LIMAR

Overview

Limar is an Italian helmet and eyewear manufacturer specializing in high-performance cycling products for road, mountain bike, and urban cycling disciplines. The company has built its reputation over more than 35 years on a focus on lightweight helmet design and innovation, positioning itself among Europe's top helmet brands. Limar exports globally across 90% of world markets, with particular strength in European markets and growing presence in Asia-Pacific regions.

History

Limar was founded in 1986, leveraging 20 years of EPS shape-molding expertise from its parent company MPE. The company introduced its first bike helmet, the CICLO L3, in 1988 and has since established itself as a pioneer in lightweight helmet technology, introducing the world's lightest helmets including the Ultralight PRO104 at 170 grams in 2009 and the Ultralight+ in 2011. Notable milestones include the 1993 Team Gatorade helmet collaboration with professional cyclist Gianni Bugno, the 2013 Velov urban cycling helmet that won the IF Product Design Award, and a return to professional team sponsorships starting in 2015 with Direct Energie and later Astana.

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Limar maintains an in-house testing laboratory at its Northern Italy headquarters capable of simulating official safety tests, which improves design efficiency before manufacturing. Final production is outsourced to China, where finished products undergo final testing before distribution.

Notable Products

• Ultralight+ - Flagship lightweight helmet marketed as the world's lightest, continuing Limar's core focus on minimal weight without compromising safety.
• Ultralight PRO104 - 170-gram helmet introduced in 2009 that held the record for world's lightest cycling helmet.
• Velov - First helmet specifically designed for urban cycling, winner of the prestigious IF Product Design Award in 2013.
• Team Gatorade Helmet - 1993 collaboration with professional cyclist Gianni Bugno, pioneering team-branded helmet design.
• Vega - Recent model characterized by aggressive design for mountain biking applications.

Reputation

Limar is recognized among cycling enthusiasts and professionals as a specialist in lightweight helmet technology with a strong heritage of innovation spanning over three decades. The brand has regained prominence through professional team sponsorships and is positioned among Europe's top helmet manufacturers. Strengths include consistent focus on weight reduction, design awards, and global distribution reach. The brand appeals primarily to performance-oriented cyclists rather than casual riders, with particular recognition in European markets.