A Nutcase Helmet Review.

Product rating: 4.5/5 - 0.5 deducted for the lack of a tightening brace as available in the gen2 helmets.

I actually REALLY love this helmet.

I know its crazy and out there... but I find if you love something, not only do you look after it but you're also more inclined to, in the case of a helmet in particular, use it.

Front my helmet

Anyway - here is my new helmet. Purchased from cycleways in ferrymead Christchurch. I have been interested in getting one of these helmets for a while, ever since I saw them on letsgorideabike blog I just thought they were really pretty - I did not think I would get one as out there as this one. But there ya go.

Anyway, on arrival to cycleways I saw immediately that they had a wide range available! Excited! So, I pick out a colour I like and ask to try one on. I have a big head, so I have to get the large/extra large size.


The back (the emblem is reflective)

This limits my choice - I don't know
whether it's the australasia distributers fault but cycleways state they can't get any of the more girly ones in my size.

Now, the official Nutcase Australia website lists the red helmet I wanted does come in the larger size, same as the american size. Now that's irritating. I'm not sure if I should be cross at cycleways or the NZ provider.

The new "gen 2" of the nutcase helmets retail for $100 AUSD and $100 NZD. Which means we get a slightly better deal than the aussies. Very rarely is this the case.
After I tried on a helmet, I was given the available colour options - two union flag helmets, one yellow and one black with detailing. And my rainbow helmet. Well, no union flags for my head. Or the uber masculine helmets. So I was left with my rainbow friend here.

Rainbow is a "gen1" helmet - leftover stock. So I convinced the shop assistant to sell her for $70 NZD as opposed to the $100 it initially went for, which is also the current price for the gen2's. I was pretty happy about this to be honest. The difference between the gen1 and gen2 seems to be limited to the tightener on the back of the neck. I feel that although it makes the snug fit that bit better I was not willing to pay $30 extra and sacrifice my cool rainbow gem just to have one on my helmet.

The sliding clasp.

The gen1 helmet has a couple of cool features! The strap buckle is magnetic. Which I've tried to illustrate above. it is very secure, and once it has secured itself, which is extremely easy to do, it is just as simple to unlock. Due to the sliding catch (2nd picture) it is very secure. It should not unclip by accident. You slide it in the direction illustrated to unclip it. Nice.

 The padding inside the helmet is excellent. It allows for "customised fit" which is a fair discription. Very easy to change and adapt - the padding is secured by velcrow. It comes in 3 different thicknesses, of which I utilised 2. After a bit of fiddling around it's easy to find what is comfortable.

These helmets appear to be very similar to the Bell helmets but I haven't tried those. Which is why I can say appear. Bell do not really attract me, the way the nutcase brand has been bravely creative is refreshing, new and a lot more fun. Bell do appear to be cheaper but not as inspiring!

 Thought it might be worth note - the male human in my life is an avid road cyclist. He has tried my helmet on himself and finds it too wide at the sides. Due to his oblong head! I have posted previously on head shapes in helmets - might be worth a look!

EDIT - this helmet is pretty rain proof! The lack of holes in the design is quite fundamental with this style of helmet. However, this does mean ventilation for those 30 degree celcius days are down. Depending on where you live/how you bike you might view this as positive or negative. Those pads do make for very absorbant sweat sponges however!