Your cycling helmet is the most important piece of cycling gear you’ll ever own. Good MTB pads, chamois, and a cycling jersey are nice to have, but they aren’t as critical to your safety.
Taking good care of your bike helmet helps maintain its overall structural integrity and could even prolong its lifespan. And this post lists down 8 practical tips on how to store your cycling helmets or MTB helmets and keep them looking good.
Real Cyclists Own Multiple Helmets
What self-respecting cyclist owns just one helmet? Real cyclists own more gear than they can wear in a riding session. Heck, their bikes and biking equipment cost way more than their car!
I bet you have three or more expensive helmets that you’d like to keep for years. But you have lovely, playful kids around the house and maybe a puppy or two. And these loved ones can knock things over and damage them. With the helmet storage hacks below, your life will be much easier.
8 Cycling Helmet Storage Ideas
1. Store your helmets under the bed in a padded helmet bag.
2. Store them on shelves.
3. Hang your helmets on a coat rack.
4. Keep it in your pannier.
5. Lock the helmet onto your bike.
6. Hang the helmet on your bike or bike stand.
7. DIY your own helmet storage.
8. Wear your helmet when walking into stores or restaurants.
Let’s see how you might take advantage of each of these bike helmet storage tips.
1. Store Your Helmet Under the Bed
Do you live in a tiny home or a small city apartment? You’re likely facing space constraints. You don’t have any empty shelves or other storage spaces.
But you can always store your helmets under the bed. Put your riding goggles and gloves in the helmet. Then toss the helmet in its bag and put it under the bed. Chances are that some of your lids came with helmet bags.
Alternatively, store the helmet inside a basket and place it on the floor under the bed.
If your bedroom stays locked when you’re away, your kids and pets won’t crawl and access your head-protection gear.
2. Store Your Helmets on Shelves
I bet you have a few shelves around. In the kitchen, bedroom, study, garage, etc. If there’s room in some of these shelves, you sure can store your bike helmets.
A dude who rides with hubby has some plastic baskets that he places on a shelf in his garage. He tosses two of his helmets and some other cycling gear such as gloves and pads in there.
We keep some of our helmets on shelves in our bedroom and some on the bookshelves.
So, look around and see if there’s a shelf that can become a happy home for your helmet(s) when you’re not using them.
One huge advantage of storing bike helmets on shelves is that shelves are typically high. It’s hard to knock them over, and your kids won’t be able to access them.
3. Hang Your Helmets on a Coat Rack
If you have a coat rack you’re underutilizing, you can store a helmet or two there. A wooden coat rack with multiple hooks would be best.
Wooden hooks would have a harder time pricking the padding inside the helmet. You can even buy a coat rack like the one below if you don’t already have one for that purpose — storing your cycling helmet so it stays in tip-top condition.
Simply hang the helmets by their chinstraps. And if the hooks can fit in the holes on the helmet, hang your helmets via those air vents.
I have only one issue with this cycling helmet storage idea: Kids have quick, exploratory hands. Hands that could unhook your expensive bike helmet and make it a play doll.
4. Keep the Helmet in Your Pannier
You’re on a bike tour and need to walk into a café for a coffee and a snack. You can put your helmet in your pannier and leave it (pannier) attached to your bike. Or you can walk in with the pannier, if necessary.
5. Lock the Helmet Onto Your Bike
I have a shelf at my work where I keep one of my helmets. The shelf isn’t positioned high enough, but there are no mischievous kids around, fortunately. You could also rest the helmet on your desk if that’d be OK where you work.
If you can’t bring your brain bucket to your work for some reason, you can always lock it onto your bike. Run the lock through one of the vents on your helmet to lock it onto your commuter bike.
6. Hang the helmet on Your Bike or Bike Stand
You could also hang your cycling helmet on a bike stand via the straps. Check out the image below.
Some cyclists also hang their helmets on their bike’s handlebars. This idea becomes even more attractive if the ends of the handlebars bend up. The straps won’t ride up the bent ends causing the helmet to drop to the floor.
7. DIY Your Own Helmet Storage
If you’re the handy type, there are many ways to put your creativity to some good use. You can build a nice and sturdy DIY bike rack.
You could also put together a simple helmet storage structure like the one below. It’s pretty much a board added to the top of a clothes rack. Check out the image below.
8. Wear Your Helmet When Entering Restaurants
You probably don’t want to carry your helmet to restaurants all the time. Do this instead: Wear your helmet and walk right in for the bagel you crave.
This idea works best if you have a nice-looking helmet. What if your bike helmet isn’t easy on the eye? Wear it anyway because no one will notice. And quite frankly, no one cares. Plus, they won’t think you’re one of those helmet-less cyclists who ride like they have a death wish.
Where Not to Store Your Bike Helmet
- In the trunk of your car. It can get extremely hot or cold in the trunk. And the materials used to make helmets can become weaker when exposed to these extreme conditions. Most manufacturers recommend that cycling helmets be stored at room temperature between 68˚ F and 77˚F or 20˚C-25˚C. According to Nexx Helmets, temperatures higher than 104˚F or 40˚C can be destructive to helmets. In fact, extreme heat damages helmets more than cold temperatures.
- In the attic: It can get oven-hot here. Besides bugs and rodents like hiding there, and they can damage your brain buckets.
- On the floor: If a helmet stays in the way of your home’s foot traffic, it could get dings and scratches.
- High-humidity spots: High humidity isn’t good for bike helmets (and all helmets) because exposure to excessive moisture over time can weaken a helmet. Store your helmets in a space that’s cool, dry, and properly ventilated.
- Outdoor shed: Manufacturers say they test helmets for extreme temperatures. But it’s not uncommon for the polycarbonate shell of helmets stored in outdoor storage sheds to melt thanks to extreme summer heat.
- In direct sunlight or close to any heat source: Many brands advise riders not to expose helmets to direct UV rays or to any direct heat source because those conditions can trigger material degradation. It’s best to air-dry your helmets inside the house.
However, the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute says that UV rays aren’t a big issue because manufacturers treat helmets with UV inhibitors.
- In low-height locations:: Because kids and pets can easily knock things over.
Helmet safety tip: If your helmet has any cracks or damaged and degraded parts such as chinstraps and padding, replace it. And most brands recommend replacing after every 5 years.
But this study points out that age has no effect on the material properties of EPS foam for bikes used outdoors. And it’s this foam that protects your brain in a crash.
Where to Store Your Bike Helmet: Conclusion
And there you have it! 8 practical ways to store your helmet at home, at work, or when riding outdoors. It’s up to you to put these helmet storage ideas to work and prolong the lifespan of your cycling helmets.
But some of the suggestions might not work well if you have playful pets or kids around. And if you’re good with your hands, you can build out your own helmet storage using easily available materials.