Let me tell you about my love/hate, no wait, my hate/love relationship with this mirror. My feelings changed dramatically over a period of two days and two bicycle rides.IntroductionI did a lot of research and read a lot of reviews before deciding to buy the "Safe Zone Bicycle Helmet Mirror." Still, when the mirror arrived, I was shocked by how big it is. I knew I didn't want one of those tiny dentist-type mirrors because I just didn't think I would be able to see anything. In making the decision to finally get a mirror, after so many years of riding without one, I wanted one that would actually allow me to see what is behind me. And you can see with this mirror! It is big, with a diameter of a little over 2-¼ inches, so be aware of this if you decide to buy one.The mirror mounts to your helmet easily enough using plastic ties. Three ties come in the bag and you'll likely just use two of them. Pay attention to how you place the ties. I trashed one because I didn't insert it "between" the plastic rail that goes against your helmet. You'll know what I mean as soon as you look at the piece that goes against your helmet.Now here's my short story about this mirror. Spoiler alert: buy one!Day 1I mounted the mirror on my helmet and headed right out for a ride figuring I'd adjust it while on the road. That was a mistake. Adjust it before you get on your bike. It was an incredibly windy day, gusting and blowing, and I was aggravated from the start of my ride from having to fight so hard against the wind. And the mirror only added to my aggravation. I could not get it adjusted. I kept fiddling and fiddling with it and just could not find a position that allowed me to see properly. At one point, I was so frustrated, that I started to reach up to yank the mirror off my helmet with the thought that I was just going to heave it into a cornfield. I resisted the urge but knew I hated this thing and just gave up, deciding to take it off when I got home. When I did get home I immediately went online again to find another mirror option. I ordered two types: the "Bike-Eye Frame Mount Mirror" and the "Sprintech Drop Bar Mirrors" (a pair) from Amazon.Day 2I showed my wife the mirror on my helmet and she laughed, asking if I thought it was big enough. It is big, as I've said, and I do think I look pretty goofy with it on my helmet, adding to my overall goofiness that is already severe enough. For whatever reason, I put the helmet on and turned my back on my wife to fiddle with adjusting it again. Standing still, and being calm, allowed me to quickly adjust the mirror and there in my view, crystal clear, was my laughing wife. I was struck by how well I could see behind me just by moving my eyes slightly.With the mirror adjusted, I headed out for another ride. Wow!! What a difference a day makes. This mirror is awesome! I love this thing. As I approach 60 I am finding that I just don't have the flexibility on a bike, and in general, that I used to have. Turning to look back while riding used to be easy but not so much anymore. And when you are riding into the wind and it's blowing past your ears it can be impossible to hear a vehicle coming up behind you. Too many times I've been surprised by a passing car and I don't like feeling so vulnerable.With this mirror there are no more surprises. I can't believe how much difference the mirror makes while riding. I can see everything coming up behind me with ease. After all these years riding without a mirror, I'm amazed at how stupid I've been being so blind to traffic from behind. It feels good feeling so much safer now while riding. I will never ride again without being able to see what is coming up on me from the rear. It's not safe doing so and with this simple technology there is no reason to ride with unnecessary risk given the numerous hazards we already must contend with.I highly recommend this mirror. It's big, I really want to stress that, so don't be surprised. But it is lightweight and very stable when mounted regardless of road and wind conditions. Once you position the mirror the way you want it will not move. I'm still interested in seeing my other mirror options when they arrive but one way or another I will be using a mirror of some type from this point forward.

I've been looking for a reliable helmet-mounted mirror for a while now, and after trying a few different kinds for a couple of years now, I've found that this is easily the best one I've ever used. I wish I'd started with this one long ago, but at the time I wasn't willing to spend much more than $25 for a mirror.First, the cons. This takes a little time to mount, especially if your helmet has fewer vents than most other helmets, like my Bern Allston. Fortunately there are Velcro straps that allow you to find the optimal position and angle to place your mirror before finalizing it with the zip ties. The mounting bracket does run along the exterior of the helmet, so that along with the joints does add quite a lot of bulk to the helmet. Because the mount is also semi-permanent, that extra bulk makes it a little more difficult to carry/store your helmet when you aren't using it. Although I haven't had any issue yet, I am concerned about the joint sockets. My previous mirrors had various swivel parts irreversibly loosen up over time, so a mere gust of wind was enough to misalign the angle of the mirror. I've been using this item daily for a little over a month now and have seen no evidence of wear yet, but I'm curious how this will hold up after a year or two. I'll certainly update my review if I have any problems. All in all, my complaints are meager and not serious enough to deduct any stars.This is certainly the sturdiest mirror I've ever used, the angle of the glass stays exactly where I put it no matter how bumpy or windy the ride gets. There are multiple ball-socket joints that allow me to easily set it in whatever position I need. With local temperatures fluctuating so much this winter, the number of layers I have under my helmet vary and being able to adjust the mirror accordingly makes life so much easier than in the past. The glass is also much larger than any other I've had before; a 2.25" diameter versus ~1" for all the other mirrors I've had. No longer do I feel like I'm shooting for a bull's eye when looking for the glass, nor do I divert as much effort or attention angling my neck so the mirror aims towards where I need to see. This makes it easier to simply glance and move on, and it also makes it easier to notice vehicle headlights appear in my peripheral vision.I cannot imagine riding my bike without a mirror like this. I feel far more secure being aware of what's both in front of and behind me, rather than one or the other. Turning your neck or body to look behind you prevents you from seeing sudden, unexpected obstacles in your path, like potholes, debris, pedestrians, shifting stop lights, or other traffic. If you're an urban commuter like myself, I strongly recommend this mirror because of the improved sense of safety it confers. Although $40 isn't chump change, it's worth the extra cost of not having a tiny, flimsy mirror that struggles to maintain its attachment or viewing angle. If helmet-mounted mirrors aren't your thing, there are others that mount to your handlebars or the fork around your front tire (though I have very little experience with them). Anything that improves your directional awareness will reduce the odds that you will be surprised by things happening around you during your ride, and that can make the difference between life and death.

This mirror is large and gives a nice, big view of the road behind you. The stalk mechanism used to position it is easy to maneuver and holds the mirror in place where you left it, even over bumps, etc. Securing it to the helmet vents with cable ties is simple and ingenious; much better than adhesives or flimsy clip-on mechanisms.I have two nit-picks, which cause me to give it 4 out of 5 stars:1. The flexible stalk used to extend the mirror off your helmet and hold the mirror in place is too beefy. It’s roughly the diameter of my index finger. That large stalk blocks some of my peripheral vision, and I find it a little hard to see things on the road off to my left, especially while making a left turn. I’m getting used to it; it’s not a deal breaker. It’s like driving car with a super-fat A-pillar though. Going around corners to your left is a little unnerving because the big stalk can block your view of potholes and other things on the roadway.2. Despite the huge stalk that holds it securely, I still find I have to adjust at the beginning of every ride. I’m pretty sure I’m not bumping it on anything between wearing my helmet, and my helmet seems to go on the same place of my head each time. I expected it to be like the mirrors on my car, which never need adjustment after I dial them in. Again, not a deal-breaker, just a nit-pick.Overall, the view of the road behind is so awesome, I would definitely buy it again, even with the minor issues mentioned above.