FARO Helmet – High Viz Headwear
Very few people would advise you not to wear a helmet, especially when riding your bike through traffic. But safety alone isn’t a solution sufficient enough to mitigate all of the threats that surround you while you ride. Avoiding catastrophe is priority number one. Mountain bike helmets have traditionally been a tool for reducing harm once things have already gone bad, but what if a helmet can help you stay out of harm’s way to begin with? Seems like a good idea.
UNIT 1 is a successful innovator in the helmet space. They’ve already introduced a snow helmet with integrated headphones and other features not commonly found in that industry. Now, we’ve got the FARO, a high viz street helmet designed to keep cyclists safe. Let’s see if it lives up to the innovation curve laid forth by its predecessor.
Be Seen
Let’s jump straight out of the gate with the biggest value proposition of this helmet: lights! There’s a common problem all commuters have to solve, and that is where to place lighting on your bike that’s effective. Often, this falls short because your bike is below the line of sight of drivers. FARO places your lighting systems on the highest point on your bike, your head. Front and rear LED panels illuminate your path and warn those behind you that you are indeed an obstacle worthy of avoiding.
In the back, a red LED strip runs the width of the helmet. Disguised below the primary bank of lights is a hidden set of 40 LEDs that sit behind a mesh panel. This system is responsive and can indicate your intended direction through a turn signal you affix to your handlebars or indicate that you’ve applied the brakes by sensing that you are slowing down. The back of your head now holds all the same indicators as a common vehicle. Safe!
Be Safe
MIPS, a standard brain protection system in helmets, is available for a slight upcharge on the FARO. Beyond the safety rating, an innovative and convenient magnetic buckle system clasps the FARO helmet’s chinstrap closed, no more fussing with pinch-buttons. And, in the unlikely scenario you do take a spill, an app on your phone will notify the authorities that you’ve gone down.
For a reasonable $129, a FARO helmet could be en route to you as soon as May of 2021 if you get in on the early bird special now. For an extra $30, you can have the same helmet but with MIPS rating, which we highly recommend.
See you in the bike lane!
