LifeBeam
Smart Helmet ($229 MSRP)

If your goal is to improve performance and/or fitness through cycling, a heart rate monitor is one of your most important training tools.

Granted, wearing a strap around your chest isn’t that big of a hassle. But to some, a chest strap monitor can be uncomfortable. Besides, it’s yet another piece of gear you need to keep track of.

The LifeBeam Smart Helmet seeks to solve the problem by placing the heart rate monitor in that piece of equipment you’re already wearing on your noggin.

By cleverly incorporating electronics into a high-quality, road-proven Lazer Genesis helmet, LifeBeam senses your heart rate and estimates calorie consumption. It accomplishes this using an optical heart-rate sensor and 3-axis accelerometer positioned on your forehead. According to the company, it’s the same technology they developed for use in products worn by military pilots and astronauts. More recently, LifeBeam crossed over into fitness arena with this bike helmet, as well as caps and visors aimed at runners.

The electronics add a scant 40g to the helmet, bringing the total weight to 280g for the medium and 300g for the large. The monitor is both Bluetooth 4.0 and ANT+ compatible, so it will work with all major GPS bike computers, fitness apps and mobile devices. It charges its 170mAh lithium polymer battery via a convenient micro USB cable (included), giving it up to 15 hours of run time. Also included is a sweet, sweet, hard-shell carrying case that you’ll really appreciate when traveling (especially by airplane).

The only notable pitfall is that the sensor must be in direct contact with your skin. This prevents you from wearing a cold weather cap under your helmet (though LifeBeam suggests you can wear a beanie/skull cap and pull it back a bit). But since the electronics are rated down to 23 degrees, in those temperatures you’re either pedaling indoors on a trainer, or wearing lots of winter cycling gear (at which point a strap on your chest is not a bother).

Pairing and operating is a simple affair, via a single button located in easy reach at the rear of the helmet. An audible “beep” and status light let you know basic information, like power up, shut down and battery level.

Since this is a new product, it’s currently only available in a Lazer Genesis helmet, in sizes medium or large and only in the color white. As mentioned before, the Genesis is a solid, comfortable, high-end helmet. Plus, the helmet itself offers a very wide range of fine-tune adjustment so it will comfortably fit a wide range of heads. And regarding the color, white goes with most everything and helps keep you visible to motorists. So, no complaints.

And besides, if LifeBeam’s aerospace-based technology…umm…”takes off,” we’ll likely see a larger selection of colors, sizes and Lazer helmet options in the future.

Purchase Information:

http://life-beam.com/shop/smart-helmet/#

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