Electric skateboarding is still a niche activity, which means riders often struggle to find protective gear specifically designed for the sport. The choice usually comes down to bicycle helmets or motorcycle helmets—and motorcycle options are too heavy for casual riding. So when UNIT 1 sent us their AURA smart helmet with integrated lighting and crash detection, we decided to put it through its paces.
Let’s see if the AURA is the urban e-skate helmet riders have been waiting for.
First Impressions: Design & Build
The AURA looks genuinely impressive right out of the box.

Design highlights:
- Clean, minimalistic aesthetic
- Low-profile, lightweight construction
- Reminiscent of premium urban helmets like Bern
- Doesn’t look overly aggressive or bulky
- Wearable for daily casual use (bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, e-skates)
The design philosophy is refreshing. Unlike heavy motorcycle helmets or aggressive mountain bike helmets, the AURA feels approachable and socially acceptable for urban riding. It has a premium look without feeling like you’re wearing specialized sporting equipment.
Safety: The Critical Question for E-Skate Riders
Here’s the hard truth: electric skateboards are riskier than bicycles. Speeds can easily reach 50-60 km/h (30-37 mph), so helmet choice matters.
Most experienced e-skate riders opt for mountain bike helmets with MIPS protection (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System). MIPS is a low-friction layer inside the helmet that reduces rotational force during angled impacts—basically, it lets the helmet shift slightly and absorb rotational energy instead of your head twisting violently during a crash.

(Photo of bulky MTB helmet with MIPS)
Good news: The AURA also features MIPS protection, so you can ride with confidence.

Certifications:
- MIPS-equipped
- NTA-8776 certified (e-bike impact protection up to 45 km/h)
The 45 km/h certification sits well with typical e-skate cruising speeds. For speeds above 60 km/h, lightweight helmets like this become more questionable—but you know your riding style best.
Comfort & Fit
The AURA feels exceptional to wear.

Comfort features:
- Secure head grip with room for slight movement (thanks to MIPS liner)
- Adjustable retention dial at the back for fine-tuning fit
- Magnetic buckle that snaps into place easily and releases with a simple sideways slide
- No fumbling with annoying traditional buckle straps
The magnetic buckle is genuinely satisfying and a quality-of-life upgrade over standard helmet closures.

Integrated Lighting System
This is where the AURA truly shines.

Design Quality:
The lighting integrates beautifully into the helmet without looking cheap or tacked-on. The startup and shutdown animations even display battery levels in a clean, thoughtful way. You can tell serious effort went into the lighting design.
Lighting Modes (via UNIT 1 app):
- Normal mode – Standard visibility
- Strobing mode – Maximum visibility for high-traffic areas
- Eco mode – Intermittent pulsing to extend battery life
Advanced Features:
- Daylight sensor mode – Automatically reduces lighting intensity during the day to save battery
- Rain mode – Theoretically switches to strobing during rainy conditions

A word on Rain Mode: While cool in theory, the helmet doesn’t actually detect rain itself. It pulls weather data from your phone’s weather app. If your app says “cloudy” while it’s pouring outside, the helmet has no idea. A bit gimmicky, but the other features more than compensate.
Crash Detection & Safety Alerts
Here’s the genuinely valuable feature that separates this helmet from purely aesthetic smart helmets.
Crash Alert Technology:
When the helmet detects a hard impact or crash, it automatically:
- Notifies your emergency contacts
- Sends them your current GPS location

For riders who regularly ride alone, this is a meaningful safety feature. Unlike flashy lighting animations, this is something you hopefully never need—but you’ll be genuinely glad it exists if something bad happens.
Handlebar Remote & Turn Signals
The optional remote control mounts to your handlebars and acts as a turn signal controller for the helmet lighting.

How it works:
- Press left or right on the remote
- Helmet displays corresponding turn signals
- Pairs with optional smart rear light system
The catch for e-skate riders: E-skates don’t have handlebars. You’d need to hold the remote in your hand alongside your e-skate remote, which isn’t ideal. The remote’s accelerometer is designed to detect braking movements to trigger red brake lights—a feature that really shines for bicycle and scooter riders with handlebar mounting.

Additional Features
Magnetic Visor:
Attach a windshield visor magnetically—smooth operation and perfect for cyclists. Less relevant for e-skate riders.

Pricing & Accessories
Here’s where you need to budget carefully.
Base Price:
- AURA Helmet: $259
The base price is justifiable for a quality helmet with MIPS, proper certifications, and well-designed integrated lighting.
Accessories (where costs add up):
- Remote control: $39
- Wind visor: $39
- Smart rear light system: $89
The ecosystem gets powerful quickly, but the price climbs just as fast. Whether it’s worth it depends on your riding style and budget.

Verdict: Is It Right for You?
The UNIT 1 AURA is a genuinely nice helmet if you:
- Appreciate casual urban design
- Ride regularly at night
- Value integrated safety features
- Don’t mind premium pricing
As an e-skate helmet specifically? It’s more situational.

The lighting system is excellent. The safety features are legitimate. But some of the smartest features (turn signals, brake detection) really shine for bicycle and scooter riders with handlebars.
However, we genuinely welcome UNIT 1 to the market. There honestly aren’t many helmet options designed with e-skate riders in mind. The AURA is refreshing because it looks good, provides real features, and feels like a proper helmet first and a gadget second.
For casual e-skate riders prioritizing safety and style, the AURA is a solid choice. For aggressive riders regularly hitting 50+ km/h, you might still prefer a dedicated mountain bike helmet with more impact protection.

Either way, the most important thing is wearing a helmet. The AURA makes that choice feel premium.
Ride safe.
If you are interested in buying the Aura, be sure to check out our affiliate discount link here and use code: “ESKATEHQ” to receive $5 off during checkout.
It will help you get a small monetary discount and help us out too. On top of that, you’ll be tagged as an Electric Skateboard HQ customer and probably be treated better. Cheers!



















































