairly impressed by the extra options that Bern has built-in into the helmet, for additional comfort for metropolis cyclists.
I’d normally carry a spare rear bike mild in my commuter backpack along with the one I’ve already connected to my bike, as I feel it’s necessary to have a back-up – particularly if you already know you’re going to be driving previous sundown. As such, it’s been very useful to have the second built-in into the Hudson helmet – a lot more durable to overlook!
(Picture credit score: Anna Marie Abram)
The rear mild has three settings – regular, flash and pulse – which is sufficient selection to swimsuit most wants. Its 6.6 lumens is a bit dim, although, and I wouldn’t plan on utilizing it as my solely rear mild. For context, the hind lights on Giro’s Ethos MIPS – which can be an city helmet – is 30 lumens. Lately there was a current pattern in direction of packing in additional lumens than is basically essential (some hind lights go as excessive as 300 lumens), and I’ve discovered myself by no means utilizing the brightest settings. Nevertheless, the built-in mild on the Hudson goes a bit too far in the wrong way. A minimal of 10 lumens is my choice relating to rear mild visibility, and the Hudson falls brief right here.
(Picture credit score: Anna Marie Abram)
With the ability to run a D-lock by the rear vents to safe the helmet to my bike has been a helpful function. Beforehand, I’ve merely locked my helmets by the helmet straps, however that’s not very safe. I definitely really feel much more snug leaving my helmet locked to my bike by the physique of the helmet. I discovered that it really works with my Onguard Brute D-lock, which is sort of a big D-lock – price taking into account.
Along with the trendy impartial Matte Sand possibility I’ve been carrying, the Hudson is obtainable in a extremely seen Matte Hyper Inexperienced, and basic Satin White.
Worth and conclusion
(Picture credit score: Anna Marie Abram)
Priced at £139.95, the Bern Hudson MIPS helmet is a mid-priced possibility for city riders.
Having a look at different city helmets with MIPS security expertise, there are far more inexpensive choices akin to Specialised’s Tone MIPS helmet which prices simply £55. Nevertheless, the Tone doesn’t have a system for locking up the helmet just like the Bern does.
Alternatively, there are helmets which can be much more feature-heavy than the Hudson, such because the Giro Ethos MIPS with its indicator lights. However Giro’s city providing will set you again considerably extra with its price ticket of £249.99!
Throughout the testing interval, I’ve discovered that it’s helpful to have a devoted helmet for cycle commuting. Because the air flow tends to not be nearly as good on city helmets, for me there’s bought to be one thing in its feature-set that makes me decide it over a low-priced street lid. Right here, that’s the D-lock appropriate vent and the built-in backup mild.
