Inside The Made To Order Process For A Handcrafted Helmet

A made to order helmet starts long before any material is cut. Measurements are taken, the intended use of the helmet is discussed, and a rider works with the maker to settle on a shell, lining and finish that suit them specifically, rather than picking from fixed stock sizes.

To see the current range built this way, visit Hedon.com.

A helmet is the most visible piece of riding gear, but it works as part of a wider kit rather than on its own. Gloves protect hands in a low speed drop, which is one of the most common types of fall, and a good pair balances grip and feel with real abrasion resistance.

This is slower than fully automated manufacturing, and that is the point. A handcrafted shell trades speed for a level of finish and individual attention that a purely machine made helmet does not offer.

A clean visor is a safety item as much as a comfort one, since scratches and haze scatter light and make it harder to judge distance in low sun or at night. Clean a visor with lukewarm water and a soft cloth, and avoid dry wiping, which is what causes most fine scratches in the first place.

The trade off is scale. A workshop like this will never produce helmets as fast as a large factory, and that is treated as acceptable, since the aim is a considered, well finished helmet rather than the fastest one to market.