Sena M1 EVO EMTB Helmet Review 2024

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When is a helmet not just a helmet? We don’t mean to ask a riddle in a review, but the Sena M1 EVO MTB helmet does more than protect your head. Sure, it protects your head—it carries certification from the CPSC—but it includes a safety taillight as well as a sound system that provides a host of interesting functions, including acting as an intercom with other riders. In our review of the Sena M1 EVO helmet we will take a look inside this exciting helmet.

Let’s get the basics of the helmet out of the way: This MTB helmet carries certifications both for the U.S. (CPSC 1203) and the EU (EN 1078), so potential buyers can be confident that this helmet meets basic safety standards. It comes in two sizes to cover heads ranging from 55 to 63cm in circumference. And despite the light and electronics, it weighs only 340g (12 oz.), which is right in line with many other mountain bike helmets.

So what makes this a mountain bike helmet? The visor. Sena makes other models specifically for road riding, such as the R1 EVO. The visor is helpful for anytime a rider is moving in and out of wooded areas; suddenly riding into bright sunshine can make it hard to see the trail and not having the sun in your eyes (thanks to a visor) means your eyes don’t need as much time to adjust when you ride into a wooded area. The reason this isn’t considered a helmet for the road is one of speed, not style. Above 20 mph, the wind will grab the visor and push the helmet around on your head, which isn’t comfortable and reduces the helmet’s ability to protect you in the event of a fall.

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The Sena M1 EVO’s controls are positioned within easy reach behind the rider’s ear.

The rear light is positioned in a prominent location for each viewing by drivers.

The occipital retention device gives the Sena M1 EVO a secure fit so it won’t move around.

The speakers are positioned just above the rider’s ears.

What makes this helmet remarkable is its mesh communications system. Mesh is a means of connecting devices that is similar to Bluetooth, but not the same. Unlike Bluetooth, mesh allows a number of devices to connect to each other without needing a hub, plus they can connect over greater distances. Practically speaking, it means that a group of six friends could go for a ride and be spread out over several hundred yards and maintain communication. Suppose one rider takes a wrong turn; as long as they are still within the Sena M1 EVO’s 900m (2953 ft.—more than a half mile) range, riders can check in with each other and then find their way back. Mesh is also handy because it offers a more stable connection; Bluetooth is an awesome technology, but it can be very fussy.

The system offers multiple communication channels, which is handy should you find yourself overhearing a conversation that’s not part of your group. The helmet sports its own speakers and mic and the sound quality is surprisingly thanks, in part to mic and speaker placement, but also thanks to noise-canceling circuitry. This is not like trying to talk on a smartphone while riding.

Thanks to the Sena smartphone app, users can receive GPS directions, listen to fitness app cues and listen to music. But don’t take our word for what a terrific design the Sena M1 EVO is; it won the Eurobike (Europe’s biggest bike trade show) Award and a reddot smart product design award. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that you can get all this for less than $200.

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