Most helmet brands talk about “quality,” but almost none show what that actually means.
That’s why we opened our factory and documented every step of how a UNIT 1 helmet is built. Because the truth is simple: not all helmets are alike, and how they’re made determines how well they protect you.

In this video, you’ll see exactly how we build both sides of our helmets:

• the safety side (shell, EPS, impact protection)
• the smart side (lighting, electronics, durability systems)

Because we don’t make traditional helmets.
We design Active Safety systems, and that requires a different level of engineering, testing, and transparency.

Below are four reasons why helmets differ more than most riders realize - and why these differences matter for your safety.

1. Helmet materials and construction matter

Helmet protection begins long before final assembly.
In this episode of UNIT 1 Labs, we show how our shells are formed, trimmed, and prepared for bonding. The process includes:

• precision molding
• trimming for perfect alignment
• injecting EPS beads directly into the shell for optimal bonding

EPS foam is the core material that absorbs impact.
If its density is even slightly off, the helmet won’t perform properly in a crash.

This is one of the biggest reasons why two helmets that look similar can protect very differently.

2. Smart Helmets Require Smarter Testing

Most helmets only undergo standard impact tests.
Smart helmets require more... a lot more.

In the video, you’ll see how we test every smart component inside a UNIT 1 helmet, including:

• LED light modules
• charging systems
• firmware and connectivity
• water and dust sealing
• vibration and temperature resistance

Smart helmets have to survive real-life conditions:
rain, sweat, potholes, heat, cold, daily vibration, and thousands of power cycles.

That’s why they must be engineered and tested differently.

3. The difference between passing a test and surviving real-world crashes

Certifications are the minimum standard.
We go beyond them.

Our factory testing includes:

• multi-angle impact absorption
• shell deformation checks
• strap strength tests
• buckle reliability cycles
• repeated stress simulations

A helmet shouldn’t pass one lab test and call it a day.
It should consistently survive the way real riders use it.

Safety isn’t paperwork. Safety is engineering.

4. Smart + Safe Is the Only Standard That Matters

A UNIT 1 helmet is built on five pillars:

• Safe by construction (shell + EPS quality)
• Visible by design (integrated lighting)
• Smart by technology (sensors + firmware)
• Reliable by testing (impact + electronics)
• Transparent by principle (we show everything)

The video doesn’t show “content.”
It shows proof — real engineering, real testing, real quality control.

Why We Show Our Factory and Testing Process

Transparency as the foundation of safety

When a brand hides its factory, testing methods, or quality process, you should ask why.

We believe trust is earned by showing what others won’t:

• how materials are selected
• how shells are rejected
• how smart tech is validated
• how impact protection is measured
• how safety is built into the product, not just advertised

This is what makes UNIT 1 helmets different.
This is what makes them safer.
This is what makes them smart.

Not all helmets are alike, and now you get to see exactly why.