What Goes Into A Handcrafted Helmet Shell

Trying a helmet on in person, and wearing it for a few minutes rather than a few seconds, catches problems a size chart alone cannot. Padding also settles slightly with use, so a helmet that feels snug when new is usually the right call.

To browse current models when it is time to replace yours, see Hedon Helmets.

A helmet that is the right size should feel snug all the way round with no single pressure point, and it should not shift when you turn your head firmly from side to side. A helmet that moves independently of your head on a shake test is not the right fit, regardless of what the size label says.

A handcrafted helmet shell starts with a base material, commonly fibreglass or a composite blend, layered and shaped by hand rather than produced purely by mould and machine. Each layer adds strength, and the shaping stage is where a lot of the time in production actually goes.

The result takes longer to arrive than an off the shelf helmet, and that is by design. A made to order piece is fitted, finished and checked individually before it ships.

The liner deserves the same care. A removable, washable liner keeps the inside fresh, and following the maker's washing instructions protects both the padding and the stitching around it.