DIY Easy Mounting Methods for Helmets

Mounting devices to a bicycle helmet is a difficult problem space because one can't screw into the foam and the inside of the helmet must not have significant protrusions. There are a number of different reasons why one would use one mounting style over another, including item weight, retention force, and stability. This is an attempt to document the multitude of options and how you might go about implementing them!

If your item is not supposed to be removed, zip ties are great and cheap. Keeps a tight hold, so the held object doesn't vibrate in general. If the surface is uneven, you can add some dots of hot glue in the valleys to push against the object.

If you need your item removed occasionally, velcro (and its cousin dual lock) is a great next option. Its only downside is that it allows vibration and doesn't work for heavier items that could fly off under large movements. You can shore it up using a velcro strap, but sometimes that isn't possible. On the right I am using a piece of plastic as a rain shield.

To use, peel off the backing and stick on, couldn't be simpler!

For when you need a stable, oriented mount and are frequently taking something on and off.

Individual magnets without a backing plate are difficult to "grab" on the adhesive side without covering the magnet, which lowers the strength.

I much prefer thin hard drive magnets, which hold an object firmly but aren't too strong that they pull off your adhesive. Steps:

• First ensure you have two matched (in magnetic orientation) hard drive magnets or a magnet + a similarly sized piece of ferrous metal (half of a large washer)
• Bend the legs to ~45 degrees
• Put some paint, nail polish, or a dab of hot glue on the bent joints so they don't rust over time.
• Put hot glue around and underneath the bent legs, with at least a 1cm diameter circle of hot glue on the object. If the hot glue pulls away easily from the surface you're gluing to, scratch it with sandpaper ahead of time.

Some benefits of this method:

• It's very difficult for the leg to remove itself (it has to pull upwards through the hot glue joint, which connects well to the rest of the foundation).
• If you screw up, just heat up with a hot air gun or just add more hot glue! It sticks to itself very well.
• Minimizes heating of the magnet (which would cause it to lose strength)
• Provides a wide and very flat magnetic surface, great for stability and strength (assuming you don't glue on top of it)
• Oriented and very strong, yet fairly easy to grab and break the bond.
• Easily attaches to uneven surfaces but provides only the minimum 3 required points. (no wobbly 4-legged chair problem)

I have a decently large collection of hard drive magnets of an appropriate thinness, send me an message if you want a few and I will mail them!

Mounts that are dependent on little plastic nubs! The traditional bike light mount is one example, as well as headlamps with no tightening bolts. They wear off or weaken after a year or two and become useless.

Silicone / caulk / jb weld takes a day to cure, and doesn't provide any strength in the meantime. So you need to sometimes make a tricky system to support your object while the adhesive is curing. I've found hot glue to be just as strong in most situations.

Things will fly off in a crash, and that's a good thing! I would recommend a hard shell case around valuables such as your action camera. They are cheap usually and prevent cracked screens :)