Claiming to be the first of its kind, retractable-lens helmet addresses changing light and fogging lenses
- By Emily Zinn
- Published Nov. 5, 2012
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Dux Helm's flagship product is a lightweight helmet with integrated, retractable lenses. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com -
This silver carbon print is available with the deluxe package, which includes three lenses. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com -
The lenses can be swapped out for ones with different tints. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com -
A tab runs along a slot up the center of the helmet to retract the lenses. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
As I wandered blurry-eyed through the Interbike basement, trying to process all the visual stimuli I encountered, I reached out and picked up a Dux Helm helmet.
Wiggling a tab that runs along a slot in the top revealed a wide lens that slid down into place, like an aero helmet with integrated lenses.
Intrigued, I put it on; my initial skepticism slowly faded. Gone would be the behind-the-ears soreness that comes from a long day of wearing a helmet over your glasses; your lenses would never fog; water would never drip off your helmet and down your sunglasses.
No more need, either, to slip glasses earpieces-first into helmet vents (they can fall back out).
Dux Helm, based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, claims that theirs is the first helmet of its kind with a retractable lens system.
The helmet-glasses combo is infinitely interchangeable, and the lenses can be removed and traded for another tint, or swapped between helmets.
Aesthetically it’s a good looking lid, well-vented and well-padded.
Claimed weight for the Dux Helm is 285g. The lightweight Giro Atmos helmet is a bit more expensive when you factor in the price of the lens, but still in the same price range, and has a claimed weight of 275g without a lens or a retracting system.
The basic helmet package runs you $179 for the helmet and one smoke-colored lens. Helmets in the basic package come in silver, with color patterns in your choice of any one of the primary colors.
The deluxe package will set you back $199 and gets you the helmet plus one each of clear, amber and smoke lenses. These helmets are available in white, black, or silver carbon or in the multi-colored swirl patterns Dux Helm calls “Tornado” and “Tornado 2.”
Amber, clear and smoke lenses each run $25 individually. Blue and purple reflective lenses are $30 each.
Online sales have just launched on the Dux Helm website.
FILED UNDER: Bikes and Tech / Quick Look TAGS: Dux Helm
Emily Zinn
Emily Zinn spent her infancy in the back of a women's team van while the team built wheels around her. She spent part of her pre-teen years in Europe following the major European mountain, road and gravity races and touring cycling product factories. College was the first time she lived in a home without a frame building shop in her garage or basement. Her favorite style of riding is getting lost in singletrack trail networks and taking her time finding her way back.