Look, we’re not saying anybody tried to emulate our idea… but we’re seeing more and more lids with integrated brake lights popping up across the board.
So, what are the main differences between a standalone unit like Brake Free and integrated helmet lights?
App/Wired Connectivity vs. Wireless and App-Free
So, not all helmets with integrated brake lights use apps or any kind of wiring, but to this point—we’re talking about the ones that do. There are models that offer apps and bluetooth connectivity to integrate brake lights and turn signals to your helmet, and that’s definitely not a bad thing.
Until something you’ve tacked onto your bike shorts out because it got water on it. Or until your cellphone dies.
A full day of riding, listening to music, and running bluetooth comms drains a battery relatively quickly—that’s the truth of the matter.
A fully charged Brake Free can offer up to 12 hours of runtime so you can ride all day—and do whatever you need to on your phone at the same time.
Additionally, Brake Frees are fully self-contained and don’t need any additional apps or wireless connectivity to function. Just snap it in, turn it on, and be seen.
Passenger Visibility
Depending on how tall you are and your bike’s passenger setup : if you’re riding with a passenger, a brake light integrated into your helmet ends up being useless when it’s blocked out by another helmet.
That’s another advantage of Brake Free—with an additional mount, you can seamlessly switch from helmet to helmet in seconds without any fuss. Which brings us to our next point:
Unit Issues
Things happen. Things get lost. Technology can fail. We’re confident that Brake Free will serve you well and without issues—but we’re not going to pretend like things can’t ever possibly happen.
So, if there’s a technology failure on a helmet with integrated brake lights—your entire lid is out of commission if you need to take it somewhere to get it fixed, or you’re riding without your additional safety measure permanently.
With a Brake Free, you can still use your helmet. You, unfortunately, miss out on an extra measure of safety while you replace your unit… but at least you can still ride, right?
Visibility
Again, we’re not saying that visibility is an issue with every helmet with integrated brake lights—but we’re seeing a lot of ‘Tron’ looking design that attempts to combine function with fashion in a way that takes away from the overall utility of having an extra brake light on your helmet in the first place.
Brake Free is lightweight (7 oz) and aerodynamic—AND bright enough to be seen in broad daylight.
Function
We all loved light up sneakers in the 90s, but they didn’t make you run faster like we thought.
Just like those sneakers, we’re seeing helmets that offer integrated lighting systems but do not have any kind of motion detection whatsoever: they just light up.
Brake Free has a patented system that detects engine braking, regular braking, and emergency braking—slowing down of any kind—and lights up accordingly. All that in addition to running lights to maintain visibility while traveling at speed.
No other systems offer the same. If they do, they’re not as fast, nor as accurate. We say that with confidence.
Swappability
If you, for whatever reason, need a new helmet and have one with an integrated brake light—there goes your integrated brake light.
If you need/want/desire/win (or however else one might get another helmet) another helmet—you can order an extra mount and use your existing Brake Free unit on your new lid. Easy.
Brake Free: No Hassle
Given the points above (and we get it, we’re biased)... the choice is pretty clear. Dependable, easy to transfer from helmet to helmet, and wire-free is the way to go.
We’re not telling you what to do, but we think you know what to do.
If you haven’t already, order your Brake Free today, get on two wheels (or four if that's your thing. Or just one. We're just stoked you're here!), and be seen.
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