[Lead_Teeth]

Greetings all.

I was recently shopping for a helmet and a salesperson told me that a black helmet would become ridiculously hot and uncomfortable in this LA sun. It made sense at first, but now that I'm thinking more about it, I'm wondering if it's not necessarily true...

I mean, a black car certainly gets hotter than other cars when it is sitting under the sun in a parking lot, but when is my helmet ever going to be still for more than a minute? It seems that the wind moving over the surface of the helmet would keep it as cool as other helmets. I dunno, maybe I'm wrong...

So, my question is- do those of you who own or have owned black helmets feel that they make your head hotter when you are riding in the heat? What are your opinions in general about wearing black in the heat?

My new (2001) monster 750 dark is hungry for an equally dark helmet!

Great board.

 

[azmonster]

I live in Phoenix. I wear a black helmet. Nuff said?
dion

 

[elpato]

buy one, look good, and suck it up if it gets hot. Whada you really use your brain for anyway????

 

[Duc_N_Har]

I have a black one , and a white one ( with graffics) I see no difference. Get the dark one!!!

 

[AllyCat]

I have a black one, and it is fine.

 

[Fillmore]

A helmet is just a head koozie... any heat that's absorbed by the outside color will be minimal compared to the heat that it's retaining that would normally be radiated from your uncovered head.

If you're worried about heat, good venting is far more important than color.

---Fillmore

 

[ibthegator]

I remember a few years back I think it was motorcycle consumer news did a test with that in mind. They had a black, white, red, etc.... helmets and left them in the sun for a while and the black one was slighter hotter inside but from what I remember it was nothing significant.

 

[scrappy]

mY bLak hemET NEverr dONe dId gIVe me AnYY proBBLems; Eye donut KNoW whrere YUr coNCERnS lyE ??? 8) ;D

Scooby ;D

 

[ScottRNelson]

The only disadvantage of a black helmet, as far as I'm concerned, is that you're not quite as visible to other traffic. I think yellow is most visible, and my red helmet also stands out better than black would.

Absorption of heat should be the least of your concerns.

 

[jiro]

If you sweat a lot, consider a helmet with removable, washable lining. The LA heat is not as bad as it used to be a month ago.

 

[Lead_Teeth]

Thanks for the replies. I know black isn't the best choice for visibility, but I'm willing to assume that additional risk. Black it is.

 

[Marc620ieDarkness]

I have a black helmet and so does my wife. Black helmets do not heat your brain for as long you are riding and I guess that none of us will wear a helmet for a walk.

You could say the same thing for gloves, boots or leather suits. No black...too hot.... that's just partly true.

The only positive aspect with a colored outfit is that you will be noticed faster and it could save you from irresponsible car drivers! You will be seen at first sight....

Cheers

 

[Speeddog]

It's not a helmet, but.......

I've got a Bates leather jacket, gray on the arms and across the shoulders, and black on the torso. Late in the day, with the sun directly on my back, I can feel that the black leather is hotter than the gray.

I agree with other folks here, the ventilation is going to be a far greater effect than the color.

 

[test-reg]

the styrofoam inside your black helmet is keeping your brain from baking in the summer sun. it relly slows down the heat transfer.

 

[Guest]

I have black helmet, do not notice it getting hot at all. My jacket, AlpineStars, CODURA or somthing, is black and blue. I can fell the black getting hot when sitting but once moving it is all good

 

[AlexB]

I'll agree with Howie. I have a black helmet too and it is doesn't get hot from the sun. The foam inside is a great insulator against heat coming off the shell.

High ambient temp and poor airflow will cause waaaay more discomfort...

 

[Guest]

The top of my head was cooler when I switched from a dark blue helmet to a red one. So I agree with the "black helmets get hot" statement. Fry your brain, I don't know. Hotter than other colors, in my experience, yes.

 

[Guest]

I ahve an ARAI quantum in dark, it goes perfectly with my darkduc. No hotter than my white helmet!

Kevin

 

[Skier]

smumer hree was vrey hot,
I hvae baclk hlmeet.

I dinrk aslo a lot of vnio rsoso. And eat ceehse.