Are Foldable Helmets Worth It? Here's What Our Riders Think

When we first launched Newlane, people kept asking two questions: "Is it actually safe?" and "Is it worth the money?"

Fair enough. A helmet that folds in half does sound a bit strange at first.

But now, with over 3,000 riders using our helmets every day, we have something better than just our word, we have real feedback from actual cyclists who've made the switch.

We spent a week reading through customer reviews, emails, and comments to find out what people honestly think. Here's what we found.

Convenience: "I love how portable it is"

The biggest thing people talked about wasn't just the folding design, it was how much easier it made carrying (and actually wearing) a helmet.

Ben Freedman put it perfectly:

“I have now had my Newlane Helmet for over a month and used it consistently for journeys around London. It is comfortable to wear, easy to flip and store in my bag and a constant source of envy from people who see it!”

Peter Totman agreed:

“Brilliant design and I can now fit my helmet into my rucksack! Changes everything and frees up more riding opportunities.”

The pattern is clear, the best helmet isn't the fanciest or lightest. It's the one you'll actually wear. And for many city cyclists, being able to easily carry a helmet makes all the difference.

Safety: "I was initially worried"

No surprise, safety was the biggest worry for most customers at first.

“I was initially worried that movement would cause the helmet to feel less safe and secure - how wrong I was! The mechanism is incredibly sturdy, and the helmet offers all the protection of a non-folding helmet (if not even more!). Comfortable to wear, good design and build quality, worth every penny! I would highly recommend to anyone who cycles and does not want to lug a helmet around.”

Other riders mentioned testing the locking mechanism, trying to fold the helmet while wearing it (you can't), and liking that it covers the same areas as regular helmets.

Another anonymous reviewer shared: “I was excited to get hold of this helmet… It is quite sturdy, feels nicely put together structurally, the plastics are of really good quality. The magnetic chin strap is also a nice little feature - super easy to undo and take your helmet off quickly.”

Most customers say their safety concerns go away once they actually use the helmet. The certification helps, but feeling how secure it is convinces most riders.

Style: "Better than carrying a bulky helmet"

While performance was key, many riders also commented on how the helmet looked.

Natasha Jackson said:

“This helmet is perfect for the novice cycling commuter like me! Its folding functionality and the weight/aesthetics of the helmet are perfect and I highly recommend the product.”

Ben wrote:

“Stylish and versatile, fits neatly into my bag and has already become a daily essential for me.”

Interestingly, the folding feature itself has become a style point. Many customers mentioned enjoying showing friends how it works. It starts conversations.

As Chris put it: "People always want to see how it works. I've convinced at least three friends to get one after showing them mine folding and unfolding."

The Downsides: Yes, there are some

Not all feedback has been perfect, and it's worth sharing the common complaints.

The most frequent negative comment is about price. At £89.99, our helmet costs more than basic models, and some riders mentioned this as an issue.

“Yes, it's a bit pricey but you’re getting quality and peace of mind. 10/10 would recommend.”” said Dean W. “I used to hate carrying a helmet around after I got off my bike, but now it folds down into my bag and is a real talking point when I flip the lid to store it! Absolutely fantastic helmet” 

Others mentioned there’s a lack of size options. Angela M said: “Unfortunately only one size and it’s too small for me - but I’ll be back when you release bigger sizes!”

And don’t worry we've heard you, and we're excited to announce that a larger size will be available very soon, stay tuned."

The Verdict: Who should consider a folding helmet?

Based on hundreds of reviews, the riders who benefit most from our folding helmet are:

• Commuters who don't want to carry a full-size helmet all day
• Bike share users who want protection without planning ahead
• Cyclists who use bikes and public transport together
• Anyone who's been inconsistent about wearing a helmet
• And, of course, people who enjoy watching their friends say 'Wait, your helmet does WHAT?'

Beyond the hype

Folding helmets have moved beyond being just a cool idea to being a practical solution for thousands of city cyclists. The feedback clearly shows that for many people, the convenience directly leads to wearing helmets more often.

As we've spent years developing this product, what makes us proudest isn't the engineering or the sales, it's hearing that we've helped people protect themselves on rides where they previously wouldn't have worn a helmet.

Maybe the real measure of whether a folding helmet is "worth it" isn't just about the product itself, but about whether it changes behaviour for the better. From what our community says, the answer seems clear.