Nutcase bicycle helmets are tough to crack -- and (surprise!) they look great

Wearing your bicycle helmet might be the law, but it can also be a fashion disaster. Not anymore, thanks to Michael Morrow, the founder of Portland-based Nutcase Helmets. The company's bright helmets come in a spectrum of patterns, colors and cool graphics that make wearing your helmet -- dare we say it -- cool.

"At the end of the day, we're just trying to make helmets fun. If you love your helmet and the way you look in it, you're gonna wear it more often," says Morrow, a graphic designer by trade who saw the humble bike helmet's potential as a "good canvas for graphics."

Nutcase's bucket-shaped classic shell covers a bit more of the head than a traditional bike helmet, making it warmer and offering more protection.

The design is also suited to a wider range of sports than a regular bike helmet, and can be used for skateboarding, surfing, rollerblading and snowboarding. "It's great for kids who want to use their helmet for all kinds of activities and who want to look good wherever they're going," says Morrow.

Designs run the gamut from classic black with an 8-ball logo to white with multi-colored polka dots, and there are styles to appeal to boys, girls and adults alike. Helmets are $40 each, and are appropriate for children older than 5. A sizing chart on the Web site can help pinpoint which size is right for you.

Find Nutcase helmets at 20/20 Cycle on Capitol Hill, or order online at www.nutcasehelmets.com.

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