Inexpensive safety item that fits almost all full-face helmets
Shoei helmets were once available in a bright orange color.
I believe it was called “Safety Orange”. No one bought them, so that color was discontinued.
Too bad…
Think about it — a motorcycle rider’s helmet is normally the highest point on the bike, and one of the most visible.
I never thought much about that bright orange color until one day when I was sitting at a stop light on my bike.
Another rider came whizzing by on the crossroad on a black motorcycle with jeans and a black leather jacket.
He was wearing one of the Shoei orange helmets, and he stuck out like a sore thumb.
Which is precisely the point of that color.
I’m always trying to learn more and find lessons in my mistakes, and that lesson stuck with me forever. A brightly colored helmet can make a huge difference in visibility for the motorcyclist.
But what happens at night? Human perception of color becomes severely limited, and one of the only solutions is a highly reflective surface.
The Halo reflective helmet band was designed for exactly that purpose. It’s the “Safety Orange” of the night.
I’m often on the local Interstate at 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. in my car (don’t ask me why).
This is true even in the bright headlights of rush hour traffic (yep, it starts earlier than that around here).
So a wide Scotchlite band around the helmet makes sense.
It puts a big swath of reflective material right up there where everyone can see it.
You might be able to do the same with reflective stickers, but they’re semi-permanent and don’t always mesh with the helmet’s paint scheme. The Halo reflective band installs without adhesives and it’s easily removable.
The Halo band is made from a 40 mm wide (1-5/8″) strip of neoprene, just like the stuff that wetsuits are made from.
The outer surface is coated with 3M Scotchlite reflective material, which is excellent stuff and well known in the world of motorcycling.
The Halo band is gently stretched to fit around the base of the helmet.
It takes a bit of fussing to get it lined up perfectly with the lower edge of the helmet, but the combination of the stretchy material and the friction of the neoprene keeps it on the helmet through just about anything.
It’s much easier to remove than it is to install — it simply pops right off.
The only problem is that it may cover up some lower vents, like on the Scorpion EX-700 shown above.
But since most motorcycle helmet vents, especially the exhaust vents, are basically useless, this isn’t a functional problem, although some may object for stylistic reasons.
As you can see from the animated photo at the top of this page, the Halo helmet band lights up like the Fourth of July when blasted with light. It’s an inexpensive way to stay safe.
Owner Comments and Feedback
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From “H.S.” (December 2016): “I can echo the comments about this item not staying in place above 70.
However, I was recently cleaning out some gear and since I ride to work in the dark and home in the dark, I thought it was worth another try.
In the old days, we used to spray our new BMX handle bar grips with hairspray on the inside. This would lube up the grip so it could slide easily on but once the hair spray set, it wasn’t going to move or twist.
I placed the halo band where I wanted it. Rolled a small section up and sprayed the back side with hairspray and laid it back down.
Worked my way around the helmet and let it sit overnight.
I’ve worn it in two 30 minutes rains and up to 85 or so when it’s dry. The band hasn’t moved at all.
Recently got a new helmet. I just peeled the halo band off and installed the same way on the new helmet.
This band has great reflective qualities and this trick finally makes it stay put without any real cleanup issues should you decide to remove it.”
From “M.A.” (March 2013): “I used a Halo Helmet Band on my helmet for over ten years before it finally wore out.
Here in New Jersey it did not meet the state inspection requirement for reflective material on a helmet because it was too easily removable.
That was ridiculous because it worked much better than reflective tape.”
From “VRM” (02/11): “I used double-sided tape with the Halo band to prevent it from sliding off the helmet at higher speeds. Install the band as directed; then peel back the band and place double-sided tape between the band and the helmet every few inches.”
From “J.S.” (3/10): “I had one about 10 years back and was really impressed with how well it lit up.
Unfortunately, after a few months it seemed to lose it’s grip on the helmet (particularly on my screen-less GS) and kept slipping down onto my neck. It did this also whenever rain got to it.
I had it on my Shoei RF-700 with no venting conflict, but finally gave it up.
I can only speak for the way it was back then. If they’ve changed anything on it to make it more “wind/rainproof” then this is irrelevant.”
From “G.J.C.”: “I ride a little bike with underpowered electronics (Genuine Stella scooter). I’ve been using the Helmet Halo for a few months and have had two different motorists tell me at a stoplights that that little band really made me stand out.”
From “A.M.”: “I ride a sportbike & wear a Shoei RF-800 and tried the Halo reflective helmet band. The problem I had with it was at above 70 mph the wind would take it off the helmet and it would be flapping around my neck. I threw it away.
If you ride a sportbike above 70 I wouldn’t recommend this product at all.”
From “N.W.”: “I read with interest your recent reviews of the Halo helmet band and the EDZ neck warmer (review). I have been using the Halo for a while now, and thought the review was dead on, as most of them are.”