Carrera Foldable Helmet

A folding helmet? The Carrera Foldable Helmet is more squashable than foldable, losing 5cm of its width when packed away. The odd design does mean that if you (or your headshape) are slightly odd then its worth a try.

The holy grail of the foldable helmet has not quite been reached yet, but this offering from Carrera knocks around 25% off the width of the helmet when folded away, and it's none too bulky dimensions mean that it fits into a space 15cm x 15cm x 26cm.

The flexible frame also helps the helmet to fit into a bag or drawer as it is made of strips of plastic coated EPS joined by nylon bands. I found the squishability (technical term) useful when packing for the weekend, or when stashing it in a pannier for a cake break. This flexibility also means that if you find getting a helmet to fit you is quite difficult, the Carrera's ability to mound to different shapes might give you a perfect fit at last.

The safety credentials of the helmet come via the standard EN 1078 safety testing and Carerra's reputation gives a little more reassurance than buying into a Kickstarter idea with no product history to bring to bear.

Due to its innate flexibility, the helmet needed to be strapped on very tightly under my chin before it felt steady, and after the initial odd feeling I was able to enjoy the ventilation benefits that the structure provided, along with the extremely comfy liner padding which extended over every surface that touched my head.

The great ventilation does necessitate the use of a liner when it's wet out as the channels put up no defence against heavy rain. The lack of a chin strap pad combined with the tightness needed in the straps meant that it wasn't as comfortable as it could have been under my chin.

The elasticated fitting system at the back of the head was adjusted with velcro, and the 'give' in the elastic, while more comfortable than the usual plastic ratchet or dial, did feel less secure than my other lids.

The Carrera comes with a lockable belt to keep it folded shut, and I also used this to strap my trousers tight to my ankle while out and about.

My test helmet was a S/M in a smashing shiny magenta colour, but it is also available in other colours, white and black versions, and in M/L catering for heads up to 61cm in diameter. It is marketed to both women and men.

At £60 it is not the cheapest lid, but I feel the price reflects the amount of development that has gone into this helmet. If you want a helmet that takes up a little less room, and is more easily stowed than a traditional helmet, then this is one of the few certified options on the market.

Conclusion

Looks are a very personal thing - I think the Carrera looks quite odd, but in some circles this would be deemed deeply cool. Each to his/her own. It does fold, but not that much. If you are keen on wearing a helmet but don't want to carry one all the time, then this could be more easily stored at work than anything else currently around.

Verdict

Comfortable space-saving helmet, but it doesn't fold that much.