If you are considering an e-bike, that’s amazing. They are incredibly fun and an excellent way to reduce the number of times you might feel the draw of automotive transport. E-bikes make riding more accessible to more people in more situations and, like all bikes, they are safe. We still suggest wearing a helmet though and given that e-bikes tend to be heavier and faster, you might want something specific. We’ve got our list of the best e-bike helmets available but a new option has come to light.
Xnito is a young American brand and the brand promises extra safety for those riding e-bikes. The claims hinge on a Dutch certification called NTA 8776 that’s meant for speeds up to 45kph/28mph but certifications don’t tell the whole story. In fact, I was lucky enough not to test the crash ratings during my time with this helmet but I do have some other details to share. If you find yourself riding a higher-speed e-bike, keep reading to see if the Xnito helmet is the one that might make sense for you.
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Design and aesthetics
Xnito isn’t a company that’s been around for a long time. The brand hit the market in 2020 as an offshoot of a completely unrelated tech consultation company. Essentially, the larger company developed Xnito as a model of how to run an efficient business. It was just proof of concept but those involved decided to run with it and Xnito launched into the world. The unique selling point, in this case, is a relatively unknown Dutch helmet certification called NTA 8776 that focuses on protection at higher speeds.
Depending on where you are in the world, this might be irrelevant to your experience. In the US many, if not most, e-bikes available have a max assisted speed of 28mph. Cruising at that speed is somewhere between a motorcycle and a bicycle so it makes sense to consider that need when designing an e-bike helmet.
All helmets sold for sale in the US have to carry a CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) certification. The tests ensure that helmets meet standards related to peripheral vision, positional stability, dynamic strength of retention system, and impact-attenuation tests. That last one is where the Dutch certification changes things a little by requiring a higher drop height for impact testing and requiring…
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