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Helmet Color

Old 06-25-13, 06:05 AM
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Helmet Color

I am looking for input on colors & heat retention. Dark colors seem to get hot in the sun and light colors seem to stay cooler. Has anyone notice a difference with a lighter colored helmet staying cooler or does the foam act as an insulation?


I have always had black helmets and I don't really know why. I am looking to get a warm weather helmet that vents better than my current one.
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Old 06-25-13, 06:57 AM
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I've done white and I've done black. I have not noticed a difference.

If you think about it, the foam in most helmets is practically black. The surface of the black helmet might get hotter than the white, but not much of that heat is making it through the foam, which is used in many places as insulation, to your head.
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Old 06-25-13, 07:01 AM
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If you look at the high end (longer) lenses from Canon, they are all an off-white color. This is supposedly due to heat concerns. Lighter color should make a difference, but not sure most people would even notice. It may be negligible differences.
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Old 06-25-13, 07:34 AM
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I guess if you already have a black helmet, then get a white one with accents that combine with your bike.


For fathers day my mom and wife got me a white previal helmet that combines with my frame, some nice glasses that combined with the helmet, gloves socks... I feel so cool!!

So i guess more than temperature buy something that you REALLY LIKE!
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Old 06-25-13, 08:48 AM
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thanks. I didn't think there would be a big difference.....
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Old 06-25-13, 09:02 AM
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Have had both black and white. Biggest difference for me is the ventilation. Black AEON feels cold in the summer it's so awesome.... Indicator in white: hot and sucky...
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Old 06-25-13, 09:09 AM
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Color ain't everything https://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/cold-black
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Old 06-25-13, 09:22 AM
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I really don't know for sure, but I have a certain black sweater that I love for winter golf as it soaks up the sun and I drive a white truck as I've found that really makes a difference in the Florida sun. So I'm inclined to believe a white helmet would be cooler and therefore that's what I wear. But I've never tried a dark one, so it's somewhat of a speculative choice.
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Old 06-25-13, 09:25 AM
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I remember reading a study that showed the large amount of foam in helmets negates the color. There's just so much foam any heat absorption by a dark color ends up not mattering.
This also is reflected in my personal experience.
So, go with what you like!
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Old 06-25-13, 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by jakegibs
If you look at the high end (longer) lenses from Canon, they are all an off-white color. This is supposedly due to heat concerns. Lighter color should make a difference, but not sure most people would even notice. It may be negligible differences.
Back when they used fluorite in their high end glass thermal expansion could cause the big glass element to crack. Later it became a marketing tool because the white lenses stood out in a group of pro photographers and help the brand look if not dominant a real contender in pro photography. Nikon then started offering high end lenses in optional white to dilute this. Kind of silly really. Except it's a lot easier on the hand to touch white colored metal in summer sun.


I've got two Giro helmets, one black and one white, live in South Georgia and can't tell any difference.

I like the look of a black helmet better.
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Old 06-25-13, 10:37 AM
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I like bright colors, so I can more easily be seen. I have a Giro Aeon in Highlight Yellow. It is better ventilated than anything I've ever had before, and I know that whatever else I wear, I will have at least one significant high-visibility item.
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Old 06-25-13, 01:39 PM
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Helmets for men only come in white.
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Old 06-25-13, 01:41 PM
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Originally Posted by jakegibs
If you look at the high end (longer) lenses from Canon, they are all an off-white color. This is supposedly due to heat concerns. Lighter color should make a difference, but not sure most people would even notice. It may be negligible differences.
With these, you have to touch the surface of the lens to do stuff, whereas with a helmet, you're not touching the surface.
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Old 06-25-13, 04:23 PM
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ventilation is key to having a cool head.
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Old 06-25-13, 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by topflightpro
I've done white and I've done black. I have not noticed a difference.
Same here. I got a white helmet hoping it would be more visible than black, but who knows.
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Old 06-25-13, 05:12 PM
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Helmets, like tires, shorts and handle bar tape, are black.
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Old 06-25-13, 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by DXchulo
Same here. I got a white helmet hoping it would be more visible than black, but who knows.
That's my reasoning as well. Certainly can't be less visible than black.
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Old 06-25-13, 07:06 PM
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Black helmet, matches almost any clothing, with reflective strips for visibility.
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Old 06-25-13, 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Bah Humbug
That's my reasoning as well. Certainly can't be less visible than black.
What about when it's snowing?
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Old 06-25-13, 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
What about when it's snowing?
Funny man.

1) Austin
2) Trainer, garage, door closed, no helmet
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