Mountain Biking - Tell me about your helmet

I'm shopping helmets and am looking in the $50 to $75 range, but was wondering what everyone is wearing? Helmets are such an individual thing, so I was interested in hearing what kind of helmet everyone's rockin', what you like about it and what price range it falls in to and where you got it. Even if it's an X-mart helmet, tell me about it! Or maybe you know about some good online deal?

I promise, I'm not trying to start an argument about the protection capabilities of a $15 helmet vs. a $150 helmet, but I currently don't have a helmet and really need one (I feel stupid riding without one on trails even though they're not too tech). So that's why I'm curious.

I've considered getting an X-mart special to get by, but I hate to do that and turn around and spend more money on another helmet in a few months knowing I'll just have the X-mart to toss in a corner of my garage as a backup that will rot. Wish I had the cash to just hit the LBS and just pick one up, but due to tight cash flow, I have to be the super shopper when it comes to any of my gear.

So, tell me about your bucket!

Mine's Grey, Black and yellow and stinks pretty bad.

Actually, I have a Giro Havoc that costs about $65.00 (if I remember), has a decent amount of air vents, is medium weight and I think pretty stylish, well, as stylish as helmets can get.

I don't really get too attached to helmets though. I've had to replace three from damaged sustained by getting hit by cars. Each incident not my fault (blindsided) and each time I feel my helmet saved me from significantly more serious injury. So yeah, I'm a big advocate of helmet use.

My stepson is also now a big advocate. He was riding through our neighborhood with some friends and caught the edge of the sidewalk with his front tire. It topsided him and although he had a helmet on, it wasn't strapped, so when he hit the sidewalk, the helmet went flying. He sustained what is called "Spinal Shock" and was numb from the shoulders down, he was airlifted to the children's hospital and didn't regain sensation in his lower limbs for a couple hours. Most terrifying evening of his 13 years. Probably that of his Mom and mine as well.

Even little crashes can cause big injuries.

O.K., enough soap box.

I don't see the point of spending $150 on a helmet. Find one in the colors you like and fits well. Unless you're a pro racer or have more money than sense, a sub $75 helmet is perfect. I think there are too many comfort compromises in $25 to $45 helmets, so I would recommend a budget of $50 to $75. Find a brand you like and then buy last year's model on closeout from an online retailer. The helmets are almost the same from year to year in each model line. The only thing that changes is the color.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/HE503A05-Giro+Havoc+06.aspx This is my same helmet, but mine's a couple of season's old now.

i just use a $40 cdn specialized air force.. it looks and works great and it's easy on the wallet... i didn't see the need to spend almost 100 on a helmet anyway... all of them offer pretty much the same protection (unless it's a fullface) and just gets better ventilation and lighter as you go up the price ladder.

I have the SixSixOne Bravo XC. I think it retails at the upper end of your price range. Before that, I had a no-name generic followed by a Giro Gila, which suited me at the time. I've also tried my son's early-2000s Specialized.

The 661 is the first XC helmet that has actually fit me snugly. I have a smallish head and wear a S/M shell. When I first put it on I thought it was going to be too tight - - afraid I'd never get a Headsweats inside it or that I'd get headaches. I see now it's just that I wasn't used to a proper snug fit.

It snuggles down comfortably above my browline and has a crank-knob adjuster on the back (like my welding hood or my wildfire-fighting hardhat have). Maybe old news to folks who've had better helmets for years, but I was wowed.

Anyway, sorry to be so windy, but the Bravo XC suits me well. Anyone with a large head better try the L/XL shell model on in person to be sure it's large enough.

I love Giro's Havoc - good all purpose helmet. Fairly light weight and plenty of vents. Performance has them on sale for $45.00 right now. I just bought a new one today - it's silver and white to match my hard tail! (that's kindof a girly thing to say huh?)

Mine is grey and it protects my noggin.

I only paid $50cdn for my lid. Its light, has lots of ventilation, and it looks pretty good too. I would reccomend it, but its not often you will find it new for $50cdn.

The Giro Xen. As others have mentioned, it really stinks... my girlfriend complains about the smell all the time..

http://www.ridepark.fr/images/ridepark/articles/Giro%20Xen%20Bronze.jpg

I guess I can't tell you about my helment becuase its $180.

Specialized Air Force red/black: weighs 270 grams without the visor, it fits my noggin pretty good, it was only 35 Euros (sells for $35 in the US)
The air vents are only so-so, and the inside padding is getting un-glued but I didn't expect much from a helmet in this price range anyway.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/3889/spechlmtaforceredblk06fhf6.jpg

Edit: oh, just saw cream.soda's got the same one.

My heads so big I had to get the biggest size at the store.=o

Mine is a Giro, blue and black,has a screw holding the visor on(crash related),and really stinks! I'm going to go check out a Specialized Instinct later today. I'll let you know how I like it.

There are three of us in our family that ride. We have six helmets, 2 Specialized, 1 Giro, 1 Bell, 2 Schwinn. I used to feel there was no protection difference between the cheapo helmets and the more expensive helmets, but I'm beginning to feel differently. The best helmet we have is a Specialized Chamoix. It fits great, feels great and is well ventilated. Another plus for this helmet, the visor clips on and off easily so I can use it on road rides or MUPS. I think this model sold for about $45 US. BUT the reality is, it just isn't that much better than the $15-20 X-Mart helmets.
One important factor you need to consider. The shape of your head. If you read some of the posts about helmets, you'll find that different brands are designed for different shapes. (I'm serious). As an example, of the helmets we have, I can't wear the Bell, but my son loves it. So try out a couple of cheapo brands, then buy the one that fits the best.

http://www.bellhelmets.com/images/products/496.jpg

Bell slant, 49.99. If you have a fat head, get it.

i just use a $40 cdn specialized air force.. it looks and works great and it's easy on the wallet... i didn't see the need to spend almost 100 on a helmet anyway... all of them offer pretty much the same protection (unless it's a fullface) and just gets better ventilation and lighter as you go up the price ladder.
+1

http://www.bellhelmets.com/images/products/496.jpg

Bell slant, 49.99. If you have a fat head, get it.

Girlscout got one just like that yesterday,I picked one up in white today.Fits my ugly head well.

Girlscout got one just like that yesterday,I picked one up in white today.Fits my ugly head well.
Haha, I tried on every mtb helmet at performance. This is the only one that fit, of course back then I had 8 inch long hair. Bell slant powar!

Mine looks pimpin' with my new 661 comp gloves in white....if I could get gastro to give me that saddle...
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/3557/helmetglvvc0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Mine match too!!

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/9872/pictureyd8.jpg

My helmet likes to be rubbed.

ya'll are making me feel left out. My gloves are blue and my helmet is black:(

ya'll are making me feel left out. My gloves are blue and my helmet is black:(

My gloves are blue and black and my helmet is red and gray.

my gloves are red and black, match my bike rims.

my pedals, helmet and frame all match though... :D:D silver and blue

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l202/creamsoda89/AIRFORCEHELMETS.jpg

the circled one is mine... other colour choices available as shown.

Mine match too!!

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/9872/pictureyd8.jpg

We've got the same gloves :)

I've got a simple "BMX" style Pro-Tec helmet. It doesn't much like the shape of my head anymore so I plan on getting a new one soon not to mention it's got horrible ventilation which I'm really starting to notice now.

I'll copy everyone else with the color matching of the gloves.

http://mirror06.redprotection.com/images/gear/pp/R6034603.jpg

i wear my snowboarding helmet san ear muffs and padding. fits like a glove and offers me great protection. much heavier than a mtb helmet but, doesn't bother me. are there disadvantages to using this for mtb?

i wear my snowboarding helmet san ear muffs and padding. fits like a glove and offers me great protection. much heavier than a mtb helmet but, doesn't bother me. are there disadvantages to using this for mtb?

being a snowboarding helmet, you're probably going to mountain bike in much hotter conditions than when you're snowboarding, and thus you might find it to lack ventilation. that said, it looks like it's got a couple of vents, so i say go for it! looks solid enough... :p

yeah. another disadvantage. heaver.

i see that this thread has filled up quite fast... :D

Mine looks pimpin' with my new 661 comp gloves in white....
Great taste in gloves, there, 66 :)!

Thanks for all of the input everyone! This is good stuff. I like the helmets you're using. Definitely helping me with my choice.

One other question for everyone. When it comes to color choice, I've noticed some of you wearing black or dark grey helmets. Do you find them to be hot in the sun (or considerably hotter than a light colored helmet)? I've been considering a dark grey or matte black helmet, but that has made me wonder. Living in Texas, I don't want my head to melt and fall off. Then again, I do most of my riding in the early morning before the sun get's up and it gets too steamy.

Oh well, my gloves are Sixsixone Descends in red... So I've gotta go with a color that doesn't clash! :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/F14K/Pic_20060731_0006.jpg

Its already lasted longer than my previous 2. I like it, a little hot....but not as bad as i expected.

Damn, no full face love?

I have this:
http://www.cactusbike.com/images/bikecatalog/APPAREL/APP202H.jpg

I love it, can be a little hot in the sunny days around here but I like it very much, makes you feel like your head is in a nuclear shelter so its all good.

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/64/51/46/10/0064514610020_215X215.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>:photo_opener('http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/64/51/46/10/0064514610020_500X500.jpg,http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/64/51/46/10/0064514610020_500X500.jpg,http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/64/51/46/10/0064514610020_AV_60X60.gif&product_id=4645508','/catalog/detail.gsp','1','false','','0');)Nothing special but seems to do the job for me so far. It's an Ironman that I got from my BX (Base Exchange) for $16 and change. Walmart has them $17.42 according to the website. Vents seems large enough and lightweight. Rode the other day when it was 89 degrees and humidity level of "high enough" and didn't have to wipe sweat from eyes much if any.

ive been thinking of a full face all summer, what are some good ones to check out?

http://www.bellhelmets.com/images/products/496.jpg

Bell slant, 49.99. If you have a fat head, get it.


Thats a hot helmet! got the same works great.

I've got a Bell Influx in black/carbon. Looks quite a bit like the Slant, but more black.

06 bell belistic. Saved me a few times, needs a new visor now for those reasons.

As others have mentioned, it really stinks... my girlfriend complains about the smell all the time..

http://www.chazography.com/wp-content/uploads/11-10-2005_febreze.jpg
:D

my Loius Gearneau Tbone and ergo air gloves match too. the helmet was bugundy when I got it and the gloves were black. they are both dirt colored now and smell pretty much the same

doesnt it get hot with that on in the summer

Yes, but its better than leaving brain matter and flesh on the trail

avalanche165

Mine is a blue Bell that makes me look better than an organ donor!

taylor p, not at all actually. there is WAY too much emphasis put on ventilation with bike helmets in my opinion. i used to have the protec that Flak has, i just got the burton because of the padding/ear muffs for winter.

the ventilation is plenty, i have long, thick, curly hair, AND...its black. if anyone would get hot in that helmet it would be me. at $40 its a great investment.

I use a protec ace helmet, works fine. But if you are downhilling, you should wait and invest in a full faced helmet, save yourself some cosmetic surgeory bills!

I've got a Giro Targa in red but I haven't worn it at all this year after being put off the way it looks. :( It seems to sit quite high on my head, maybe I could just do with a bigger size. Just the other day I decided I'd get another so I'm quite interested what other people here like.

Just got an email today that JensonUSA is having 15% off sale on their Giro and Bell helmets.

thanks for this thread tryplecrown. ive been wanting a full face for awhile now and finally ordered one from the lbs today.

got the Pro-Tec Ace spade in army green for $54.95. they had a medium there and i was so surprised at how light it was. it was lighter than my snowboarding helmet that im wearing how and its not even full face! Still not nearly as light at the conventional biking helmet but worth it to me.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000EYOB1G.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

These are all really cool helmets. I'm getting anxious to go try some on at my lbs (then order it from Nashbar or something (even though Nashbar's on my BAD list right now... but that's for another post)).

Av, that green full face is sweet. I wish I could justify wearing one, but I'd probably look pretty silly rolling the trails around here with one of those on. I actually used to wear a full face back in by bmx days (I was a Hoffman / Mirra fan, what am I saying, I still am!). I remember having to adjust since I couldn't see my front tire. I finally felt like I was adjusting until I tried to hop over my bars to sit on them during a flatland session, and both feet got stuck in my brake cables. I'll just say that sucked, and I suddenly realized why flatlanders wore open face helmets. But like I said, people would probably think I was a nut if I wore one on the local trails.

I will say that on my ride last week we were riding a trail I hadn't ridden before (Mineral Wells Cross Timbers trail) and went down a fairly steep grade in the back of the loop. I just starting thinking 'helmet, helmet, helmet...' about half way down. Gotta get one soon. Really soon. Feel like a dork without one.

Just thought I'd post this since I just got it on an email. Looks like Nashbar's having a helmet sale (http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?subcategory=&category=&browse=all&storetype=estore&estoreid=664&brand=&searchbox=&start=1&orderby=price1&pagename=).

I started out with a good deal on a Giro Semi MX $28.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/semimx_black.jpg
I smacked a tree and dented it so I decided to go with a more futuristic looking skate lid. I bought an Azonic Skid Lid for about $18 and put my Semi MX visor on it.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/skidlid.jpg
It started getting hot this summer and the Azonic was very heavy and lacked ventilation, so I just go a Bell Influx. It's very light, well ventilated and definately worth the $50 I paid.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/untitled.jpg

Iam with the bell slant. very comfortable and looks great too.