Helmets

[Mahk]

I am looking at helmets and am looking for comments/thoughts/opinions.  Brands?  Features?  MIPS? 

Thanks!

[JCampbell]

I've tried on lots of brands for a variety of sports and keep coming back to Giro.  They seem to be the most oval shaped and the only brand that feels like it's molded to my head.  Find a brand that fits your head shape and stick with it.

[Unfit Nitwit]

Giro and Fox fit my head the best.  POC fits well too, but the others have better air flow.


I think even the helmets at Target and walmart pass the same safety requirements.  Quality of build, weight, airflow, and fit all come into play.  I suppose appearance, too.


Some have coverage farther down the back of your head.  They can go too far if you wear a hydration pack and it will push the helmet forward.  These might be labeled "enduro" or "all mountain".


MIPS is in my current helmet.  If it works as advertised I can see where there can be a benefit in a moving impact.  Not a "must have" feature, but I have been around for three people who lost memory immediately after a crash and know of more.  $20 or $30 to the cost of a helmet is OK to me until it gets determined to not be an actual benefit.  Adds a bit of weight and


If you ride on the roads, the neon Q-Tip look might get you noticed earlier by traffic.


Full face helmets are probably more than you want for general use.  I wear mine in the winter sometimes, keeps your face warmer when you tape over the vents on the chin bar.  Some have a removable chin bar, so you can add or remove protection.  One helmet to do both jobs. 


Check the chins strap buckle.  Most are easy to use, but there still may be some oddballs out there.  Make sure you like how it works.  Also be sure the chin strap comes across your ears and jaw where you like it.  Usually there is some adjustment in that, but I have tried on a few that I couldn't get the forward/aft position right.  It either was too far forward behind my ears, or too far back and was too far back under my chin.

[jasonhilt]

Remember, all the helmets must pass the same safety tests.  Higher cost doesn't mean better protection, usually just lower weight.
Like jcambell said, find one that fits you the best that you like and go with it.

[Willyjaybob]

I think there's definitely a difference, depending on what you are looking for--and prices can be deceptive. For myself, I sweat like crazy, so ventilation is really at the top of my list, along with weight since I don't want to feel the helmet on my head. I've spend a lot on many different kinds of helmets, some very nice and spendy, but keep coming back to a $50 Specialized one that just fits my head the best and is so light I forget it's there. Doesn't look quite as cool as my Bell Super, but for me it feels the best hands down. You won't really know until you try some different ones out.

Also, if you're going to be riding in high heat hours when it's 90+ degrees out, color does matter as black will heat up faster that white even though it doesn't look as cool. Visibility is also a factor for some. I like Hi-Viz colors so others can see me coming on the downhills and/or so buddy riders can find me more easily if we get some space between us. Hope this helps.

[Wall]

I wear a medium (7 1/8) and have used Giro Xen, Bell Stoker, Bell Super, and Bontrager Rally.


All have fit well with the Stoker being the most comfortable and I have tested it the most with it taking very bad hits with me walking away with most of my faculties.  It is no longer available but there is a lot of stock out there for cheap.


The Bontrager Rally with MIPS is our current department issue helmet and several of us wear them 8 hours a day/5 days a week in all weather conditions and I have not heard of any complaints.  I luckily have not tested the MIPS yet.


Go with fit above all else.

[bobbydale]

Giro is the best fit for me.  I love the Feature - for price/fit - but there aren't a lot of placed to attach a light if you do night riding.


Bell & Giro are made by the same company.


All the helmets meet a minimum safety requirement - but some are safer than others.  IE - the feature has a lot more back of head coverage than many other Giro helmets.


POC also is sort of the volvo of the helmet game - going beyond on safety.

[tjuillerat]

We have a size run of the POC Trebec for demo if you want to try one.  We then order each helmet for each person.