Well, this is going back about 5 years, but I did an unscientific test with two old helmets of mine. In an old job, I had access to a laser temp. gauge that could take skin temps of materials without touching them. I left my old black helmet and my newer white helmet in the sun for several hours on a hot sunny day (~80° F if I recall correctly). The skin temp on the exterior of the black helmet was a bit hotter. (~5° F, I believe). What does that mean? Maybe nothing when wind is factored in, but I've used white helmets ever since.

Unfortunately, I no longer have access to such neat equipment so I can't reproduce the test in more "real world" conditions. Perhaps someone else has done something similar?

-Jay

I think the ventilation will make more of a difference. White helmet poorly vented I think would be warmer than a well ventilated dark color helmet. That being said and living in the desert where it was 100 today, I have a well ventilated off white helmet.

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

In my experience color isn't that big of factor. In clothing white can definetly be better than black, but with a helmet, the plastic (or sometimes carbon) cover on the helmet doesn't seem to transfer heat through the styrofoam (probably because it's such a good insulator.) I always go for dark helmets because they are easier to match with outfits, and they don't show age, wear and tear, or dirt as baddly.


-the only dumb question.... is the one I ask

I believe the main issue with helmet choice is that lighter colors offer greater visibility when riding on roads.

I had a black Louis Garneau Prologue helmet that wrinkled in the first race I used it at. It was VERY hot and my core temp was through the roof during the bike leg. When I went to gather my stuff up after the run, the outer shell of the helmet was wrinkled and blazing hot to the touch. I agree with previous posts that venting is most important, but I'll never use a black helmet again. Heck, I'm in Florida. It's too hot for dark colors really, in anything. Try wearing a black jersey in August in Florida. You'll cook.

TriMike,



Nothing dumb about the question. Lighter colors are traditionally cooler then darker colors.

-Jim-

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"The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."