Unit 1 makes a handful of commuter- and urban-oriented helmets for adults and kids, and the Aura is the brand’s flagship model. All of Unit 1’s helmets include techy features, but the Aura goes all-in on integrated technology and safety features to create the ultimate “smart helmet” for the modern commuter. This includes adaptive lights, crash detection, and more, built into a feature-packed and reasonably stylish commuter helmet with a 5-star safety rating in Virginia Tech’s impact testing.
I’ve typically shied away from commuter- or urban-specific helmets in the past because they all tend to look pretty goofy, and I’ve got no shortage of quality road and mountain bike helmets to wear. But now that I live in a city and often use my electric bikes to get around town and run errands, I’ll take all the safety features and enhanced visibility I can get. So, when Unit 1 offered to send me its latest smart helmet, I gladly accepted. I’ve been testing the Aura for the past couple of months; here’s what you need to know.
- MSRP: $260
- Weight (size L): 578 g w/o brim, 605 g w/ brim
- Rotational Impact Protection System: Mips Evolve Core
- Visor: Magnetic, removable brim
- Number of vents: 10
- Available sizes: S, M, L
- Virginia Tech Helmet Safety Rating: 5-star
Pros
- Comfortable fit
- Packed with safety features – lights – crash detection
- 5-star Virginia Tech rating
- E-bike certified
- Decent ventilation
Cons
- Fairly expensive
- Heavier weight
- Somewhat bulky
Unit 1 Aura Details
The Aura is a half-shell-style helmet with a traditional in-mold construction with EPS foam molded into a polycarbonate outer shell. It has 10 fixed vents: 4 on the top, 1 on each side, and 4 in the rear. Inside, it features a Mips Evolve Core liner for rotational impact protection, along with polyester comfort padding. It comes with thin (7mm) and thick (12mm) sets of pads to customize the fit.
The Aura comes in 3 shell sizes: S (51-55 cm), M (55-59 cm), and L (59-62 cm). It has an adjustment cradle at the back of the head to dial in the fit within those size ranges. The straps feature an adjustable yoke to optimize their position by the ears, and a Fidlock buckle for easy one-handed operation.
The Aura also comes with an easily removable magnetic brim and is compatible with optional magnetic “visors” — large goggle-like lenses. These visors/lenses come in clear or tinted ($39.90) and adaptive/photochromic ($129.90). The brim and visor/lens can be used together or separately.
The Aura helmet comes in five colors: Blackbird, Stingray, Chalk, Orca, and Maverick. At present, the helmet comes with a handlebar remote that controls the lights, turn signals, etc. It is also sold in packages that include a “visor”, smart lights, or the Blaze Backpack. Unit 1 also sells accessories like a bug net and a winter liner.
Safety Certifications
Like any commercially available helmet, the Unit 1 Aura meets or exceeds the requirements to earn its CPSC (U.S.) and EN1078 (Europe and UK) certifications. The Aura also carries the Dutch NTA-8776 e-bike certification, meaning it has been tested to withstand impacts at higher rates of speed associated with electric bicycles.
The Unit 1 Aura was also tested by Virginia Tech’s independent helmet test lab, earning a coveted 5-star safety rating. In fact, it’s currently the #3 rated helmet in the urban category, and #26 overall of the 311 models tested. A good Virginia Tech rating is not more important than a helmet’s certifications, but these days, it is arguably a bigger deal to consumers.
Actual Weight
Unit 1 lists the Aura helmet’s weight at 440 grams in size medium. On my scale, the Unit 1 Aura weighed in at 605 grams in size large with the included magnetic visor, and 578 grams with the visor removed. That’s well above the brand’s claimed weight of the helmet, even when you consider it’s the larger size. That said, it makes sense when you consider there is an integrated battery, front and rear lights, a 3-axis accelerometer, ambient light sensor, power button, and charging port on the helmet.
How Smart is It?
For a helmet, the Unit 1 Aura is about as smart as they come. All of its smart features are designed to improve rider safety, primarily through enhanced visibility. To that end, the Aura is equipped with integrated LED light strips at the front and rear of the helmet that provide 360-degree visibility. While they are fairly obvious, they’re well integrated into the helmet’s design, so they don’t detract much from its aesthetics.
The front light is white, the rear is red, and both can put out up to 350 lumens. There are three light settings: standard, max visibility, and eco modes. The light modes and brightness levels are customizable through the Unit 1 app. Pairing the helmet with the included Bluetooth remote enables you to control turn signals from the handlebar. That’s right, turn signals on your head. Additionally, sensors in the remote enable the rear light to function as a brake light. The remote and helmet lights can also be paired with the Unit 1’s Smart Lights (sold separately or in packages with the helmet).
A 3-axis accelerometer is part of the Aura’s crash detection system. When set up and enabled through the app, it works like any other crash detection system. If it senses a significant enough impact, the app sends your emergency contact a crash alert message with your location. To avoid unnecessary alerts, the app gives you a countdown to cancel it before it is sent.
The Aura helmet is rated IPX5 for weather resistance, meaning it is protected against water jets from any direction. It also has a weather mode, where it switches the lights to an intense strobing setting when rain is detected for enhanced visibility. Additionally, it has a daylight mode that defaults the lights to a small dot in the rear to save battery when it’s bright outside.
The helmet’s smart functions are powered by an integrated 1350mAh battery that provides between 3 hours (solid mode at 100%) and 30 hours (beacon mode at 50%) of run time for the lights. The battery is charged via USB-C with a port on the back of the helmet below the rear light bar and power button.
Unit 1 Aura Review
Setup
Outside of adjustable straps or fit systems, I don’t think I’ve ever written about setting up a bike helmet before use. You can wear it straight out of the box and use it in its stock light settings, but with all of the tech integrated into this helmet, it’s worth taking a little time and dialing everything in.
I checked out the “Get Started” guide, which prompted me to pair the turn signal remote with the helmet before downloading and diving into the Unit 1 app. Once that was done, I scanned the QR code, downloaded the app, created an account, and connected it with my Aura helmet. Once connected, I checked out all of the different light mode settings, turn signal settings, daylight and rain sensors, and crash alert feature.
I found the app to be intuitive and easy to use, and I was actually a little surprised to see just how customizable all the light settings are. For each of the three modes, you can choose the light setting (solid, strobe, flash, beacon, etc.) and the brightness for the front and rear lights independently. So, you could have it solid in the front, flashing in the rear, vice versa, or any combination you choose. While choosing, the app shows a graphic demonstration of the light mode and estimates battery run time based on your choices.
Should you choose to use them, the turn signals and the brake light are also set up and customized through the app. You can choose between three blinker styles and their duration. A sensor in the remote triggers the brake light; there are two brake light styles and the sensitivity to braking is also adjustable. Of course, you also need to attach the remote to your handlebar.
Crash alert is one of the other main safety features of the Aura. In the app, you can enable/disable crash detection, add your emergency contact, and preview the crash alert message. You can also edit the countdown time, with 15-second, 1-minute, or 4-minute options to cancel the alert message. I tested this at home, and it worked as advertised, sending an alert message with my location to my wife, who was working in the other room.
That sounds like a lot, but it’s a well-designed app that I found easy to navigate, making it a fairly straightforward setup process. But let’s not forget the non-app-related setup. The magnetic brim sticks right onto the helmet in seconds and is easy to remove but also very secure. Unit 1 also sent me the photochromic/adaptive “visor” lens, which also sticks to the helmet with its five powerful little magnets.
Fit and Comfort
The Aura comes in three relatively standard shell sizes, so picking the right one is similar to any other cycling helmet. For me, that means my 59 cm measurement is right on the cusp of the medium and large sizes. I went with the large (59-62), and it fits me well even though I’m at the lowest end of its fit range. Based on the size of the large, I think I probably could’ve squeezed into the medium without issue, too. Unit 1’s size chart includes measurements for both oval and round head shapes.
The shell has a relatively deep fit on my head, and it provides a similar level of coverage to most of my half-shell mountain bike helmets. I’ve got plenty of extra space inside the shell, which is easily taken up by the fit adjustment system. The dial is easy to turn when tightening and loosening, and I’ve had no problem getting the Aura snug and secure on my head. The straps lay flat and don’t conflict with my ears, and the Fidlock buckle is convenient. That said, the chin strap seems excessively long — like really, really long.
At 605 grams, the Aura is definitely on the heavier side, especially when compared to lightweight road/gravel or mountain bike helmets. That weight definitely makes it a bit more noticeable on my head than my usual mountain bike helmets, which typically weigh around 400-450 grams. Still, the weight doesn’t bother me, and it doesn’t feel cumbersome on my head. That said, with the integrated battery and lights, the Aura is a touch bulky-looking, especially in the back.
On the Road
Once you have all your settings and your fit dialed, using the Aura helmet is simple. Just press the power button to turn it on, then choose between your three lighting modes. When you’re finished riding, press the power button to turn it off. Sure, you also need to remember to charge the helmet and the turn signal remote (both USB-C) occasionally, but that’s easy to remember in our increasingly tech-heavy world.
The integrated lights are quite bright, and they work very well to make you visible both day and night. The max output of 350 lumens is eye-catching, and that goes double for the flashing light modes that grab the attention of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, or anyone else in sight. The Aura’s lights make you hard to miss on their own, and even more so with the lights you probably have on your bike, too. While very bright, the front light doesn’t have a beam, per se, so it isn’t really adequate for seeing your way in the dark.
Otherwise, it’s a helmet, and I’ve found it to be comfortable and stable on my head. When adjusted properly, it doesn’t shift around, and the Mips liner hasn’t made any noise. I’m a fan of the magnetic brim for a little extra sun protection, and I think the helmet looks better with it on, too. I imagine the goggle-like visor/lens could be useful for cold morning commutes, but it is definitely not my style (see below). I’ve got plenty of great lifestyle and cycling sunglasses that I prefer to wear.
Ventilation
With its layout of ten fixed vents, the Unit 1 Aura provides a respectable level of ventilation, especially when compared to many other commuter-style helmets. Many commuter helmets have very few or very small vents — sometimes both — and the Aura’s ten vents offer a step up in airflow in comparison. To be clear, its ventilation is not competitive with the best road or MTB helmets, but I think it’s pretty good for what it is.
My Takeaway
The Unit 1 Aura is undoubtedly the “smartest” bike helmet I’ve ever worn. It’s packed with functional features like integrated, bright, customizable lights and turn signals to help you be seen on the road, whether you’re a dedicated bike commuter or recreational rider. The addition of crash detection and alerts adds another layer of safety, and the Unit 1 app makes it all easy to customize and use.
But lights on your head are one pirce of the safety puzzle, which is why it’s good to know the Aura is NTA-8776 e-bike certified and has a 5-star Virginia Tech rating. In theory, it’s currently one of the safest/most protective commuter/urban helmets on the market. Yes, it’s a little heavier and bulkier than some other options, but that’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make to be seen and well protected on the road.
At $260, it’s a little spendy, but that buys you the peace of mind of an e-bike-rated helmet with a great impact test rating, plus integrated lights and crash detection. With many top-tier mountain bike helmets exceeding that price these days, I’m actually surprised this tech-forward helmet doesn’t cost more. You can check out the Aura and Unit 1’s other smart helmets on the brand’s website.
