With integrated front and rear lighting, mesh intercom for group rides, Lumos light synchronization, and a 5-star Virginia Tech helmet rating, Sonorus brings communication, visibility, and protection into one connected helmet for different types of riders.

SANTA CRUZ, CA / ACCESS Newswire / June 30, 2026 / Lumos today announced that Sonorus, its new smart cycling helmet currently live on Kickstarter, has earned a 5-star rating from Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings, an independent helmet safety evaluation program for cyclists.

According to Virginia Tech's published bicycle helmet data, Sonorus earned a STAR score of 8.511 and is listed in the Mountain category with CPSC, EN 1078, and NTA 8776 certifications. Based on the current Virginia Tech dataset, Sonorus ranks 17th out of 304 bicycle helmets tested overall, 6th out of 91 helmets in the Mountain category, and 1st among smart helmets.

The 5-star result gives Sonorus an independent safety foundation for a broader product vision: a helmet designed not only to protect riders during an impact, but also to help them stay visible, connected, and better informed before risk develops.

Virginia Tech's bicycle helmet rating program, conducted in collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, evaluates helmets through a series of impact tests designed to assess how well a helmet can reduce concussion risk in cycling crash scenarios. Virginia Tech states that helmets earning more stars are associated with lower concussion risk in those scenarios and recommends choosing helmets rated 4 or 5 stars. The program also notes that a lower STAR score indicates better helmet performance.

"Safety has always been central to Lumos, but Sonorus represents a broader evolution of what a helmet can do," said Jeff, CEO of Lumos. "The Virginia Tech 5-star rating gives riders an independent measure of impact protection, while the helmet's lighting and communication features help address the moments before an incident happens."

Sonorus is currently live on Kickstarter, with the main campaign ending on July 3, 2026 EDT. Early backers have a limited opportunity to support Sonorus during the live campaign. After the campaign closes, riders will still be able to support the project through the Late Pledge phase.

A Helmet Built Around Connected Visibility

For riders, the Virginia Tech rating adds an important independent safety signal to a helmet designed around a broader idea: modern cycling safety is no longer only about what happens in a crash. It is also about being seen earlier, staying connected to the people around you, and receiving or sharing warnings before a risky moment becomes an incident. "When we designed Sonorus, we didn't want to treat communication, visibility, and impact protection as separate features," said Eric, Product Manager at Lumos. "On real rides, they work together. A rider may need to warn the group about a hazard, stay visible to traffic, and rely on best impact protection if something goes wrong. Sonorus was built around that full safety journey."

At the foundation is impact protection. Sonorus supports NTA 8776, a standard originally developed for speed pedelecs traveling up to 45 km/h, alongside CPSC and EN 1078 certifications. Sonorus is also available with the MIPS Safety System, designed to help reduce rotational motion transferred to the brain during certain angled impacts, a common type of impact in real-world cycling crashes.

Built on top of that protection platform is a visibility system designed to help riders stand out from every direction. Sonorus features integrated front and rear lighting, including a front always-on light, a 100-lumen spotlight, and rear visibility lighting. Through the Lumos ecosystem, riders can also synchronize Sonorus with compatible Lumos devices for a more visible riding presence.

For group riding, the Sonorus Intercom Version adds built-in Mesh intercom communication, allowing riders to stay connected without stopping, shouting, or reaching for a phone. The system supports communication for up to 16 riders, with a noise-cancelling microphone and open-ear audio that lets riders hear conversations, music, or podcasts while still maintaining awareness of surrounding traffic and trail conditions.

On the trail, that can mean quickly warning the rider behind you about a loose rock, sudden drop, approaching hiker, or vehicle. On an e-bike ride or weekend tour, it can mean keeping a partner close even when the group is physically spread out.

The helmet also includes practical details designed for real-world riding: IP67 water resistance, USB-C charging, Fidlock magnetic buckle, Flexifit Pro fit system, Ionic+ padding, removable visor, Lumos Remote support, and a removable battery box designed to extend long-term usability.

With Sonorus, Lumos is positioning the helmet not as a passive piece of equipment, but as an active riding companion: one that helps protect riders in a crash, helps make them more visible before danger develops, and helps groups communicate when timing matters most.

About Lumos

Lumos is a global cycling safety brand on a mission to make riders more visible, connected, and confident on the road. The idea for Lumos began in Boston, where the founders experienced firsthand the challenges of urban commuting and saw an opportunity to make cycling feel safer and more intuitive. Today, Lumos designs smart helmets and visibility products that bring lighting, signaling, and communication into everyday rides. Since its first award-winning Kickstarter launch, Lumos has built a global community of riders and continues to push cycling safety forward through thoughtful technology and design.

Contact details

Thomas
PR Manager, Lumos
Email: thomas@lumoshelmet.co
Press Kit

SOURCE: LUMEN LABS HK LIMITED