The only Smart Helmets rated 5-stars for safety.
Learn More
Shop Helmets
Shop Smart Helmets
the test
Virginia Tech Safety Rating
Virginia Tech’s Helmet Lab conducts independent safety tests that evaluate how well helmets reduce concussion risk in real-world impact scenarios. To date, the lab has tested over 280 helmets for impact protection, and only two smart helmets have earned a perfect 5-star rating, AURA and NEON, both engineered by UNIT 1.
The lab’s impact tests replicate real-world crashes by dropping a helmeted headform onto an angled steel surface. Sensors inside record acceleration to measure impact forces and how effectively the helmet reduces them.
impact
Real-World Crash Simulation
Each helmet undergoes a series of controlled tests that replicate real-life accidents. These include both linear and rotational impacts to measure how the helmet absorbs direct hits and manages twisting motion.
Together, these tests determine how effectively each helmet limits force to the head.
coverage
Multiple Impact Zones
Helmets are struck across key areas including the front, side, rear, and crown to ensure consistent protection from every angle.
Each zone is tested at different speeds to replicate a wide range of impact conditions.
Multiple impact zones tested to ensure full-angle protection.
Precision sensors inside the headform capture acceleration and rotational data from each impact, allowing researchers to calculate a single safety score that defines helmet performance.
DATA
Sensor Analysis
Precision sensors record acceleration and rotational data from every hit. These readings are processed to calculate the score, a single number that defines safety performance.
A lower score offers better protection.
rating
5-Star Evaluation
Based on the score, Virginia Tech assigns helmets a 1–5 star rating:
Excellent concussion protection
Very good protection
Good protection
UNIT 1 is the only brand with two 5-star Smart Helmets in Virginia Tech’s rankings.
AURA (left) and NEON (right) are ranked #1 and #2 among Smart Helmets by Virginia Tech. They are the only two Smart Helmets to earn a perfect 5-star safety rating.
Virginia Tech
Helmets Ranking
This table compares every helmet ranked by Virginia Tech. In the smart helmet category, UNIT 1 comes out on top.
See the Ranking
rank
name
category
star rate
#22
UNIT 1 AURA
Hybrid
#33
UNIT 1 NEON
Urban
#81
Abus Pedelec
Urban
#147
Thousand Chapter
Urban
#232
Lumos Ultra
Urban
#280
Thousand Heritage
Urban
Pick Your 5-Star Choice.
Slide 1 of 2
Free Shipping
30-day easy returns
