I came across this site last night (www.bikehelmetlock.com) & it looks like a pretty neat product (a cable that you run through one of the vent holes on your helmet, which you can then lock to your regular bike lock. It's really just a piece of wire looped into a figure 8 with a big nut in the middle. I have no interest in locking my recently acquired helmet to my bike, but the 'lock' would be perfect for attaching my helmet to my backpack when I walk into work, freeing up a hand.

It looks like the product is no longer being manufactured. I think I could create the same thing at home, but I'm having trouble thinking of a suitable material for the cable. I think that something about the thickness/flexibility of an ipod charging cable would work fine, but I don't want to use one of my ipod cables to make it. To be honest, I'm not even sure where I'd buy a piece of coated cable or something else that would work, aside form using an old USB adapter or something. Mo other thought was using a climbing nut, which would probably work.

Any other ideas? Or does anyone know where to buy one of these?

Thanks,

Kryptonite and others sell short steel cables for locking helmets, seat posts, etc. They come in various lengths and thickness, are $5-10 or so, and are coated with loops on both ends.
Check a amazon.

I attach my helmet to my backpack using the chin strap... ?

Helmet theft is relatively rare. I've left mine hanging off the handlebars (unlocked) all day and it's not been stolen. I would think it might be subject to vandalism or just taking for the sake of taking it more likely than actual theft for use or for it's resale value.

Part of me thinks if someone wanted to steal my helmet for actual use more power to them. I have a few helmets I'd be willing to let one go if someone's that desperate for one.

I agree about the lack of helmet theft. I have no interest in using the lock for that purpose, just ot help transport the helmet to/from work.

I thought about using the chin strap. My only concern is that the helmet is a giro prolight & the strap system seems to be really lightweight, I wasn't sure if hanging the helmet by the strap would damage it in any way.

I'd be more concerned about premature aging due to being left in the sun all day than theft of the helmet. Well most concerned about it getting wet from some rain I didn't see in the forecast. I hate putting on a wet helmet.

Rather than reinventing the wheel so to speak, you could always either buy another backpack that has a helmet keeper built-in or just wear your helmet into work.

I actually have 2 other backpacks that have helmet holderss built in. I may resort to using those if I have to, but I really like the pack I am using now, except that it doesn't have any place to put the helmet. If worse comes to worse, I will just get a climbing nut & use that. Or just continue to carry it in my hand. It's not the end of the world, but this was such a simple solution. It's a shame that it's not still sold, but I do understand the limited niche of such a product.

Other possible solutions with various degrees of Fredness:

-Shove helmet in a plastic grocery bag. Use a D-ring to attach the handles to your backpack somehow.
-Use a cargo net of some type.
-Use one of those gym/string backpacks. Put your helmet in that, then wear it over your main pack.

I have a backpack with a helmet pouch. How Fredly is that? Oh yeah, it also holds my hydration bladder and has a loop for a blinky.... The only way it would be Fredlier is if Carradice made it out of cotton duck and leather...

Ditto.. chin strap connected to the right side strap, or right side of the messenger strap, hangs low out of the way.

I always use two u-locks and one kryponite cable. I run the cable through both wheels and my helmet to lock it. It is also nice because I don't have to deal with it when I am in the store.

I'm paranoid. While I've never had to depend on my helment, I trust my life to my helmet. I won't leave it out on the bike unattended. At work, my helmet sits at my desk with me. Leaving the helmet in the sun where UV can degrade the styrofoam should probably be avoided.

This is true. The UV will punish it. But honestly, motorcycle helmets are suggested to be replaced every 2 years due to UV wear. That is for people who ride daily. So as long as you follow the same guidelines, you should be ok.

As a former fisherman, I can tell you that most sporting goods stores sell various strength coated cables that fishermen use to make tooth-proof leaders. It's really easy to make something like this for a helmet. All you need are some needle-nose pliers, the coated cable, and a couple of "sleeves" (sleeves are basically metal tubes... should be in the same aisle as the coated cable). All you do is cut the cable to length, loop an end through and back the sleeve, and clamp down with the pliers.

Hope this helps!

If you're not interested in security, only backpack-attaching, you could wrap a piece of rope/clothesline/etc around a wooden dowel to achieve the same function. Why waste a $10 piece of climbing gear?

Thanks man, that's perfect!

That's a good call too. If the wire thing doens't work out, the cord/dowel would work. Plus, if I make it correctly, I could leave it permanently attached to my backpack & just rotate the dowel rod to get the helmet on & off. Great idea. Thanks.

Now that I'm thinking - if the the cord were a bungee it could hold the helmet snug and keep it from bouncing around, and the dowel could be a bit of plastic pipe or, even sexier, aluminum tubing.

I'm liking this. And there is a small lash point on the pack that's positioned perfectly for this. Genius idea about the bungee. If I do this correctly, it will look really nice & even less intrusive than the original helmet lock. Thanks for your ideas.

Hanging the helmet by its straps will definitely NOT damage the helmet in any way. If it did, what would that say about the usefulness of the helmet?

I just run my u-lock through the straps when I lock the bike to the rack. Someone would have to cut the straps to steal it but it would be useless as a helmet if they did so.