Would I wear the Heritage and Chapter helmets daily? Nope, because they don’t meet the requirements I have on my mountain or road bike rides. Would I wear them for commuting around the town? Probably yes. Debra is our do-it-all gal. She helps manage social media, sorts thru your questions and comments, and occasionally jumps in to test and review gear as well. explorethousand.com The adjustment dial is nondescript. Basic but easy to use. Above the dial is the helmet’s spot for a Thousand taillight that clips on via magnets. (Image: Alvin Holbrook/CyclingTips) I decided to test and review their products due to Thousand’s unique approach towards helmets. At the moment, there are two series that you can choose from.

The components are decent and Thousand helmets look nice from every angle which is a very important factor when choosing a helmet that you’ll be wearing every day around the city. The folks at Thousand have listened and the Heritage 2.0 features larger vents and more of them. The ventilation channels within the helmet are deeper and longer as well. C’mon, this definitely looks more equestrian helmet than a vintage moto helmet. (Image: Alvin Holbrook/CyclingTips) Thousand has also added a neat 50 lumens magnetic rear light attachment, which charges independently. We found this gave us 1-2 hours of additional visibility. Riding a bike without a helmet requires a balance between fun and danger. Thousand wants to change this balance by offering helmets with greater functionality.

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This might be a bit of a misnomer, but I think the Thousand Heritage is a helmet for everyone else, but not necessarily for everyone. Many cyclists will be better served by a more traditional-looking helmet, as they will be lighter and better ventilated. However, if you dislike how other helmets look or feel, the Heritage is about as polished as any other helmet I’ve used. This helmet has earned a 5-star safety rating from the influential Virginia Tech, which researches helmets with a view to reducing concussions. Like any product though, improvements can be made. One of the biggest improvements that Thousand wanted to make to the helmet was making it fit more riders in an effort to be more inclusive to all. That meant introducing what they’re calling a “unique hybrid head form that is designed with both the Asian (round) and European (oval) head shapes.” Thousand points out that most helmet companies fit the latter headform, so the new Thousand headform should comfortably fit more riders globally.

There are a lot of race-focused helmets out there, but the helmets from Thousand take a much different approach. Designed to be stylish yet functional, the original Thousand Heritage helmet stood out from a sea of aggressively styled helmets. Compared to ratcheting cages, or bulky pads, we much prefer helmets that offer a rear fit dial. The Thousand Heritage 2.0 has one, and it’s easy to tighten (or loosen) to ensure a perfect fit. Info On Sizing And Fit We felt reassured by the tail at the base of the skull, and the helmet offers a secure fit with little-to-no sliding. If you're right on the cusp of a medium/large helmet, for instance, wear the helmet at its tightest setting. The Heritage helmet is available in three sizes and a broad array of colors. I received the Thousand Heritage helmet in size small and the ‘Speedway Creme’ colorway. Thousand doesn’t have a quoted weight, but my personal helmet weighed in at 440 grams. You may also find our guides to the best electric bikes, the best folding bikes and the best mountain bikes useful.

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The Heritage helmet has a retro vibe to it, like a 50s or 60s motorcycle helmet you'd expect to see paired with a shiny new Vespa scooter. It has a smooth, rounded shape, with a small lip for the visor and vents at the rear and on top. Unlike the large holes you get in many modern cycle helmets, the vents are barely noticeable at first glance. You can also feel good about purchasing a Thousand helmet, with the company offsetting 110% of its carbon emissions for every helmet sold. If you’re between sizes, we’d advise getting the smaller option as they run kinda big. Should you suffer an accident, POC wants to ensure rescue services can reach you in a timely fashion. There’s an NFC chip which provides access to your medical ID from the twICEme app – important if you’re not conscious. Setting up is a bit of a faff, but so worth it. Pros: Hi-vis coating; versatile for road or commute; most comfy helmet we tested; great look Cons: Would like more coverage at base of skull; can get warm Smith’s includes its flagship, patented Koroyd material in the construction, which promises consistent energy absorption in the event of an accident: "Upon impact, the cores crush in a completely controlled manner, decelerating the energy from the impact and reducing the final trauma levels."The story behind Thousand’s helmets is actually more complicated than you would expect at first. We all have those friends who don’t wear helmets because they think they look silly. Gloria’s friend was one of those people. Thousand definitely has their own niche and they handle it nicely. There’s a strong story behind it, which is also what makes it work. The fit was perfect; to size, incredibly secure and didn’t budge during our tests on uneven terrain. There’s a pair of adjustable straps below the ears at the chin which aid with this, while the Roc Loc system enables easy adjustment of tension and height of the helmet. Overall, a real bargain that raises the bar for affordable off-road helmets. I wish I could consider myself an aesthete or someone who cares deeply about the presentation of themselves and their belongings. Thousand’s ideology — minimalistic, functional style with important features should get more people to wear helmets.

In our original review, we listed the limited ventilation as our main con. Considering you’re probably wearing this helmet because you’re fashion-minded, having sweaty hair when you get to your destination is less than ideal.Thousand says that compared to their original Heritage helmet, the Heritage 2.0 fits folks with a rounder head for a more inclusive fit overall. Helmet padding has also been updated to accentuate the helmet’s new ventilation channels. One thing they should improve is the sizing so children can wear these helmets too – I think that all kids should wear helmets! Please Thousand, do it!