The Best Folding Bicycle Helmets for the UK Commuter: Stowable Safety
Commuting by bike in the UK is rarely one-size-fits-all. Some days you cycle, some days you hop on the tube, or take a bus. For Lime, Voi, Forest, or Santander cycles users, you might cycle one part, tube another, then cycle the rest, or any other endless possibility. It’s fair to say you likely do not want a bulky helmet when you’re doing your transitions, even better, what if you could fold it down into a bag?
Standard helmets can be bulky. They often hang awkwardly from your rucksack on public transport, take up half your locker space, and are a nuisance when not on your head. For many, this is the real barrier to wearing a helmet, or cycling at all. It’s not the ride itself, but what to do with it when you aren’t riding (who wants a helmet in the pub?).
Seeing cyclists on a city commute without a helmet is real bug bearer for me, and so I thought I would take a look at the best folding bicycle helmets for the UK commuter. These are suitable for bicycle owners, bicycle renters, and e-scooter renters too.
Folding bicycle helmets offer certified protection (read about EN 1078 in this article), while collapsing down to a fraction of their size, making it easier to fit them into a messenger bag, backpack, or briefcase.
A word of caution: On Amazon to a degree, but especially on Temu & AliExpress, you must exercise caution.
There are both standard, and folding helmets on these sites that DO NOT come anywhere close to meeting safety standards. Please only buy helmets from a trusted brand or retailer. Whilst I am linking to Amazon in this article, I would hazard against buying an off-brand helmet that is not mentioned here. The best way to go about this, is if you are looking at other options, and want to purchase them on Amazon, you should look on other trusted retailers to see if they stock this brand too.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, fleethopper.co.uk may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support independent commuting guides and product testing.
Folding Bicycle Helmet UK: Safety Standards You Can Trust
Before looking at models, we’re going to focus on safety.
A folding helmet must meet the same protection standards as any conventional helmet. In the UK and Europe, the benchmark is CE – EN 1078. This ensures compliance with impact and retention requirements.
Avoid helmets that do not explicitly state EN 1078 compliance. All helmets in this guide are fully certified and suitable for regular commuting.
Best Folding Bicycle Helmets for UK Commuters
The folding helmet market is small but mature, and several manufacturers have refined designs to suit both occasional riders and daily commuters.
NewLane Folding Helmet
A home-grown UK option, the NewLane Flip-Clip is designed all commuting needs, and it folds down to about half of it’s original size.
Pros:
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UK brand
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Intuitive folding mechanism
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Fits well in bags
- Stylish
Cons:
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Heavier than some road helmets, however, is a standard weight for a commuter helmet
Best for people who want a stylish folding helmet, suitable for daily, or occasional use.
NewLane Folding Helmet (MIPS)
There is also an enhanced safety model of the above, which will run the cost up a little more.
MIPS stands for stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, it is designed to reduce rotational forces on the brain during angled or glancing impacts, which happen when your head hits a surface at an angle or slides across it, rather than striking straight on.
Effectively, you’re talking about roughly £40 extra to potentially be more safe, and it’s the only folding helmet to feature MIPS.
Closca Folding Helmet
Closca is a global leader in folding helmets. Its telescopic ring system collapses the helmet flat, ideal for slim briefcases or laptop bags.
Pros:
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Award-winning urban design
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Easily folds to 50% of its original height
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Quick, easy folding action
Cons:
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Ventilation limited on very hot days
- SOME reviews suggest the hinges break easily – you need to be gentle with this one
Best for those who want a robust helmet whilst riding, suitable for daily or occasional use, just be gentle when folding/unfolding.
Overade Plixi Fit Folding Helmet
The Overade Plixi uses a hinged, origami-style design to fold into a compact block. When open, it feels as solid as a traditional helmet.
Pros:
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Excellent volume reduction
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Feels sturdy when worn
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Packs well into gym kits or deeper bags
Cons:
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Folding takes practice
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Angular, technical appearance
- Does not fold ‘flat’ like other options
Best for commuters who need maximum space savings in a backpack or tote, occasional or daily use.
Choosing the Right Folding Bicycle Helmet for You
1. Fold Shape and Bag Compatibility
Think about the bag you carry:
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Rucksack or gym bag: Overade Plixi
The folded shape matters most here. Bike-share users often prefer flat helmets that slide into a tote, satchel, or locker.
2. Ventilation vs. Weather
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Hot days / fast riding: Overade Plixi – They really went all out on the ventilation here!
More ventilation improves cooling but may reduce rain protection.
3. Cost
Folding helmets are engineered products. Expect £80–£130 for a certified, reliable model. Cheaper options may compromise safety or durability.
Of course your budget is important here, but I would always try to think about which one is going to suit your needs more, as you don’t want to buy something you don’t end up using.
Verdict: Folding Bicycle Helmets for Every Commuter
Folding helmets are ideal for:
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Flexible commuters using Lime, Voi, Forest, or Santander bikes who want to stow their helmet away when jumping onto a train or bus
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Daily cyclists, with the caveat that non-folding options may be cheaper, and at this price range might have additional safety measures
NewLane is robust and perfect for commuters with any bag.
Closca is also ideal for commuters with any bag.
Overade Plixi maximises packability.
A folding bicycle helmet makes safe cycling convenient for everyone, whether you ride every day or just occasionally.
