Some links may be affiliate links. We may be paid if you purchase something or take an action after clicking one of these options.
March 23, 2024
0 comments
share
When is a helmet not just a helmet? We don’t want to leave any mystery with a test report, but the Sena M1 EVO MTB helmet doesn’t just protect your head. Sure, it protects your head – it’s CPSC certified – but it has a safety taillight as well as a sound system that offers a variety of interesting features, including acting as an intercom with other drivers. In our Sena M1 EVO helmet review, we take a look inside this exciting helmet.
Let’s clear up the helmet basics: This MTB helmet has both US (CPSC 1203) and EU (EN 1078) certifications, so potential buyers can be confident that this helmet meets basic safety standards. It is available in two sizes and covers heads with a circumference of 55 to 63 cm. And despite the lights and electronics, it only weighs 340 g (12 oz), which is right in line with many other mountain bike helmets.
So what makes this helmet a mountain bike? The visor. Sena produces other models specifically for road use, such as the R1 EVO. The visor is helpful whenever a rider moves in and out of wooded areas. Suddenly driving in bright sunshine can make it difficult to see the way, and if you don’t have the sun in your eyes (thanks to a visor), your eyes won’t need as much time to adjust if you’re driving into a wooded area . The reason this helmet is not considered a road helmet is due to speed, not style. Above 20 miles per hour, the wind grabs the visor and pushes the helmet back and forth on your head, which is uncomfortable and reduces the helmet’s protective effectiveness in the event of a fall.
The controls of the Sena M1 EVO are positioned within easy reach behind the driver’s ear.
The taillight is positioned in a place that is clearly visible to the driver.
The occipital holding device ensures that the Sena M1 EVO sits securely and does not slip.
The speakers are positioned directly above the driver’s ears.
What’s special about this helmet is its mesh communication system. Mesh is a means of connecting devices that is similar to, but not the same as, Bluetooth. Unlike Bluetooth, Mesh allows multiple devices to be connected together without the need for a hub and can be connected over longer distances. Practically speaking, this means that a group of six friends could go on a ride and spread out over several hundred meters and maintain communication. Suppose a driver takes a wrong turn; As long as they are still within the Sena M1 EVO’s 900 m (2,953 feet – more than half a mile) range, riders can report to each other and then find their way back. Mesh is also practical because it offers a more stable connection; Bluetooth is a great technology, but it can be very finicky.
The system offers multiple communication channels, which is handy if you overhear a conversation that doesn’t belong to your group. The helmet has its own speakers and microphone and the sound quality is surprising, thanks in part to the placement of the microphone and speakers, but also thanks to the noise cancellation circuitry. This isn’t like trying to talk on your smartphone while driving.
Thanks to the Sena smartphone app, users can receive GPS directions, listen to fitness app alerts and listen to music. But don’t take our word for what a great design the Sena M1 EVO has; It won the Eurobike Award (Europe’s largest bicycle trade fair) and a Reddot Smart Product Design Award. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that you can get all of this for less than $200.
Sponsors
Reader interactions
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
