Bern Hudson MIPS review – nicely integrated lid that boosts a 5-star Virginia Tech rating

Designed with urban cyclists and commuters in mind, Bern has packed the Hudson with features including an integrated rear light and reinforced d-lock vents for added visibility and convenience while riding in the city. We look at how the highest model in Bern’’s range compares to the best commuter bike helmets for urban cycling. 

Bern Hudson MIPS: construction

The Hudson has an in-mold construction and incorporates a low friction layer which allows the helmet to slide 10-15 millimeters in all directions – this is the yellow liner that can be seen on the inside of the helmet. It’s called MIPS technology, and it claims to reduce some of the rotational motion transferred to the brain in the unfortunate event of a crash. It’s technology that we’ve seen integrated slickly into the top-end best bike helmets, such as the Giro Aries Spherical, so it’s encouraging to see the technology trickle down into lower-priced lids, including urban helmets. 

The Hudson also meets the new NTA 8776 safety standard. “This standard follows the same safety metrics but NTA 8776 differs with an increased surface area for direct impact testing and a lower allowable threshold of impact transference to account for bikes with auxiliary pedal assist (A.K.A. E-bikes) up to 45km/h,” Bern explains.