I own an 8-year-old helmet with some insect protection inlay. It’s basically just a net on the front holes to prevent trapping wasps or similar troublemakers. A friend of mine, who doesn’t have such an inlay, actually got stung/bitten, so that’s a real concern. I wonder why gravel helmets (considering the high speeds in forest regions) don’t feature this more frequently. I just saw an ad for the new Specialized “Search” helmet—nothing. The Fjällraven/Specialized helmet didn’t have it either. Isn’t this a thing anymore? Do you have any recommendations for a helmet with this feature set?
Yeah I look for that in a helmet. Closest I find is wavecel which is like mips. Should work similarly. Have had a bee sting through helmet in the past.
e-boye on
have a net on my helmet. Didn’t actually know it was for insects
Fmarulezkd on
Cause cyclists care about saving those precious 3 grams.
Casco has several helmets with a net btw.
Repulsive-Toe-8826 on
Never actually saw a helmet with a net in 20 years of cycling. I get the point, but it always was and will always be a specific feature on 0,01% of helmet models. It’s not like we’re regressing.
KonkreterBeton on
I HATE helmets with nets. I also need the holes to be big enough so i can reach and scratch every part of my head. Maybe I’m not the only one 🤷
budda919 on
A lot of naysayers on the thread, but I agree with that netting is a big benefit. I’m not worried about getting stung, but I get insects stuck in there all the time and have to remove my helmet mid-ride to let them out. Perhaps others with hair don’t realize they are in there, but I’m basically bald so I can feel them buzzing around.
I haven’t had insect netting on a helmet for 10 years or more but if given the option I’d spring for it.
6GoesInto8 on
I Was worried about this when I got a giro Aries which has extra vents that make channels that have an entrance and an exit. It is a problem but also a solution because I have had several bugs fly into a vent, but they have all shot out the back without getting caught. I still stop and check to make sure but every time the bug is gone.
Had a few swampy forest rides recently (120 km and 50 km). Both places were absolutely infested with all kinds of insects big and small. While not having a net both times I had zero bites on my head, while my hands and feet were swolen as hell.
There might be some borderline 0,01% case where net can help, but in general it is useless IMO. And would make helmet more expensive. I also presume that a net might limit the airflow, which is even more important.
Sea-Adeptness-2427 on
As others said: Lower air flow, inability to store glasses, …
You could get a piece of any net material (they sell these for windows) and glue it in yourself.
Complete-Raccoon3442 on
Mine doesn’t have one either, I wear a cycling cap with my helmet. The day’s that I don’t I get bit by black flies.
WastelandViking on
So instects does not bug you 😛
illiller on
I mean, the answer is kinda obvious… because people preferred to buy the helmets without nets, so that’s what helmet companies started selling. A better question is probably: Why did people stop buying the helmets with the nets. Probably a multitude of reasons, but to name a few possibilities…
– People didn’t see a purpose to having nets (either didn’t know what they were for or didn’t think they were necessary)
– They didn’t like the look of the nets
– They wanted to look more like the pros, and the pros don’t use helmets with nets / the nets come on less “pro” looking helmets
– People believed that the nets restricted airflow leading to a hotter helmet
– They believed the nets reduced the aerodynamics of the helmet
– The nets increased the costs of the helmets to some degree (probably unlikely in reality)
– Someone told them not to buy the helmet with the nets because (insert whatever reason)
w1n5t0nM1k3y on
Whether or not this is something you need really depends on where you live. I can’t say that I have ever had a need for something like this. It’s easy enough to add to your helmet if it’s something that makes s difference to you.
16 Comments
I own an 8-year-old helmet with some insect protection inlay. It’s basically just a net on the front holes to prevent trapping wasps or similar troublemakers. A friend of mine, who doesn’t have such an inlay, actually got stung/bitten, so that’s a real concern. I wonder why gravel helmets (considering the high speeds in forest regions) don’t feature this more frequently. I just saw an ad for the new Specialized “Search” helmet—nothing. The Fjällraven/Specialized helmet didn’t have it either. Isn’t this a thing anymore? Do you have any recommendations for a helmet with this feature set?
Edit: [Another pic for clarification.](https://i.imgur.com/tzdv80P.jpeg)
I can’t tell if this is a joke or not.
Yeah I look for that in a helmet. Closest I find is wavecel which is like mips. Should work similarly. Have had a bee sting through helmet in the past.
have a net on my helmet. Didn’t actually know it was for insects
Cause cyclists care about saving those precious 3 grams.
Casco has several helmets with a net btw.
Never actually saw a helmet with a net in 20 years of cycling. I get the point, but it always was and will always be a specific feature on 0,01% of helmet models. It’s not like we’re regressing.
I HATE helmets with nets. I also need the holes to be big enough so i can reach and scratch every part of my head. Maybe I’m not the only one 🤷
A lot of naysayers on the thread, but I agree with that netting is a big benefit. I’m not worried about getting stung, but I get insects stuck in there all the time and have to remove my helmet mid-ride to let them out. Perhaps others with hair don’t realize they are in there, but I’m basically bald so I can feel them buzzing around.
I haven’t had insect netting on a helmet for 10 years or more but if given the option I’d spring for it.
I Was worried about this when I got a giro Aries which has extra vents that make channels that have an entrance and an exit. It is a problem but also a solution because I have had several bugs fly into a vent, but they have all shot out the back without getting caught. I still stop and check to make sure but every time the bug is gone.
Almost certainly because of the trade-off of ventilation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4883381/
Had a few swampy forest rides recently (120 km and 50 km). Both places were absolutely infested with all kinds of insects big and small. While not having a net both times I had zero bites on my head, while my hands and feet were swolen as hell.
There might be some borderline 0,01% case where net can help, but in general it is useless IMO. And would make helmet more expensive. I also presume that a net might limit the airflow, which is even more important.
As others said: Lower air flow, inability to store glasses, …
You could get a piece of any net material (they sell these for windows) and glue it in yourself.
Mine doesn’t have one either, I wear a cycling cap with my helmet. The day’s that I don’t I get bit by black flies.
So instects does not bug you 😛
I mean, the answer is kinda obvious… because people preferred to buy the helmets without nets, so that’s what helmet companies started selling. A better question is probably: Why did people stop buying the helmets with the nets. Probably a multitude of reasons, but to name a few possibilities…
– People didn’t see a purpose to having nets (either didn’t know what they were for or didn’t think they were necessary)
– They didn’t like the look of the nets
– They wanted to look more like the pros, and the pros don’t use helmets with nets / the nets come on less “pro” looking helmets
– People believed that the nets restricted airflow leading to a hotter helmet
– They believed the nets reduced the aerodynamics of the helmet
– The nets increased the costs of the helmets to some degree (probably unlikely in reality)
– Someone told them not to buy the helmet with the nets because (insert whatever reason)
Whether or not this is something you need really depends on where you live. I can’t say that I have ever had a need for something like this. It’s easy enough to add to your helmet if it’s something that makes s difference to you.