Gear Junkie: New tool for biking after dark

It may look like a prop from a sci-fi flick. But the Lumos helmet is a new tool for bikers who find themselves out after dark.

With bright-white LED lights in front and red LEDs in back, the helmet gives cyclists superior visibility. A bonus, it has turn signals that operate with a handlebar-mounted control.

The $179 helmet for the most part proved solid in my review. Its brightness was visible to drivers and fellow cyclists, and with their high position (on my head) the LEDs serve as a beacon riding in the night.

It may seem expensive. However, a bike helmet and quality set of lights can cost as much as the Lumos. The helmet is third-party certified in the U.S. and Europe for impact safety.

It weighs 15.5 ounces and charges via a USB cable. One button on the back of the helmet controls the modes. The helmet has strobe and continuous-shine settings for front and back.

In all, there are 60 LED lights that shine up to 80 lumens bright. The helmet has additional safety features you can set up with an app.

Pair the helmet to a phone for a brake-light feature. Your phone senses when you’re decelerating and signals the helmet to brighten its rear LEDs.

Another feature, the Lumos comes with handlebar turn-signal buttons. Pair these with the helmet and you can alert drivers that you’re turning, with orange arrows illuminating on the back.

The Lumos launched as a crowd-funded product on Kickstarter in 2015. It is on the market and ready to go before you again roll off into the night.