Road Cycling - Best Road Helmet

I've decided it's time to retire my old specialized helmet and purchase something a little more modern and in better condition. I have looked around and read some reviews, but I want your feedback. Please give me your recommendations on the new helmets that are out there. Pros and Cons would be great.

Thanks,
:)

I like the Specialized S1 of the helmets I tried. The Pneumo and Ghisallo just didn't fit the shape of my head all that well. I like the dial adjuster on the head retension system and the telescoping and easily removable visor (which has no visible mounting holes when removed as well). Very light and well ventilated as well. Plus, I haven't seen anyone else around here with one, which is a nice bonus for me.

Louis Garneu Aki V

I love my giro pneumo, but then I haven't tried any of the other new ones.

I find the Pneumo to be the best fitting helmet I have ever tried. My first choice.

Just bought myself a Selev Alien, not top of the line, but still very light and comfortable. You hardly feel the helmet at all while rinding

Niek

I like the Giro Pnuemo.

I think that you are going to have to go and try on a lot of helmets. When I was looking for a new helmet last year I had made up my mind that I wanted a Garneau or Limar. When I went int the store to try on and buy the helmet I found that neither of these fit comfortably. I ended up buying a Giro Pneumo because it fit correctly. While all heads look alike they are all shaped differently. I feel you would be better off trying on several and geting the one that fits the best rather than the one that looks the best.

Briko Twinner, Briko twinner,Briko twinner...I absoutley love them

Benjamin

The one that fits the shape of your head best and that is comfortable when strapped-on snugly. Giro tend to favor oblong heads whereas Bell favor more round ones, etc... On retention systems, some models like the Limar helmets offer a wide range of adjustability with fewer helmet molds whereas others have a larger number of different size helmet shells. The wide range of adjustability might be attractive if you sometimes wear a bandana, headbands, ear warmers or are likely to change hair length or styles whereas a narrow band of size adjustablity will be fine if you're pretty set about what you wear under your helmet and how you wear your hair.

Finally, a higher price does not mean a helmet will offer more protection. Value-priced major brand name models of helmets ($40 - $80) often times work just as well as the chi-chi models, aka. bike shop and pro team helmets since those folks don't pay MSRP for them. If you like the high-end helmets look for last years models on close-out. For instance, the $128 Limar F107 helmets can be found for about $80 right now at Nashbar. Actually, you can also purchase a newer model Limar helmet from Limar's Web site and the cost + shipping from Italy will also be about $90, well below what you'll find even at the Web-based Etailer sites.

Was able to purchase a new Giro Eclipse helmet off of eBay for $30. Actually, were so inexpensive that I bought two. I broke the old one when it saved my head after I endo'd over a jump and smacked a tree. Thank you Giro!! Did such a good job that I decided on another Eclipse.

The pros are that it is about the lightest helmet out there. Believe it is even lighter than Giro's more expensive Pnuemo. That is why I bought it in the first place. I was able to tell the difference in weight between my old helmet and the Eclipse the first time I tried it on my head. It also comes with a good number of foam padding inserts to allow for accurate fitting. They really fit my head very well and I never know it is there after a few minutes. Allows me to focus on the riding and enjoying myself.

The cons are that they are no longer available in what I consider reasonable colors. I wanted either red (like my old one) or yellow to match my "kit". But settled for the light blue, as they price was right. Even paying full ticket for a new one still only gets you stupid colors. So might as well go to eBay and save $70 on a high-end, lightweight helmet in a color you don't care for. But the Eclipse has served me very well and I highly recommend it.

I second the reccommendation on the Eclipse. Great light weight helmet for around $100. I haven't looked on e-bay but if they are going for $30 that's a steal. I like the Pneumo the best but could justify spending the extra $40-50.

Giro Pneumo is costly but worth it.

No complaints about my 02 Giro Eclipse. Got it for $50 from Colorado Cyclist. It's light, fits well, looks good, and was good bargain!

I can not suggest the Specialized King Cobra. I got it from my brother in law last year for doing some work on his bike. It's heavier than the Boreas that it replaced, and isn't as comfy. If I were to get a helmet for the spring, it would be a Pneumo. Giro just fits my head better. Although, Bell has some sexy helmets out these days, too. Anyhoo, try on a lot of them before you buy.

I just purchased a Specialized Allez a few weeks ago. It is great molded helmet. It fits perfectly to my head. I really like the head retention knob that they use with their helmets to help further its fit quality.

I love my Limar F107. Got it on a closeout special for $65 canadian.

The Bell Ghisallo is the best fitting helmet I've had. The adjustability allows me to wear a cap underneath, with no straps or velcro to change.:thumbup:

Finally,
I have been waiting for a Ghisallo post like that. Bsed on a very positive review of the Ghisallo I got one. I love it. I got mine for half price from Jensen.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.asp?number=23455

There are other internet retailers that have leftovers at discount as well.

I love my ghisallo too, expensive but so much head cooling, and its really the only helmet i've tried that fits my head, and its fits like a glove. Like bikes I think it's all a question of fit, go and try a few and see how they fit.

i just got a Ghisallo also...fits great...and looks awesome. honestly i don't "like" wearing a helmet from a cooling standpoint...but this one does an awfully GOOD job on keeping my head cool :D

Currently I'm using a MET Stradivarius which is also excellent. Light weight, brilliant ventilation and the adjustment and support fraem make this helmet the most comfortable that have ever worn and that icludes various Giro helmets which I now consider to be over priced.

Thanks guys. You have given me a place to start, but I will be trying them on to see which model fits the best. With all of the hills around here I feel I better have a good helmet in case one of these decents goes all wrong.

Another vote for the Giro Eclipse. It fits me PERFECT!
I've bought two of them off ebay now. My wife liked mine so well that I had to get her one too after she got her new bike. I think the total price with shipping was about $35 each. Like someone else said, the color selection is not the best, and sizes per color is even more limited. We both ended up getting the carbon-fiber(dark grayish) looking ones. I thought I wanted something brighter but I really like the looks of the darker color now anyhow. I really wanted a red, white, and blue Pneumo but I just could not see spending that much money when I could get the eclipse for over $100 less.

Try the Catlike Kompact as used by the Kelme (sp?) team. V light and v unusual.

I have a medium sized melon and I found that the Limar F107 fits my head like a glove! The Giro's (Eclipse & Pneumo) are well made but a little too wide for my noggin. The Limar fits me perfect.

I'd say figure out how much you want to spend and go to different shops to see what fits best, what has the vents that you think you'll need. Then once you know what feels coolest on your head pick out the color that looks coolest on your head.

Good Luck!

David