Bern Hudson MIPS helmet review

American company Bern has a strong reputation for designing good-quality helmets for snow and water sports, skateboarding and BMX. The Hudson, however, is aimed at commuters and in this, its latest guise, it’s been beefed-up as one of the few helmets around deemed safe for ebikes.

That means the Hudson has been tested for speeds up to 43kph/27mph. Depending on which state you are in, the American limit on ebikes can be much higher than in Europe: 30kph/18mph compared to our 25kph/15.5mph.

In testing, the Hudson had 10 per cent more impact put on it than a standard helmet with a 21 per cent increase in velocity, so it must be capable of absorbing 43 per cent more energy than a standard road bike helmet.

For additional safety, Bern has included MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System). This is a patented technology that uses a slip-plane designed to reduce rotational forces that can come from angled impacts (so the helmet slides relative to the movement of the head).

I found the Hudson to be wonderfully comfortable. The internal padding is kept to a minimum with a thick pad around the brow (and a neat, integrated peak) with a few strips of padding on the crown and a pad across the rear retention cradle.

The shape is generous, and the MIPS liner is neatly cut away so as not to hinder the breathability of the vents. The shape is deep at the back for extra protection.

It’s a substantial helmet, but at 412.8g it’s not overly heavy. The straps are easy to adjust and made from a quality, soft-touch material – however, they’re fixed, so cleaning isn’t as easy as some.

The cradle’s dial offers micro-adjustment to get the fit just right and Bern even includes a 6.6-lumen red LED light that inserts into the rear and has three modes: constant, flashing and pulse.

The lower vents on the nape of the helmet are reinforced to allow you to pass your D-lock through the helmet so you can secure it along with your bike.

The Hudson is a superb urban/ebike helmet that’s been built to the toughest standards and with a superb fit.

Yes, its solid design may be warmer than lighter road helmets, but for steady commutes and more leisurely rides the extra protection and comfort it affords is impressive.