“Contribute to a society where all cyclists can enjoy riding in safety.”
OUR STORY
Lazer headquarters in Mechelen, Belgium, are where we today shape and promote some of the most advanced cycling helmets. From this office, ideas move to factories in Asia and Europe and then out across a global network of riders. It’s a remarkable evolution from our beginnings in 1919, when the Lacroix brothers ran a tiny workshop in Nivelles, producing leather caps and
gloves for early motorcyclists and pilots.
By 1945 the brothers renamed the company Cross, and soon after introduced its first leather cycling crash hat. For decades these simple “hairnets” were the closest thing to head protection most cyclists used, even though many still preferred to ride bareheaded. That began to shift in the 1970s when some countries required hairnets in races, and even champions like Eddy Merckx wore these hairnets in the final years of their careers.
In 1980 the company became Lazer, just as the sport demanded safer solutions. After retiring, Merckx challenged Lazer to apply its motorsport expertise to cycling, leading to the first true hardshell helmet in 1987. As materials improved, Lazer refined the lightweight, ventilated design
that still defines modern racing helmets.
Adoption remained slow through the 1990s, despite clear evidence that these helmets reduced head‑injury risk. When Johan Museeuw won Paris–Roubaix in 2000, he wore a Lazer helmet for
the entire race but removed it before the finish to avoid being photographed with it. The next generation embraced helmets fully. Riders like Tom Boonen focused not on whether to wear one, but on how to make them lighter, cooler, and more aerodynamic.
Lazer pushed innovation forward with better ventilation, lower weight, easier fit systems, and new construction methods that reduce plastic use while maintaining top‑tier protection. A key achievement to show Lazer’s innovative nature was the introduction of KinetiCore in 2022: Lazer’s own rotational impact protection.
More than a century after our beginnings, we have grown from a leather workshop to a global leader in helmet design, protecting riders in races and everyday life alike.
HIGHLIGHTS
1919
Birth of the company by the brothers Lacroix
1945
The brothers changed the company’s name from Les Frères Lacroix to Cross.
+/- 1950
The release of the first cycling helmet: a crash hat made of strips of leather
1980
Creation of the commercial name Lazer
1987
Introduction of the first hardshell helmet together with Eddy Merckx
2009
Acquisition of Lazer Sport by Sean van Waes
2016
Acquisition by Shimano
2022
Introduction of KinetiCore. Lazer’s own rotational
impact protection technology
2024
Introduction of Verde KinetiCore. The first helmet featuring Lazer’s EcoLoc, allowing to disassemble the helmet for recycling purposes
2026
Launch of “Think Ahead”. Lazer’s commitment to safety, sustainability and social responsibility in everything we do
PRODUCT PHILOSOPHY
Lazer’s product philosophy is the “how” behind our mission. How do we contribute to a society where all cyclists can enjoy riding in safety?
Each helmet is built to protect with confidence, using advanced technology and materials. Every touchpoint is designed to feel intuitive, so adjustments happen naturally and support the flow of the ride.
Comfort is treated as part of performance, with fit, ventilation, and balance refined to create a feeling that stays light and effortless, even on long days out. The development of KinetiCore, Lazer’s own proprietary rotational impact technology, demonstrates this.
The visual identity of each helmet carries Lazer’s distinctive character, giving riders a product that looks as good as it performs. And behind it all sits a commitment to more responsible choices, ensuring innovation moves toward solutions that respect both riders and the planet.
BELGIAN HERITAGE
Belgium runs in our blood, and so does cycling. As a Belgian helmet brand, we carry a heritage shaped by cobbled classics, misty Ardennes climbs, and a culture where the bike is more than transport. It is identity.
Our roots in this landscape push us to design helmets with the same spirit that defines Belgian cycling: resilience, innovation, and an unwavering love for the ride.
We still ride our products over cobbled farm roads, and we strive to innovate, improve and create what we ourselves would want to use and would feel confident in.
Confidence starts at the top.
Use Your Head.
