Using a clever word play off the infamous German autobahn, the Safety Labs E-Bahn helmet is a bicycle helmet designed for commuters or e-bike riders. With an ABS and EPS foam construction, the E-Bahn features urban friendly features such as a built in visor and taillight. As with other Safety Labs helmets, the E-Bahn is competitively priced at only $49.99. The helmet is offered in a few semi-matte color finishes that include white, blue, black, and even fluorescent green. The E-Bahn is also well suited for warm weather with its 15 large ventilation holes that funnel the air through the helmet. It’s also designed to be a comfortable helmet with Safety Labs Pro 360o dial adjustment system that allows the fit to be fine tuned.
The Safety Labs E-Bahn is a simple yet effective commuting helmet with excellent ventilation and an integrated LED taillight.
| Rating | 8.8/10 |
| Retail Price | $49.99 |
| Measured weight (in g) | 392 (medium) |
| Likes | + Affordable price + 15 large air channels for ventilation + Plush and wide inner padding |
| Dislikes | – Sizing runs small – Taillight is not USB rechargeable – Short visor doesn’t provide much coverage |
| Where to Buy (US) | Safety Labs |
UNBOXING
The E-Bahn comes in a simple black Safety Labs branded cardboard helmet box. Although our box came a bit beaten up from shipping, the helmet was undamaged. Inside the box the E-Bahn Helmet wrapped in a simple plastic bag to keep it clean during shipping.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the E-Bahn has the traditional urban commuter style profile and design elements. The rear of the helmet extends further down for additional protection while a built-in visor adds some protection from the sun. Unlike other commuter helmets, the E-Bahn is very well ventilated with 15 ventilation holes throughout the helmet to funnel air through. That means the helmet is more comfortable in warmer climates but may need to be used with a beanie or other head gear on colder days. The styling is minimal with shallow grooves and accents on the exterior along the ventilation holes. There is very minimal branding as well, with only one small Safety Labs logo on each side of the helmet.
The E-Bahn also features a removable rear LED taillight that sits flush on the rear of the helmet. As with other integrated helmet lights, it isn’t particularly bright but works well as a secondary light for nighttime visibility. With the E-Bahn, Safety Labs has utilized an extra-large triangular shape lens with a six LED design. There are three output modes with the taillight: solid, flashing, and an alternating flash (the LED flash in pairs in a sweeping upward/downward pattern). Pressing the large center button the light cycles through the modes and you have to cycle through the three modes to turn the light off. Surprisingly, the taillight is not USB rechargeable and instead uses a standard coin battery which is less convenient than a USB design but does mean it’s one less device to charge.
COMFORT
Safety Labs has integrated a dial cradle system which they call their Pro 360º dial adjustment system (the same design used in the Safety Labs X-Eros). As with other helmets, the adjustment system holds the back of your head and ensures the helmet has a secure fit. We found the dual direction dial was easy to use while the plush inner pads were comfortable and supportive. Unlike some commuter helmets like the Thousand Heritage, the E-Bahn is very well ventilated with 15 air channels which makes the helmet comfortable even on warmer days. The medium size helmet we wore for this review fit a bit tighter than other brands though, as the size range is listed as 55-58cm (note the website lists it as 54-57cm) which is lower than the typical 55-59cm other brands use. We’d recommend reviewing the sizing chart carefully before purchasing as the sizing seems to run smaller than other brands.
THE VERDICT
Overall we found the Safety Labs E-Bahn helmet to be a well designed and very competitively priced commuter style helmet. With its minimalist styling and 15 large vents, the helmet has an attractive commuter helmet profile. Features such as the front visor and rear LED taillight make it well suited for riding to work or running errands. The large rear LED isn’t particularly bright but with three output modes and a removable design, it’s great for improving visibility. We found the helmet to also be comfortable thanks to the plush inner padding but recommend reviewing the sizing chart carefully before purchasing as the S/ M/ L size ranges are different than other brands. That said, it’s hard to fault the E-Bahn helmet as the build quality and features are impressive for the low price point.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Safety Labs. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.