The Unit 1 Neon is a smart urban bike helmet with built-in lighting

The Unit 1 Neon series is a smart urban bike helmet with integrated lights, a crash alert system, and a super slick design. You can also add extra accessories like a visor and more.

Per stats from the National Safety Council, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were over 1,100 bicyclists killed in motor-vehicle related traffic crashes in 2023. Many of those injuries were preventable, and the number of preventable deaths increased in 2024. They were likely preventable not simply by wearing a helmet, but also by increasing safety awareness through various indicators, like lighting — which can make bikers more visible. A sturdy helmet, alone, is always good, but the Unit 1 Neon takes that idea and augments it with smart tech.

The base model is just the helmet, a tough frame, if you will. But spring for the Ride Pack, and it comes with smart lighting, a remote, and a clear or tinted helmet visor for face protection. The lights include a rear light, brake light, and built-in turn signals. That step up also introduces the Unit 1 Mips system liner and a magnetic buckle. NEON is fully certified for CPSC (the U.S. helmet safety standard) and EN 1078 (the European helmet safety standard), as well as NTA-8776 for e-bike use. Those certifications mean the helmet passes all minimum safety requirements. Most importantly, inside is an embedded crash alert system that sends automatic SOS alerts after an accident or crash. A built-in NFC safety tag, tied to the crash system, will share your current emergency location with first responders as necessary.

What else is there to know about the Unit 1 NEON smart urban bike helmet?

It’s tough and protective, and capable of withstanding crashes up to 45 kilometers-per-hour (about 28 miles-per-hour). Despite the added safety and protection, it’s both slick and lightweight, and thanks to the Mips system, it’s highly ventilated to keep you cool even during hot summer rides. You can also buy additional, optional accessories to improve or extend your experience. Meaning, you don’t have to get the premium packages right away, you can always tack on what you want later. The exception is if you get the base model upfront, because that’s just the helmet and nothing else.

It’s a full-featured smart helmet for smarter and safer riding regardless of what type of bike you use, and no matter what roads you’re traveling on. But those rear and signal lights will definitely help you stay visible to nearby vehicles. If you ride or commute during the evenings you’ll find them to be monumentally helpful.

The biggest downside I see here is that some of the more premium tiers are pricey. However, that modular option to upgrade with more accessories later can help you save some money on a big purchase. If you can find a discount or a sale, even better.