There are premium helmets, there are sub-premium helmets, there are cheap helmets, and then there is this. The 1Storm Motorcycle Street Bike BMX MX is affordable to almost anyone. It’s a common consensus that helmets which are cheap have abhorrent build quality.
But this thing seems to be the exception to that. The helmet is DOT certified, which is a huge surprise for a lid this cheap.
What Would You Love?
The helmet is made for a range of people in the ‘younger’ demographic. The finish is bright and shiny, and there are a total of 11 different color combinations available including glossy and matte black. The lacquer is protective and prevents the paint from fading away.
The looks have been kept simple. The front has a simple shape, with a large chin vent at the middle in the form of an inverted triangle. A single crease extends from the front to the back, starting from the wing inlet like a Nike arrow and giving an angled look from the side.
The inlets and exhausts at the top stick out and have sapphire beetle outlines, which is appealing to the younger audience.
The entire lower shell outline is festooned with a black rubber gasket to break up the monotony in the glossy finish.
We have worked closely with RevZilla, Amazon and 2Wheel over the years to provide our testers with products to review. They are all great partners and unique in their own ways, so make sure to check out their prices. Please don’t forget we may get a commission if you buy from them.
The Top Features to Look Out For
It’s a simple and cheap helmet, so let’s see if it has any special features.
Shell
The shell has been made of a thermoplastic alloy, which 1Storm claims to be ‘Aerodynamic’. Truth be told, it is the shape of the helmet that is supposed to be aerodynamic, but still. This material is actually a polymer chain which has enhanced elastic properties and is resistant to high temperatures. This makes it suitable for injection molding, which is what is used to create the shell.
The resulting alloy is quite hardened, durable and capable of withstanding moderate to high velocity impacts while still maintaining integrity. Surprising to find this level of safety at entry level pricing. One up for 1Storm!
Weighing in at 4 pounds, for the large size it is not exactly a light helmet, which makes it unsuitable for wearing for extended durations. It might make your kid stand out from his peers at a ride meet or make a conversation piece at parties.
Visors
The face shield is huge and wide, assuring a large field of view. It has outdents at the bottom on both sides to lift it up or close it down very easily, even wearing a glove.
Most color variations of the helmet come with their own colored visors, but there is a clear face shield too. Any of the colors can be ordered separately.
The helmet is not equipped with an internal sun visor.
We have worked closely with RevZilla, Amazon and 2Wheel over the years to provide our testers with products to review. They are all great partners and unique in their own ways, so make sure to check out their prices. Please don’t forget we may get a commission if you buy from them.
Ventilation
Ventilation on this helmet is quite simple, considering the price. There is a chin vent at the front, supported by two wing inlets that make one part of the Nike arrow ‘shape’. Two chimney vents let the air in at the top. The air circulates inside and is let out by two stylish exhausts at back.
The passive rear exhausts work on a principle called Venturi effect. When travelling at moderate speeds, the helmet causes massive turbulence at its back. You’ll know this when you see enhanced visuals of wind tunnel testing of some objects like cars and such. This turbulence causes a vacuum effect at the back which is strong enough to suck out the warm and moist air from the helmet out. Simple and effective.
However, this helmet does not have air channels in the EPS or any other form of routing, so it is difficult to gauge how effective the cooling is. Still, there have not been any complaints about the ventilation yet, so it should be good.
We have worked closely with RevZilla, Amazon and 2Wheel over the years to provide our testers with products to review. They are all great partners and unique in their own ways, so make sure to check out their prices. Please don’t forget we may get a commission if you buy from them.
Padding and Lining
The cheek pads and comfort liner can be removed easily and replacements are available if the helmet size and padding thickness do not fit you properly. But the quality is standard; it is neither good, nor bad. The fabric is okay and the cushion effect is good enough to make it popular with the kids.
The pads and liner is washable, but it is advised to do so in cold water and air dried afterwards instead of wringing.
Customer Reviews
Many customers are thrilled because of the price point. Most of them bought this helmet for their kids, but a few grown ups use this one too. A few of them had a good laugh at some typos on the packaging, so there’s a plus point too. Some people complained about the build quality, non-optimized use of space and lackluster padding. But the overall sentiment was best value for money.
Bottom Line
This is actually a good entry level helmet for kids and teenagers looking to venture into the world of riding bikes and scooters or scooterettes. It will make your kids look cool in town and protect them at the same time, since it is a full face helmet. It is solid, DOT approved, has nice color schemes and choices in tinted visors with acceptable build quality.
It’s not a high end helmet, and definitely not a premium one at that, so trying to expect the best will eat your mind. You’d better be off accepting ‘you get what you pay for’.