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Jan 29, 2024
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A Straightforward, No-Nonsense Helmet with Style and Sun Protection
There’s often an elegance in simplicity, which multi-sport helmet manufacturer Bern seems to have applied to its Major bike helmet. The Major keeps things simple without many of the bells and whistles that we often see on helmets from newer brands trying to reinvent the wheel. In this Bern Major helmet review, we explain why we think it does its job, feels comfortable to wear, and looks great too!
Before we dive into the helmet’s feel, let’s focus on its price tiers and safety ratings. To be clear, this is not a helmet that is rated for e-bikes (unlike some of the brand’s other helmets we reviewed including the Hudson). At the highest price level, it does, however, meet many of the same safety standards. Most importantly, the Major offers the option for a yellow MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) layer that reduces rotational forces from an impact. The helmet also received a 5 STAR rating from the Helmet Lab at Virginia Tech, indicating the testing facility’s best possible score for the reduction of concussion risk.
Pros- Available in two price tiers: the highest includes excellent concussion risk reduction with a MIPS layer and a 5 STAR score from Virginia Tech.
- Feels almost like a ball cap with Bern’s removable liner with a flippable sun visor.
- Comes in six total colors with four cheery options like Orchid, Cyan, Electric Purple, and Lime.
- Simple, streamlined, and comfortable with cushy liners and a “compass” dial adjustment system.
- Highly breathable with 14 air vents.
- Compatible with an optional winter liner with ear protection.
Cons- Not rated specifically for e-bikes despite meeting many of the same safety standards.
As a Bern helmet, the Major includes one of the brand’s trademark features: a removable padded liner with an attached visor. In my experience this flexible, ball-cap-style bill did a fantastic job of keeping bright sunlight out of my eyes – far better than the hard plastic brim of many other helmets we’ve tried from other brands. This visor can be flipped up to improve visibility in cloudier conditions, and then snapped back into place when the skies clear.
Like many of Bern’s helmets, the Major is available in a variety of matte color options, with some bright and vibrant hues unique to this model. In addition to standard black and white options, the helmet is also available in Cyan, Lime, Electric Purple, and Orchid. We received a matte white helmet for our testing, which I think looked both classic and classy.
The “Compass” dial cinches up the helmet for a secure fit.
When flipped down, the included visor looks cool and keeps sunlight out of your eyes.
An internal MIPS layer can shift on impact to reduce the risk of concussion.
The Major includes 14 air vents to ensure breathability and comfort.
The helmet is available in three sizes (S, M, L), and as someone with a relatively sizable noggin, I found the Large size to fit perfectly. And to clarify that further – its sizing matched my expectations based on other Large helmets I’ve tested. Each Bern helmet includes a “compass” dial to adjust the precision of the fit and an easy-to-use chin strap that, to me, also felt just right in terms of width and overall comfort.
Ultimately, the Major didn’t do anything new or unexpected, but it worked well and felt great to wear. I liked that it was available at two different price points both with and without MIPS – though I personally feel that it’s a no-brainer to go with the safer option. It was also great to see such a variety of bright, splashy colors (alongside classic black and white) to fit different personalities and stand out on the road.
Specs and Features
- Sizing: 52 – 62cm (20 ½” – 24 ½”) comes in three sizes (S, M, L)
- MIPS: Optional
- Number of vents: 14
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