UNIT 1 review
Updated September 30, 2026 · CommuteCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
Unit 1 suits commuters who want a lit, certified helmet with crash replacement and a long warranty rather than the cheapest shell. It costs €170.95 from, well above Bern at $44.50, so buyers on a budget have cheaper named options on the same list.
Key facts
- Best for
- Commuters who want lights, crash replacement and a long warranty in one helmet.
- Product type
- Helmet↗
- Price from
- €170.95↗
- Independent rating
- Virginia Tech 5-star safety rating↗
- Weight (g)
- 430↗
- Fit range
- S to L, 20.1-24.4 in↗
- Integrated lights
- Yes↗
- Crash replacement
- Yes↗
- Warranty
- 24 months↗
- Markets
- AU, AT, BE, BN, BG, CA, HR, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HK, HU, IN, ID, IE, IT, JP, LV, LT, LU, MO, MY, MT, MC, NL, NZ, PL, PT, QA, RO, SA, SG, SK, SI, KR, ES, SE, CH, TW, TH, AE, GB, US↗
- Legal entity
- Unit 1 Gear, Inc.↗
- Headquarters
- United States↗
- Founded
- 2017↗
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre↗
- Standards
- Cpsc, En 1078, Nta 8776
- Official website
- unit1gear.com
Facts checked September 30, 2026, 5 sources
Apps and profiles
Pros and cons
Pros
- Crash replacement is included, so a damaged shell after a fall is not a full-price replacement.
- Integrated lights are part of the Faro, removing the need for a separate front light.
- A 24 months warranty is longer than a single-year cover and covers the shell.
- Standards list cpsc, en 1078 and nta 8776, covering European and US requirements on one helmet.
- The Virginia Tech 5-star safety rating gives an independent read on protection.
Cons
- At €170.95 the entry price sits well above Bern at $44.50.
- Weight of 430 g ranks it 7 of 9 on the site, so it is not among the lightest.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone line listed.
- Fit covers S to L, 20.1-24.4 in, which leaves out riders outside that span.
Who it suits
- Riders who cycle home after dark and want built-in lighting rather than a clip-on lamp.
- Commuters who keep a spare budget for replacing a helmet after a crash.
- Riders who want a 24 months warranty on a daily-use helmet.
Who should look elsewhere
- Budget buyers who would rather start at $44.50 with Bern.
- Riders wanting the lightest shell, since weight ranks 7 of 9.
- Anyone who needs phone support, as email and help centre lists email and a help centre only.
How it compares on our data
On entry price, Unit 1 sits at 22 of 24 brands compared, so it is a premium helmet rather than a budget one. The starting figure is €170.95, which puts it a long way above Bern at $44.50 and above Lumos at $9.95. The trade-off is what that money adds: lighting, crash replacement and a long warranty sit inside one shell. On weight, Unit 1 places 7 of 9 brands, which means the shell carries more mass than the lighter entries in this group without being the heaviest. Riders carrying a helmet in a bag all day should weigh that against the price gap.
Core features
The shell weighs 430 g, a figure that puts it in the middle of the group rather than at the light end. Integrated lights are yes on the Faro, so the helmet carries its own front light and the rider does not need a separate lamp mounted on the handlebars. Crash replacement is yes, which means a shell damaged in an impact is replaced rather than left as a write-off. The warranty runs 24 months, a longer cover than the single-year period many brands offer on a commuter helmet. Together these three points are where the price difference over Bern goes: Bern starts at $44.50 without the lighting, replacement cover or a warranty of this length in the same package.
The company behind it
The brand trades as Unit 1 Gear, Inc. and is registered in the US, which is also where it is headquartered. It was founded in 2017, giving it a working history in safety gear rather than a recent launch. Support runs on email and help centre, so help arrives by email or through a help centre. There is no phone line listed, which is worth knowing if you want to sort a sizing problem the same day. Buyers who prefer a business with a named legal entity and a published help centre have that here.
How UNIT 1 compares
8.7 vs 8.0
8.7 vs 8.9
8.7 vs 9.1
8.7 vs 9.0- 8.7 vs 9.1
8.7 vs 9.0- 8.7 vs 9.1
8.7 vs 9.4- 8.7 vs 9.3
8.7 vs 9.3- 8.7 vs 9.3
8.7 vs 9.2
8.7 vs 9.2
8.7 vs 9.0
8.7 vs 9.0
8.7 vs 8.9- 8.7 vs 8.8
8.7 vs 8.0
8.7 vs 8.0- 8.7 vs 8.0
8.7 vs 8.0
8.7 vs 8.0
8.7 vs 8.0
8.7 vs 8.0
Where UNIT 1 is available
- Available
- France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, United States
Countries from its affiliate programme (Source)
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Unit 1 helmet cost?+
The entry price is €170.95, which is the top of the range in this group. Bern starts at $44.50 and Lumos at $9.95. On our comparison Unit 1 ranks 22 of 24 brands on entry price, so budget riders have cheaper options on the same list.
Does the Unit 1 helmet come with lights?+
Yes. Integrated lights are yes on the Faro, so the helmet carries its own lighting instead of relying on a separate handlebar lamp. That is part of what the higher price buys over Bern at $44.50. It is useful for riders cycling home after dark without carrying a light on every trip.
What happens if I crash and damage the helmet?+
Crash replacement is yes, so a shell damaged in an impact is replaced rather than charged at full price. The warranty also runs 24 months, which covers defects over a longer period than a single year. Riders who cycle in traffic daily have both a replacement route and a warranty behind it.
Which safety standards does the helmet meet?+
The standards listed are cpsc, en 1078 and nta 8776, which covers European and US requirements on the same shell. The Faro also carries a Virginia Tech 5-star safety rating, an independent read on protection. Riders buying in Europe or the US can check the helmet against local rules before ordering.
How heavy is the Unit 1 helmet?+
The shell weighs 430 g. On our ranking that places Unit 1 7 of 9 brands on weight, so it sits in the middle of the group rather than at the light end. If you carry your helmet in a work bag all day, weight matters alongside price.
What sizes does the helmet fit?+
The fit range is S to L, 20.1-24.4 in. Riders outside that span should check measurements before ordering, and may want to compare a brand with a wider size spread. Sizing is the one limit here that price does not solve.
Who is Unit 1 and where is it based?+
The brand trades as Unit 1 Gear, Inc., is headquartered in the US and was founded in 2017. It sells a focused range of helmets rather than a catalogue of bike parts. That makes it a specialist source for a shell with lighting and crash replacement built in.
How do I get help from Unit 1?+
Support runs on email and help centre, so you reach the company by email or through a help centre. There is no phone line listed. If you need same-day help with sizing or a damaged order, plan to write ahead rather than expect a call.
Where can I buy a Unit 1 helmet?+
The brand sells in Australia, AT and BE, which covers Europe, North America and much of Asia Pacific. Ordering from your own region keeps the entry price of €170.95 intact and avoids extra shipping on a premium helmet.
Sources
- unit1gear.com checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Markets, Product type
“Australia AUD Austria EUR Belgium EUR Canada CAD France EUR Germany EUR”
- unit1gear.com/pages/about-unit1 checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Founded [2017] UNIT 1 is founded”
- unit1gear.com/policies/contact-information checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Support channels
“Unit 1 Gear, Inc., 66 W Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130, United States”
- unit1gear.com/products/faro checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Independent rating, Integrated lights, Price from
“AURA is Virginia Tech certified with a 5-star safety rating”
- unit1gear.com/products/neon checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Crash replacement, Fit range, Standards, Warranty, Weight (g)
“Standard Coverage Included - Free - 30% OFF crash replacements”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.