So using that video as “facts”, we’ve cleared up that the white helmet is cooler than the black when they’re just sitting in the sun. Which is fine for all the garage queen owners who don’t ride.

Why didn’t the guy go for a 20 minute ride wearing each, stop, and immediately take the same temp measurements to see if there was a difference when it matters most, when you’re actually wearing and riding with them on? Just think about a regular quick ride. Each helmet would experience, wind, sun, shade, etc.

Those “facts” don’t say much at all when you think about it.

I agreed with the video that white is cooler than black when both are simply placed in the sun for an hour. The video showed that.

What it failed to show was the temps outside and inside of the helmets during or immediately after a ride, you know, when a helmet is needed to be worn (unless you need a helmet on all of the time because you fall a lot).

The wind going over the helmets will reduce that surface temp shown in the video by a substantial amount no matter what the color is. Add in the insulation factor of the styrofoam lining and the helmet’s ability to vent, I bet the temp difference between white and black would be negligible, especially with regards to the rider’s “scalp thermometer”.

You’re right, I didn’t take thermodynamics in college. So why is this the case then? Wouldn’t the wind effectively be stripping some of that heat away from the helmet compared to when it’s just sitting in the sun like in the video? This would slow down the heat transfer into the helmet and through the insulation to your head wouldn’t it?

When I got into my truck today, I put my hand on the roof. It was pretty damn hot since it was sitting in the direct sun for 3 hours. I got on the highway, traveled 21.5 miles and had to stop at a store. When I came to a stop, I touched the roof again and it wasn’t near as hot as when I first left (full sun the entire time, windows down, no AC running). How come it wasn’t the same temp as at the start??

Even if the temps of the helmets after a ride still showed a disparity with the white being cooler, would those temps even be enough to notice by the rider to really make a difference when purchasing a new helmet?? I’d like to see a test done after a ride to see how much of a difference there would be inside the helmet since surface temps don’t necessarily translate to what you’d feel with the helmet on.

Im honestly asking and looking for an honest answer because I like to learn. Teach me Sierra!