Safe Zone Bicycle Helmet Mirror by EVT

I've been looking for a reliable helmet-mounted mirror for a while now, and after trying a few different kinds for a couple of years now, I've found that this is easily the best one I've ever used. I wish I'd started with this one long ago, but at the time I wasn't willing to spend much more than $25 for a mirror. First, the cons. This takes a little time to mount, especially if your helmet has fewer vents than most other helmets, like my Bern Allston. Fortunately there are Velcro straps that allow you to find the optimal position and angle to place your mirror before finalizing it with the zip ties. The mounting bracket does run along the exterior of the helmet, so that along with the joints does add quite a lot of bulk to the helmet. Because the mount is also semi-permanent, that extra bulk makes it a little more difficult to carry/store your helmet when you aren't using it. Although I haven't had any issue yet, I am concerned about the joint sockets. My previous mirrors had various swivel parts irreversibly loosen up over time, so a mere gust of wind was enough to misalign the angle of the mirror. I've been using this item daily for a little over a month now and have seen no evidence of wear yet, but I'm curious how this will hold up after a year or two. I'll certainly update my review if I have any problems. All in all, my complaints are meager and not serious enough to deduct any stars. This is certainly the sturdiest mirror I've ever used, the angle of the glass stays exactly where I put it no matter how bumpy or windy the ride gets. There are multiple ball-socket joints that allow me to easily set it in whatever position I need. With local temperatures fluctuating so much this winter, the number of layers I have under my helmet vary and being able to adjust the mirror accordingly makes life so much easier than in the past. The glass is also much larger than any other I've had before; a 2.25" diameter versus ~1" for all the other mirrors I've had. No longer do I feel like I'm shooting for a bull's eye when looking for the glass, nor do I divert as much effort or attention angling my neck so the mirror aims towards where I need to see. This makes it easier to simply glance and move on, and it also makes it easier to notice vehicle headlights appear in my peripheral vision. I cannot imagine riding my bike without a mirror like this. I feel far more secure being aware of what's both in front of and behind me, rather than one or the other. Turning your neck or body to look behind you prevents you from seeing sudden, unexpected obstacles in your path, like potholes, debris, pedestrians, shifting stop lights, or other traffic. If you're an urban commuter like myself, I strongly recommend this mirror because of the improved sense of safety it confers. Although $40 isn't chump change, it's worth the extra cost of not having a tiny, flimsy mirror that struggles to maintain its attachment or viewing angle. If helmet-mounted mirrors aren't your thing, there are others that mount to your handlebars or the fork around your front tire (though I have very little experience with them). Anything that improves your directional awareness will reduce the odds that you will be surprised by things happening around you during your ride, and that can make the difference between life and death.

Let me tell you about my love/hate, no wait, my hate/love relationship with this mirror. My feelings changed dramatically over a period of two days and two bicycle rides. Introduction I did a lot of research and read a lot of reviews before deciding to buy the "Safe Zone Bicycle Helmet Mirror." Still, when the mirror arrived, I was shocked by how big it is. I knew I didn't want one of those tiny dentist-type mirrors because I just didn't think I would be able to see anything. In making the decision to finally get a mirror, after so many years of riding without one, I wanted one that would actually allow me to see what is behind me. And you can see with this mirror! It is big, with a diameter of a little over 2-¼ inches, so be aware of this if you decide to buy one. The mirror mounts to your helmet easily enough using plastic ties. Three ties come in the bag and you'll likely just use two of them. Pay attention to how you place the ties. I trashed one because I didn't insert it "between" the plastic rail that goes against your helmet. You'll know what I mean as soon as you look at the piece that goes against your helmet. Now here's my short story about this mirror. Spoiler alert: buy one! Day 1 I mounted the mirror on my helmet and headed right out for a ride figuring I'd adjust it while on the road. That was a mistake. Adjust it before you get on your bike. It was an incredibly windy day, gusting and blowing, and I was aggravated from the start of my ride from having to fight so hard against the wind. And the mirror only added to my aggravation. I could not get it adjusted. I kept fiddling and fiddling with it and just could not find a position that allowed me to see properly. At one point, I was so frustrated, that I started to reach up to yank the mirror off my helmet with the thought that I was just going to heave it into a cornfield. I resisted the urge but knew I hated this thing and just gave up, deciding to take it off when I got home. When I did get home I immediately went online again to find another mirror option. I ordered two types: the "Bike-Eye Frame Mount Mirror" and the "Sprintech Drop Bar Mirrors" (a pair) from Amazon. Day 2 I showed my wife the mirror on my helmet and she laughed, asking if I thought it was big enough. It is big, as I've said, and I do think I look pretty goofy with it on my helmet, adding to my overall goofiness that is already severe enough. For whatever reason, I put the helmet on and turned my back on my wife to fiddle with adjusting it again. Standing still, and being calm, allowed me to quickly adjust the mirror and there in my view, crystal clear, was my laughing wife. I was struck by how well I could see behind me just by moving my eyes slightly. With the mirror adjusted, I headed out for another ride. Wow!! What a difference a day makes. This mirror is awesome! I love this thing. As I approach 60 I am finding that I just don't have the flexibility on a bike, and in general, that I used to have. Turning to look back while riding used to be easy but not so much anymore. And when you are riding into the wind and it's blowing past your ears it can be impossible to hear a vehicle coming up behind you. Too many times I've been surprised by a passing car and I don't like feeling so vulnerable. With this mirror there are no more surprises. I can't believe how much difference the mirror makes while riding. I can see everything coming up behind me with ease. After all these years riding without a mirror, I'm amazed at how stupid I've been being so blind to traffic from behind. It feels good feeling so much safer now while riding. I will never ride again without being able to see what is coming up on me from the rear. It's not safe doing so and with this simple technology there is no reason to ride with unnecessary risk given the numerous hazards we already must contend with. I highly recommend this mirror. It's big, I really want to stress that, so don't be surprised. But it is lightweight and very stable when mounted regardless of road and wind conditions. Once you position the mirror the way you want it will not move. I'm still interested in seeing my other mirror options when they arrive but one way or another I will be using a mirror of some type from this point forward.

This is by far the best helmet mirror available, and so I don't hesitate to recommend it. However there is still room for improvement. The mirror and the arm parts are thick and durable. While riding the mirror stays firmly how you set it, with no wobble or movement. The mirror is plenty large. The areas it could be better are that the arm is not terribly long, so it can be hard to adjust to where you want it to be. It could use a few more arm pieces. Also it is very easy to snap off if the mirror hits something, so if you hang your helmet on your bag when not riding the mirror will likely get knocked off. But it's very easy to take the arm off the base and re-attach later. At least with my helmet, the included zip ties and velcro were not useful, there was no way to securely attach the base to my helmet with them. This was fixed with double sided tape, and the base is now very securely attached. But for this price the product should include the double sided tape.

This is the first bicycle helmet mirror I have used, so I can't compare it to any other, similar product. I purchased the mirror a few months ago, and it is working well for me. I have particularly come to depend on it when riding on and crossing busy multi-lane roads, as it allows me to monitor the traffic behind me without constantly having to turn my head. The size and quality provides an excellent, clear field of view. If mounted correctly, there is no shaking (other than the inevitable vibrations from the road) and, after an initial period of getting used to the concept, one is able to gets a good fix of the rear view. Here are a few points: 1. Mount Position/Blind Spot The mirror goes on the traffic side of the helmet, with the flexible stem and mirror protruding forward a few inches. I have mounted mine at between 10 and 11 o'clock. At this position, there is essentially no blind spot in the forward/sideways field of view due to the mirror, since each eye sees it at a sufficiently different angle. The larger size isn't a problem, and in fact helps getting a better fix on the rear view. Post and mirror do protrude into the field of vision, but with time this becomes integrated in the general field of view. 2. Mirror Angle As suggested by another reviewer, I have positioned mine at an angle that requires a small turn of the head to see the rear, like the turn of head that is required to see the side view mirror in your car. That way there will be less glare from car headlights when riding at night. An added benefit is that this position slightly reduces the rear-view blind spot, though it is still important to check that every time before a lane change (this mirror will not help you avoid that). 3. Adjustment The flexible multi-element post allows for a wide range of adjustments. In principle, it is possible to extend the post with additional elements (not included in product) for even more adjustment options, if that is desired. The only drawback to the post is that it easily de-adjusts - not while riding, but when the helmet is taken off and placed somewhere. This can become a little frustrating after having spent some time finding the perfect position, only to lose it to an accidental knock against mirror or post. But re-adjustment is easy and, to a certain extent, is even possible while riding (though not necessarily recommended, for obvious reasons). 4. Zip-Tie Helmet Mount The mirror comes with a rail (see image of the product) that is to be mounted to the helmet, and onto which the mirror post attaches. The included zip ties are meant for that mounting. However, be mindful of the included warning that says that these zip ties can damage the structural integrity of the helmet. And sure enough: when I first attached the rail with zip ties, they cut into the styrofoam of the helmet. They also loosened after a while and needed re-tightening. I have abandoned the zip-tie mount in favor of non-velcro-like fasteners from Scotch (http://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Heavy-Duty-Fasteners-Inches-RFD7091/dp/B00347A8GM) that have proven as (if not more) durable than the zip ties. This way of mounting provides more options for positioning (the mirror rail does not necessarily have to be aligned with a helmet strut), and it also allows to use the same mirror on multiple helmets without cutting zip ties. I recently upgraded my helmet (in parts because of the damage from the zip ties), and changing over the mirror is a breeze. 5. Getting a "Fix" If, like me, you have never used a helmet mirror before, it will take a bit before you are easily able to get a fix on the rear view. If properly mounted, the mirror doesn't shake, but, of course, your bike does, you with it, your helmet with you, and the mirror with the helmet. So getting that "Fix" takes some practice. Like other reviewers, I started out by briefly closing my right eye, but eventually got used to fixating on the rear image with my left eye without closing my right. The adjustment period was fairly brief. Bottom line: This is an excellent product that improves bike safety. Highly recommended!

Mirror is a good size, clear and has no distortion, is easy to mount with the included wire ties and Velcro strips and the mounting arm's construction allows the mirror to be moved into any of multiple positions and, once positioned, the mirror stays in place. Build quality is solid and the mirror is stable when riding. The mirror and arm can be easily detached/reattached from the helmet when necessary. EVT's customer service is excellent, even going out of their way to help solve a problem that was unique to me.

I used one of those helmet mirrors that Velcro onto the under side of your helmet for the last few years. It was a decent product, but I had a few complaints about it. First, the mirror was on the small side, so it required precise adjustment to see what was behind me. Second, the adjustment was loose enough that riding over rough roads would bounce the mirror out of position. And third, the mirror was a bit on the dark side. On bright days, I couldn't see behind me until I was riding in shade. Still, it was useful enough that I didn't bother replacing it until the mirror got so floppy that it wouldn't stay put, even on smooth roads. The first replacement I tried was a stick-on mirror. But it wouldn't stay stuck onto my helmet. So I decided to try the Safe Zone mirror. I was a little concerned that it might be too large, and impede my side vision of traffic. It does not. The mirror is nice and bright, and large enough to offer a good view behind without being so big that it impedes my side vision. The way it attaches to the helmet is kind of kludgy, but it works well. The Velcro strips on my old helmet mirror were better looking (if such a description is applicable to helmet mirrors), but the functionality of the Safe Zone system is undeniable. The only other thing I find objectionable is the price. It is more than twice the price of the other helmet mirrors, and just doesn't seem to warrant that cost differential. Nonetheless, the product is effective and appears to be durable. ETA: I have had this product for less than six weeks, and already the mirror fails to stay in place when I am riding on paved (although somewhat bumpy) roads. The mirror is supposed to rotate at its connection to the articulated arm, but only if you choose to rotate it. I am probably going to super glue the mirror in place -- the rest of the arm does not seem to flop around, so I am hoping that fixing the mirror attachment point in the orientation I want will eliminate this irritation. But I expected better from this pricy product. So I am removing one of my initial stars in the product review.

Please take a seat I have used these mirrors for almost 8 years, and this is my 3rd unit that I purchase after destroying one of the two I already had. Before using this model, I went through 4 different versions, all of them on the helmet. This is by far the largest (5-inch) mirror, long (4.5-inch) arm, and sturdy I've ever used. And I love it. It makes me look like a bug, people point to me on the street, and I'm the subject of jokes. But the visibility it gives me to drive in urban traffic, between cars, confidently and safely, makes every joke slip on the surface of my huge double mirrors. It is a good design, I can easily see behind, I can sweep with my eyes what I have behind or to the sides, I can move the mirrors to improve the visual field that the backpack hinders. Mirrors are flat, so you can calculate well how far objects are behind you. It is easy to repair, the mirror has a dimension of 2 inches, which is the same as any powder mirror. The moving parts of the arm are interchangeable with each other, so if you break one of them you can shorten the arm, or as in my case, buy a 3rd unit and use it as a spare. The moving parts are somewhat stiff, so although it is adjustable it requires some effort, which has the advantage that you do not need to adjust the mirrors every time you put on the helmet. The arms are easy to remove and place, much more so than the mobile sections, allowing you to remove them when you need to transport the helmet in a backpack, and put them when you want to use them. Although it has movable sections, they do not have such a wide range of motion, which means that if you are looking for a larger angle, you have to twist the entire arm of the mirror. Mirrors being so large they significantly cover your field of vision, it is easy to handle by turning your head or raising it a little, but it is something you have to be aware of to avoid accidents. The manufacturer has excellent customer service, once I requested a replacement and they responded quickly and efficiently If you can overcome the complex of looking like an insect, they are the best option among the different varieties of helmet mirror. Yes, they are expensive, quite expensive, but after 8 years of using them I feel that they have been worth it. Summary Pros - Flat mirror - Large field of view to the rear - Quite adjustable - Durable - Easy to repair Against - Expensive - Forces you to adjust your visual field forward - Bulky - Not ideal for use with a backpack - You look like an insect with antennas

A friend of mine recommended this mirror; he has been using it for a while and found that it works well for him. I had high hopes that it would work well for my son and I. We started by ordering one mirror to test, with the intention to buy the second one if it works. Unfortunately, we were unable to install it correctly. I will explain why. The mirror consists of a mounting bracket and an about 5 inches long somewhat flexible arm, called "articulating links". The instructions suggest that the mirror should be installed, ideally, at least 5" from the eyes. This means, the end of the mounting bracket with the "breakaway joint" should be at the edge of the helmet at roughly the eye level. Additionally, the mounting bracket should either go between two openings in the helmet, or cross several openings to be able to route zip ties in two different locations, for a sturdy attachment to the helmet. We found that on all three helmets in our family, there is no chance for this to happen. We have helmets with visors, which are commonly referred to as "mountain bike helmets". They are of three different makes and models. The description suggests that the mirror can be attached to any helmet, with some creativity. We tried to be creative. Yet, with our helmets, there are not enough openings on the side to attach the mounting bracket more or less horizontally, from front to back, and visor gets in the way if we try to attach it across the helmet. Visors on our helmets are adjustable, so if mounting bracket goes under it, we will not be able to change its position. We cannot run it behind the visor across the helmet because it this case the mirror will get too close to our eyes (we all wear glasses; if the mirror is too close to the eyes and too much on the side, you cannot see it well through the glasses). We cannot run it on top of the visor because the visor itself is about 4" to 5" long, and the articulating links, which are only 5" long, are too short for such placement. I went to the manufacturer's web site and studied their gallery of installation examples. Tried routing through the hole in the visor. Bracket is still too short to reach both potential attachment points, and mirror is still too close to the eyes to see it well through the glasses. My son tried to attach it through the visor anyways, just to try, but had a very frustrating experience that every attempt to adjust the mirror when he was on the bike resulted in disconnection of the mirror from the mounting bracket at the breakaway ball joint. This is because the articulating links are very stiff, while ball joint is less stiff. An effort to bend the articulating links usually dislodges the ball connector before the snake-like arm bends, unless three hands are used (i.e., someone holds the ball connector in place while other person adjusts the mirror). He ultimately gave up and said he is done with trying. Finally, as I mentioned, if you wear glasses, the range of positions where the mirror can be gets much narrower. It has to be as far away from the eyes as possible, otherwise it may get outside of the field of vision covered by the glasses. 5" recommended by the manual is probably OK. But it has to be as close to those 5" as possible, and note, the flexible arm itself is only 5" long, without an option of making it longer. This makes it even more difficult to install it on the helmet, in the sense that range of possible positions of the mounting bracket on the helmet becomes greatly reduced. The "breakaway joint" must be at the edge of the helmet, within the vertical plane that goes through the eyes, to make the mirror positioned 5" away from the eyes. If it is closer than 5", you will not be able to see it through the glasses. You will see it with your side vision outside of your glasses' lenses, but everything in it will be blurry. The mounting bracket is relatively short and is quite stiff. If its curvature does not match the curvature of the helmet, good luck attaching it. A longer mounting bracket with a softer tail could work better in our situation because maybe it would reach a possible second attachment point. In our case, we could attach it in only one position, which of course is not enough to held it in a position (see the attached picture, in which I used a white cable tie). If I move the mounting bracket closer to the visor and turn it slightly, I still cannot attach it with two ties because the mounting bracket does not conform to the shape of the helmet along this direction and I cannot bend its tip to attach to the top of the helmet. If I run it horizontally, I have nothing to attach it to, or would have to attach it somewhere in the back of the helmet and the mirror would be right at my eye level rather than 5 inches in front of it. I think this mirror is a great idea: an adjustable mirror which can self-detach in case of fall, a mirror made of acrylics, but it would be so much better if one would have an option of a different shape of the mounting bracket and/or extension for the articulating links. IF the "articulating links" were 10" long, I would have easily install this mirror by attaching the bracket to the rear of the helmet. It probably would install fine on so called "road racing helmets", which do not have a visor and have many small vents, with plenty of attachment points. It might install on helmets with a fixed visor. But not on helmets with adjustable visors which have 2 or 3 positions and relatively few of relatively large air vents. The last but not the least, with the modern MIPS helmets (I think there is another similar technology that became available recently), the ties have to routed between the foam part of the helmet and MIPS liner, which is not always easy or might not even be always possible. Not a showstopper, but a consideration. It was much easier to do before MIPS. The conclusion is, great idea, but it does not work equally well for all helmets or for those who wear glasses. If you (a) wear glasses, and (b) have a helmet with adjustable visor and relatively few vents of a large size, you may run into difficulties with installation. If you both, have such helmet and wear glasses, your situation is even worse. We decided to return the mirror and look for other options.