Bike Helmet Construction

It is important to understand the way a helmet is built in order to understand the often very different prices, styles, safety certifications and materials used. Bike helmets are made up of three main parts: a Shell, a Liner, and Straps.

Shell

The shell is your bike helmet’s outer layer—the part that people can see when you’re riding. It’s typically made from an impact-resistant plastic or composite and is designed to spread the force of an impact over a broader area, protecting your head in a crash.

Liner

The liner is located directly beneath the outer shell and does most of the work during a crash and is typically made from crushable or impact absorbing foam. During a crash, the liner absorbs the impact energy causing less of it to be transmitted to your noggin.

Straps

Made from nylon or polypropylene, straps keep your helmet attached to your head. Are your bike helmet straps fraying? It might be time to invest in a new helmet since your helmet can’t effectively protect you in a crash without a fully functioning closure system.

Construction Types

There are two main construction types for bike helmets, in-mold and hard shell.

In-Mold Bike Helmets

To create an in-mold helmet, steam and pressure are applied to fuse the helmet’s outer shell with its foam liner in the mold. This creates a strong yet lightweight helmet. In-mold helmets tend to feature a thinner outer shell, meaning that the foam liner is more likely to deform when exposed to less force. This is actually a good thing! When the foam deforms on impact, it is absorbing the energy from the crash—and protecting your head.

Hard Shell Bike Helmets

Highly durable and resistant to penetration, hard shell helmets feature a tough outer shell with foam adhered to the inside. Hard shell designs are frequently featured on mountain bike, hybrid, and skate helmet designs. Due to their thick outer layer, hard shell helmets are less likely to deform in a crash. That impenetrability is good– to a point. Though it may run counter to intuition, you actually want your helmet to deform a little so that it absorbs the impact during a wipeout.

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Bike Helmet Construction