4 Best Bike Helmet Mirrors: Safety & Visibility Upgraded

Customer Review: “This kit comes with many options. 2 styles of mirrors, 4 attachment bases, 3 different lengths of arms, cleaning wipes, wrench. Two helmets can be geared up if needed with the 2 different mirrors. I did some exploring with all the options and chose the 3M stick on pad, longest arm and the flat mirror. So far it is working great. I followed the directions and cleaned the helmet well, attached the 3M base and waited 24 hours before attaching the arm. So far so good. It is sticking well. If it comes loose I will try one of the other bases. There are adjustments on the base and mirror to lock in the arm and keep it from moving and these hold well. And one thing I really like is just loosen a bit when done riding and the mirror can be moved next to the helmet and in a safer position from breaking. Or if you don’t want to use a mirror just move it out of the way or it can easily be removed. Very nice setup. All the pieces are of good quality and it appears they will last a while. One thing I did notice is if your are getting a little older and have trouble focusing on close items (presbyopia) the shorter arms may not work very well for you due to being blurry.”

Customer Review: “I’ve ridden with a helmet mirror literally for decades. Until I discovered this one, I always used the EVT Safe Zone mirror and was mostly happy with it. Until now, there really wasn’t any serious competition. The PidZoom mirror, however, is simply a superior product, both in design and execution. The mounting options are impressive. You will almost certainly be able to mount this mirror in a way that makes you happy, regardless of your helmet style. Whichever mounting option you choose, it will be both easily adjustable and seriously stable. And you will be able to easily move the mirror between helmets if you wear more than one. The mirror itself is bright, has a wide and clear viewing angle, and allows you to scan the entire road behind you with a slight turn of the head. This is just the best helmet mirror I’ve ever used. At $40, it’s a bargain. For riders who are skeptical of helmet mirrors, I say, with respect, just buy this! You wouldn’t drive without the ability to see what’s coming from behind and you *certainly* should not ride a bike blind in that direction. Try it, you’ll love it.”

Customer Review: “UPDATE. I had originally given this bike helmet mirror a less than stellar review because the mirror itself was flawed in its ability to clearly reflect objects in the rear. I communicated with the manufacturer who responded thoughtfully and actively to my issue. I am happy to say that they updated the mirror and I can now honestly give this a five star review! Having addressed the improved mirror I am happy to report that the rest of the unit and attachment options are all very well-made and thoughtfully designed. The armature that holds the mirror and attached to the helmet is very nicely constructed and the length is easy to adjust. Multiple mounting options are included which should allow this mirror to be attached to just about any helmet. Kudos to the manufacturer for their excellent communication and response to customer concerns which I think has permitted them to vastly improve this device. This is an excellent bike mirror and a solid value.”

Customer Review: “The rear view mirror I installed on my eBike was constantly getting out of adjustment due to vibration during rides, so I decided to look for a different solution. I happened on this bike helmet mirror and am glad I did. This unit solves all the problems of my handlebar mounted mirror. This helmet mounted mirror comes with two ways to mount it to a helmet: one that involves adhesive strips (provided) and one that can be banded or zip-tied to the helmet, depending on the helmet you have (more below). Both methods involve a ball-and-joint connection, one which is semi-permanent and one that is held in a mount magnetically and is easy to remove as desired. Once mounted, the mirror is attached to a telescopic arm that can be adjusted for optimal viewing. The mirror and arm can be easily folded out of the way when not needed or the helmet is not in use; getting the mirror back to its correct usage position is easy and takes no time at all. In terms of vision, the mirror is convex so it gives an excellent view of the road behind. There is no movement of the mirror during a ride, and my head motion does not cause any to occur. There were two things I was initially concerned about: weight of the unit and my ability to get used to it. In terms of weight it has no effect on how my helmet sits on my head or stays there; I don’t even notice it. From a usage standpoint, it did take me a little time to get used to using it, but just like the side view mirrors in a car, I found myself adapting very quickly: all I need is a glance and I’m good. This has allowed me to feel much safer during my rides, especially since I usually have my grandson in the kids seat behind me. The only negative note I have is that, while I believe this can fit any helmet, some are going to require some ingenuity to mount. For example, in my case, my helmet is too ‘curvy’ and has too many air vents for the ways they give you to mount it. In my case, I simply zip-tied the mount to the helmet thru vent holes and the mount is as sturdy and unmoving as can be. The instructions provided are not very good, but the video on the product page helps a lot. Overall, a great product. It truly exceeds my expectations and with the exception of mounting it to my helmet, simple to use. Highly recommended.”

Customer Review: “Let me tell you about my love/hate, no wait, my hate/love relationship with this mirror. My feelings changed dramatically over a period of two days and two bicycle rides. Introduction I did a lot of research and read a lot of reviews before deciding to buy the “Safe Zone Bicycle Helmet Mirror.” Still, when the mirror arrived, I was shocked by how big it is. I knew I didn’t want one of those tiny dentist-type mirrors because I just didn’t think I would be able to see anything. In making the decision to finally get a mirror, after so many years of riding without one, I wanted one that would actually allow me to see what is behind me. And you can see with this mirror! It is big, with a diameter of a little over 2-¼ inches, so be aware of this if you decide to buy one. The mirror mounts to your helmet easily enough using plastic ties. Three ties come in the bag and you’ll likely just use two of them. Pay attention to how you place the ties. I trashed one because I didn’t insert it “between” the plastic rail that goes against your helmet. You’ll know what I mean as soon as you look at the piece that goes against your helmet. Now here’s my short story about this mirror. Spoiler alert: buy one! Day 1 I mounted the mirror on my helmet and headed right out for a ride figuring I’d adjust it while on the road. That was a mistake. Adjust it before you get on your bike. It was an incredibly windy day, gusting and blowing, and I was aggravated from the start of my ride from having to fight so hard against the wind. And the mirror only added to my aggravation. I could not get it adjusted. I kept fiddling and fiddling with it and just could not find a position that allowed me to see properly. At one point, I was so frustrated, that I started to reach up to yank the mirror off my helmet with the thought that I was just going to heave it into a cornfield. I resisted the urge but knew I hated this thing and just gave up, deciding to take it off when I got home. When I did get home I immediately went online again to find another mirror option. I ordered two types: the “Bike-Eye Frame Mount Mirror” and the “Sprintech Drop Bar Mirrors” (a pair) from Amazon. Day 2 I showed my wife the mirror on my helmet and she laughed, asking if I thought it was big enough. It is big, as I’ve said, and I do think I look pretty goofy with it on my helmet, adding to my overall goofiness that is already severe enough. For whatever reason, I put the helmet on and turned my back on my wife to fiddle with adjusting it again. Standing still, and being calm, allowed me to quickly adjust the mirror and there in my view, crystal clear, was my laughing wife. I was struck by how well I could see behind me just by moving my eyes slightly. With the mirror adjusted, I headed out for another ride. Wow!! What a difference a day makes. This mirror is awesome! I love this thing. As I approach 60 I am finding that I just don’t have the flexibility on a bike, and in general, that I used to have. Turning to look back while riding used to be easy but not so much anymore. And when you are riding into the wind and it’s blowing past your ears it can be impossible to hear a vehicle coming up behind you. Too many times I’ve been surprised by a passing car and I don’t like feeling so vulnerable. With this mirror there are no more surprises. I can’t believe how much difference the mirror makes while riding. I can see everything coming up behind me with ease. After all these years riding without a mirror, I’m amazed at how stupid I’ve been being so blind to traffic from behind. It feels good feeling so much safer now while riding. I will never ride again without being able to see what is coming up on me from the rear. It’s not safe doing so and with this simple technology there is no reason to ride with unnecessary risk given the numerous hazards we already must contend with. I highly recommend this mirror. It’s big, I really want to stress that, so don’t be surprised. But it is lightweight and very stable when mounted regardless of road and wind conditions. Once you position the mirror the way you want it will not move. I’m still interested in seeing my other mirror options when they arrive but one way or another I will be using a mirror of some type from this point forward.”

Customer Review: “I’ve been looking for a reliable helmet-mounted mirror for a while now, and after trying a few different kinds for a couple of years now, I’ve found that this is easily the best one I’ve ever used. I wish I’d started with this one long ago, but at the time I wasn’t willing to spend much more than $25 for a mirror. First, the cons. This takes a little time to mount, especially if your helmet has fewer vents than most other helmets, like my Bern Allston. Fortunately there are Velcro straps that allow you to find the optimal position and angle to place your mirror before finalizing it with the zip ties. The mounting bracket does run along the exterior of the helmet, so that along with the joints does add quite a lot of bulk to the helmet. Because the mount is also semi-permanent, that extra bulk makes it a little more difficult to carry/store your helmet when you aren’t using it. Although I haven’t had any issue yet, I am concerned about the joint sockets. My previous mirrors had various swivel parts irreversibly loosen up over time, so a mere gust of wind was enough to misalign the angle of the mirror. I’ve been using this item daily for a little over a month now and have seen no evidence of wear yet, but I’m curious how this will hold up after a year or two. I’ll certainly update my review if I have any problems. All in all, my complaints are meager and not serious enough to deduct any stars. This is certainly the sturdiest mirror I’ve ever used, the angle of the glass stays exactly where I put it no matter how bumpy or windy the ride gets. There are multiple ball-socket joints that allow me to easily set it in whatever position I need. With local temperatures fluctuating so much this winter, the number of layers I have under my helmet vary and being able to adjust the mirror accordingly makes life so much easier than in the past. The glass is also much larger than any other I’ve had before; a 2.25″ diameter versus ~1″ for all the other mirrors I’ve had. No longer do I feel like I’m shooting for a bull’s eye when looking for the glass, nor do I divert as much effort or attention angling my neck so the mirror aims towards where I need to see. This makes it easier to simply glance and move on, and it also makes it easier to notice vehicle headlights appear in my peripheral vision. I cannot imagine riding my bike without a mirror like this. I feel far more secure being aware of what’s both in front of and behind me, rather than one or the other. Turning your neck or body to look behind you prevents you from seeing sudden, unexpected obstacles in your path, like potholes, debris, pedestrians, shifting stop lights, or other traffic. If you’re an urban commuter like myself, I strongly recommend this mirror because of the improved sense of safety it confers. Although $40 isn’t chump change, it’s worth the extra cost of not having a tiny, flimsy mirror that struggles to maintain its attachment or viewing angle. If helmet-mounted mirrors aren’t your thing, there are others that mount to your handlebars or the fork around your front tire (though I have very little experience with them). Anything that improves your directional awareness will reduce the odds that you will be surprised by things happening around you during your ride, and that can make the difference between life and death.”

Customer Review: “I have been riding bicycles for a very long time. As a teen and a young man I rode to get places, not in competition or for exercise or for personal amusement. I never needed a mirror because the traffic was lighter, I usually rode faster than most of the traffic, I never rode in groups to speak of, I had plenty of flexibility in my neck and shoulders to twist to see behind me, and most of all since I was young I was certain I was invincible. I’m getting back into cycling now for exercise and fun. But with more traffic, riding with friends, going at a slower pace so that the traffic is often overtaking me from behind, and mostly now with the wisdom that only comes with age that I will certainly not come out well in an altercation with a cell-phone distracted idiot-automobile operator. I decided reluctantly that it was time to try a bike mirror. Here is the problem: You are a pretty compact package on a road bike. You neither have nor want things sticking way out to the sides, but if you keep the mirror in tight how do you see past yourself on the bike? You block your own view! And you don’t want an over sized wind-dragging mirror, so small and light is good, but where do you put it so you can see behind you when you need to? I experimented with a few of the more popular concepts and concluded that a flat (non-wide angle) mirror on your eyeglasses or helmet is best. You want a small mirror because you don’t want the windage or the sticking out factor. But if the mirror is already small, you really don’t want to make the view even smaller by using a wide-angle mirror. So forget about the supposed benefits of a wide angle (convex) mirrors unless it is going to be on your beach cruiser and as big as the side mirror on your SUV…BUT if it is a small mirror how much can you see? Can you see enough? Well, if it is on your head like this “Take a Look Mirror” it turns out you quickly adapt to tilting or turning your head ever so slightly this way and that as necessary to peer anywhere you please around the vicinity of your 6 o’clock. If you try this mirror walking around the shop or home, you will not appreciate how intuitive that head tilting is, and how quickly you learn to adjust the mirror so that you can glimpse it in your peripheral vision. Or if you are deliberately looking into it, how you still have your peripheral vision engaged on the road ahead. It is a lot like using your automobile side mirrors: You don’t feel as if you have to look entirely away from where you are going, and if you move your head slightly to change your mirror-view a little, it’s no big deal. I walked around the house with mine and was totally skeptical that it was going to work for me. Once on the bike it was entirely natural and intuitive. OK so this is the right design: A small helmet or eyeglass mounted mirror, flat, not convex. But what about the quality? adjust-ability? value? and so on? Well I was absolutely floored that the quality was so good at this price point. It is a simple thing, but it is also well made from good materials. Perfect! And it comes with a lifetime guarantee from a company that has been around long enough that you know they must mean it. There is a reason this has been such a popular product for so long. As for adjusting it? You can move it very easily to whatever orientation you like. In my experience so far it stays put where you adjust it. It is also easy to adjust with one hand while riding for fine tuning if you need it. Size? I got the “original” and I think it is about right, though I suppose some may prefer the newer compact version. It is important to set the mirror up so that it doesn’t interfere annoyingly with your forward vision, but isn’t too far over so that you can’t just glimpse it. With so much adjust-ability in the mounting there are several options. You will have to experiment and decide what works for you. For me the “original” size works great. Not too big to block my forward vision, not too small to see behind. Just right. I have mine on a pair of aviator style sunglasses that have lightweight thin bows. Not quite wire bows as on RayBans, but nearly so. This is no problem for the mounting. It would also clip easily onto wide bows on wraparound style glasses. And you snap the mirror on and off easily enough to move it to other specs or to your helmet, or if you just want to use your glasses without the mirror while you are having lunch or something. I think there is an “optional extra” to mount it to a helmet, but I also think that for many helmets you might not need it. Just clip it to the shell which might require removing a little foam. And how do I like it? I LOVE it! I never thought I’d be the sort to say that. I’m not the spandex type, but I’m not into looking like a fool either… and I never thought that these mirrors were “cool.” However this mirror gives me a good view astern which has added unanticipated confidence and opportunity when I’m riding. I can speed up or slow down to time my left turns when there isn’t an idiot behind me trying to run me off the road; I can cross busy intersections when I know there isn’t some soccer mom on her cell phone about to cut me off; if I have to swing wide around a pothole or sewer grate I can look behind in an instant to check for an oncoming dump truck….and best of all I can look back there to see if my mates are still keeping up with me (’cause I’m still way faster than most of them *wink*) Fist off if you are on the fence about getting a mirror, just get one. Any one. You won’t regret it. You will like it. Next: The “Take a Look Mirror” beats out the bar end mirrors, the frame mounted mirrors, and all the other wide angle helmet or eyeglass mounted mirrors hands down. Don’t waste your time with the others. Try this one first and you won’t have to try anything else. There is a reason they have been around so long and why they keep getting repeat customers. Peter”

Customer Review: “This is a great accessory for bicycle safety. I tried the mirrors that fasten to handlebars first and found they just did not work well enough. They tended to be in the way; vibrated enough in the wind to make it hard to see; and convex mirrors made it hard to tell if traffic was approaching and how close it was. When I spotted the Take A Look product I decided to give it a try and am glad I did. This mirror will fit on either your glasses or helmet and is very flexible/adjustable. The mirror can be adjusted in several ways and the settings can be easily “tweaked” while riding. Once adjusted the mirror stays positioned and the mirror itself is of good quality. It is large enough to see behind you, but small and light enough not to be an issue. It is easy to “sweep” the view behind you with a simple head movement. I must say that it does take a little getting used to as it can be distracting at first and could block a small part of your view depending on how you mount and adjust it. I tried it first on my sunglasses. It mounts on the side piece of your glasses frame using tension to grab the frame. Rubber protectors prevent it from scratching. It worked fine mounted this way and was a significant improvement over handlebar mirrors. I found the downside of this method when I stopped along the way. I would have to remove the mirror from my glasses; stow it somewhere and then reattach and readjust it when I was ready to go again. I then tried it on my helmet. It mounts by grabbing onto the visor frame along the side where the visor comes around the side to attach to the helmet (obviously you need a helmet with a visor for this option). After a few rides this way I have found this to be the best way to for me to use it, but I think it is a matter of personal preference. With this method it is semi-permanently attached to my helmet and requires only minor adjustment when I put the helmet on. If I take the helmet off the mirror stays with the helmet, so I won’t have to find a separate place for it. The downside of this method, however, is that you have to be careful with the helmet after riding to keep from bending or otherwise damaging the mirror. It is nice to find a simple product that just works! I tried it first on my sunglasses. It mounts on the side piece of your glasses frame using tension to grab the frame. Rubber protectors prevent it from scratching. It worked fine mounted this way and was a significant improvement over handlebar mirrors. I found the downside of this method when I stopped along the way. I would have to remove the mirror from my glasses; stow it somewhere and then reattach and readjust it when I was ready to go again. I then tried it on my helmet. It mounts by grabbing onto the visor frame along the side where the visor comes around the side to attach to the helmet (obviously you need a helmet with a visor for this option). After a few rides this way I have found this to be the best way to for me to use it, but I think it is a matter of personal preference. With this method it is semi-permanently attached to my helmet and requires only minor adjustment when I put the helmet on. If I take the helmet off the mirror stays with the helmet, so I won’t have to find a separate place for it. The downside of this method, however, is that you have to be careful with the helmet after riding to keep from bending or otherwise damaging the mirror. It is nice to find a simple product that just works!”