Winter Cycling - helmets

in some of these winter posts it appears to me that some of you use what looks like a snowboarding helmet. am i right? if so why is this?
rob

I use a generic cycling helmet from Canadian Tire which is a little bit too big for me. That way I can wear my headband and balaclava etc. underneath. Then I wear a helmet cover over it.

Maybe the helmet cover makes our helmets look like something other than cycling helmets?

Steepandcheap.com or campmor.com both have ski/snowboard helmets for 50-60% off retail. They have vents that you can open or close depending on how hot or cold you are. They have ear covers to keep you warm as well.

They work great for my commute here in Minnesota.

I wore my cycling helmet year round until my wife got me a ski/snowboard helmet for Christmas. I was a little bewildered, as I was using my cycling helmet in the winter. I thought for sure I was going to have to wear my baclava underneath it. WRONG!!! I could not get over how warm it was, so much better than a cycling helmet/baclava combo. I would highly recommend this to anyone riding in temperatures similar to Winnipeg. The vents have removable plugs which I find are easier to regulate temperature than a cycling helmet over baclava.

Plus I can use it when skiing!

winters dont get all that cold here in the PNW, but man i hate to get my ears cold. plus it is difficult for me to warm up on some days at work i have to stay in the cold once i get there every now and then. i have yet to commute in the winter and im not sure im going to yet just lookin. thanks guys and gals.

I wear a skateboard helmet. More coverage, less venting. In -30C weather vent holes feel like drill bits being slowly screwed through forehead.

I took up snowboarding this winter, went big bucks on a Giro Omen helmet because it's great for cycling too. Venting is easily adjustable, helmet is very comfortable, can still use a balaclava underneath on the real cold days....

I had a nice full face BMX helmet but it was too heavy and I couldn't ride in the drops with it because it sank too low on the neck. Anyone had success with the snowboard helmets while riding in the drops?

I've been very happy with my Giro BMX helmet, in all kinds of weather.

pinerider Without a visor, does the wind and rain beat on your forehead and cheeks?

+1 I sold the BMX helmet sometime back. Now that the ski helmets are on sale, I'm going to try the Giro Fuse Helmet with ear flaps and vents that open or close. This helmet weights 14oz about half that of the BMX full face. The back of the helmet is cut higher so it'll probably be good for riding on the hoods and drops with good peripheral vision.

Some would say this is overkill but the 20vent helmet required a microfiber hat AND wool hat with extra stuff added over the ears. My head stayed warm but the helmet didn't sit snuggly on the head as it should.

The caveat is that this Giro Fuse Helmet does not have a visor. The safety goggles will work well but I'm not sure how to block the windy rains from hitting the forehead and cheeks.

http://di1.shopping.com/images1/pi/9e/84/3d/32919565-177x150-0-0_.jpg


I took up snowboarding this winter, went big bucks on a Giro Omen helmet because it's great for cycling too. Venting is easily adjustable, helmet is very comfortable, can still use a balaclava underneath on the real cold days....

I haven't ridden in the rain with it yet VR. I found out last week that it's a little too warm when mountain biking at a few degrees above freezing. My other helmets all have visors but I'm not sure they make a big difference in the rain - Lots of rain forecast for this week, but it'll be too warm to check out the snowboard helmet (no complaints here!).

Reporting back this morning was 28F and clear. The Giro Fuse kept my ears warm even on the faster decents (over 20mph). No annoying wind noises like the skimpy bike helmets. Nice and quiet.

About half way into work, I started getting a sharp pain in the right temple. An ear plug that I didn't bother to use was wedged between my nogen and the helmet. :D

The vents were closed and I used a microfiber liner. Arrived warm, with soaked head.

Rode in +3 rain yesterday, found the Giro Omen very comfortable, kept my head dry too. Opened the vents up a bit part way when it was getting too hot inside, open vents cooled things off well. Had a little trouble finding the vent controls while riding with thick gloves on, but figured it out after a bit.
Didn't notice any big difference from riding in rain with a visored helmet

+1 Pinerider.

Last week was nasty. Rain every day. The Home Depot safety glasses worked well. Helmet comes down low enough in the front.

When the vents are fully open, the rain hurts even with a full head of hair. The vents at 3/4 worked perfectly and I find that no helmet liner is necessary at all. The Giro Fuse has a liner already that works well. It solves the problem of a 10F drop in temperature while riding through the next town over.

Added reflectivity so my head doesn't look like a bowling ball :lol: