Mountain Biking - Need cheap helmet thats cool.

I 'm looking for a new helmet. I do not want to spend a lot. It needs to work for XC and Road. Iv'e looked at the giro indicator. Are there any reasonable alternatives?

cmon gotta be something... needs to look okay.

Both my wife and I got ours from Wally World, 18-20 bucks. They look ok, but they where cheap.But they work fine. From what I understand, it doesn't matter how much you pay as far as protection is concerned. The more they cost the better they may breathe, may be a tad lighter and look cooler overall. So if you want cheap go to the local cheapo store. If you want cool looking go to your local bike store or REI. The Styrofoam on the inside is the same on all models.

i got this helmet http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=39400&eid=321 for about 60 bucks at the lbs. its ultra light weight and really well ventilated.

it looks cooler with the mini visor it came with

It's your dome. Spend some money to protect it. You only get one.

It's your dome. Spend some money to protect it. You only get one.

Any helmet that's been tested will protect your head equally. You can find helmets on sale at $20 that will keep your brain in your head as well as the $100+ helmets.

But the OP asked for a cool helmet. I assume s/he means looks-wise. That will start costing you money.

Keep an eye out on ChainLove.com. They sometimes throw up helmets at reasonable cost.

Any helmet that's been tested will protect your head equally. You can find helmets on sale at $20 that will keep your brain in your head as well as the $100+ helmets.

But the OP asked for a cool helmet. I assume s/he means looks-wise. That will start costing you money.

Keep an eye out on ChainLove.com. They sometimes throw up helmets at reasonable cost.

I doubt this. All may have met minimum safety requirements. That is very different then providing equal protection.

I repeat, it's your head. Take care of it.

Don't own one, but I really like some of these:

http://www.nutcasehelmets.com/Pages/index.aspx

From what I understand they're pretty good quality.

Here's a source of reviews. They have a section for lower priced helmets as well.

http://www.helmets.org/helmet09.htm

I doubt this. All may have met minimum safety requirements. That is very different then providing equal protection.

I repeat, it's your head. Take care of it.

yeah but if you really look at super high end helmets they just don't look safe, i don't think your paying for safety but instead the engineering and manufacturing to make somthing so flimsy safe. I just got an atmost for my roadbike and its like theres nothing there, the walls are so thin and there is just so little helmet i can't imagine its safer than oh lets say a bell city. My hex def feels more substansial. My atmost feels hilarious after wearing my full face, but heck it looks damn good

but i dont' know for a fact so i won't say "you are wrong" or anything

to the OP yeah if you wanna go cheep the indicator is a fine helmet, i'd look at the bell furio if you want a nicer sized helmet but its 64 bucks. Personally don't wanna get anything without giro's roclock but you don't get that until the $80 range, bell and giros adjuster on their lower end helmets seems alot nicer than whiat i've seen on many other brands

yeah but if you really look at super high end helmets they just don't look safe.

I don't know about that, My Fox Flux is proving to be quite the tough helmet.

yeah i cant see an expensive stylish helmet with more vents than substance being equal to a big beefy, clunky, huge, helmet from walmart.

How about the beefy, clunky, heavy bike from Walmart? Safer than the lightweight one from the LBS? Substance isn't what makes it safe. The way it reacts in a crash is what makes it safe.

I could care less what anyone wants to wear on their head. As for me, I'd rather do some research and get something that will protect my head rather then going with the one that is "cheap" and looks "cool". It seems to me that "protective" should be the thing you consider most when buying a helmet. Obviously, definitions of "protective" will vary based on the discipline you ride.

The Specialized Tactic (http://www.crankcollective.com/openreview.php?review=45&category=ALL&page=0) is a nice lid for the price.

But is there any reliable information on whether one helmet is actually any better protection-wise than another? Or is it just the costs-more-so-must-be-better reasoning?

All I'm saying is do the research to see what will be most protective and buy it. I'm not saying that the $200 helmet is more protective simply because it costs more than the $20 helmet.

Is there definitive research? Probably. Do we have it here? I haven't seen it. But I'm suggesting that research (even if it is only trying on a few different helmets to see which fits appropriately) makes more sense to me than simply buying something because it is "cheap" and looks "cool". If one fits better and is more expensive than another one that doesn't fit as well, why wouldn't you spend a little more for the additional assurance?

By cool do you mean it looks cool or it will keep your head cool ?

But is there any reliable information on whether one helmet is actually any better protection-wise than another? Or is it just the costs-more-so-must-be-better reasoning?
The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (http://www.bhsi.org/)would probably be the first to tell you that, when it comes to bicycle helmets, cost bears little correlation to level of safety. What the extra cost gets, generally, is more attractive styling, non-safety-dependent features like an in-molded shell rather than a tape-on shell, better venting and maybe a better fit and a more adjustable retention system. They'd also contend that many of the cheaper, less-stylish helmets may actually be safer, because they tend not to have the cool-looking styling 'barbs' at the rear of the shell that could snag on things in a fall. The more rounded 'dorky' eggish profile of the less expensive lids actually slide better.

Basically, all bicycle helmets are pretty minimalist protection-wise; and any that meets CPSC (or ASTM F1952 for full-face DH helmets) standards will perform their job properly for one significant crash.

Look into the Bell Influx...You can remove the visor as well.
I just bought one considering I ruin my old one and really like.

dude "junkyard"... I was just looking for a "protective" (if saying that floats your boat) helmet that looks okay, and keeps my head cool. Iv'e read studies that show that all helmets have basically equal protection- don't you dare go yap off at me. That makes it not a factor. So I'm not shoveling out the extra change for some carbon weave glued on, and S.O.S. Okay man, don't get your bibs in a knot. When 10 people are saying that you are wrong... chances are you are (and you are). Don't try to pick a fight and be a jerk, man. Thanks for the help- if you really want to give some other than "Win the Lotto and get that Giro Atmos" that would be cool too. Your comments sure racked up the replies on this thread.

I love my SpecializEd FlexFit helmet:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h28/chelboed/Bike/tweakcopy-1.jpg
Junkyard LOVES that pic...eat it!

junkyard... I just looked over your comments. You are now insulting me. I just wanted some advice, a hint. Thanks to everyone else who sent me a link or real suggestion instead of telling me to get deeper pockets. The first comment was okay- I may not agree but it was cool (cool seams to be one of your pet peeves). But after that you went PSYCHO. I don't think this website has a therapist coupon section, but I'm sure eHarmony.com (http://www.eharmony.com) does. Check it out. (You know I'm just playin' right?)

I'm gonna have to put another plug in for the Bell Influx. I got my last one for like $20 at Nashbar.com on supa'sail.

It's like a $97 helmet...(that's how it feels).



Here ya go, dogg!

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=600091&subcategory=60001045&brand=&sku=15800&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Adult%20Helmets

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/250/BH-IF6-KC-ANGLE.jpg

funny thing is junkyard... the reason all you spendaholics get those carbon specialized s works helmets and giro ionos and atmos is the "looking cool" so how can you say that isn't a reason to buy a helmet when if that giro looked just like the one at wal mart that the skateboarder kids where- I bet you wouldn't suggest it. That is the true reason why people buy those $200 helmets, is to look cool. If it didn't make you look like Lance Armstrong, it wouldn't be expensive, that has nothing to do with safety. So when a dude says he wants a cheap and cool helmet, those are contradictory statements and thaat is why i asked evryone about it. get it?

Wow. Whose "bibs are in a knot"? How do you know what helmet I wear? How do you know how much I spent on it? Lay off son, you're out of your league.

funny thing is junkyard... the reason all you spendaholics get those carbon specialized s works helmets and giro ionos and atmos is the "looking cool" so how can you say that isn't a reason to buy a helmet when if that giro looked just like the one at wal mart that the skateboarder kids where- I bet you wouldn't suggest it. That is the true reason why people buy those $200 helmets, is to look cool. If it didn't make you look like Lance Armstrong, it wouldn't be expensive, that has nothing to do with safety. So when a dude says he wants a cheap and cool helmet, those are contradictory statements and thaat is why i asked evryone about it. get it?

Learn a bit before you make blanket statements like the above. If I wore cheap helmets, I'd have brain damage, frankly. You get what you pay for. A $15.00 Walmart helmet will meet a certain minimum standard, yes, but will it stay secure if you hit the road at 30 MPH or faster? Not likely. Attachment systems are different between cheap helmets and quality ones.

The other aspect is ventilation and weight. If you spend a long time in the saddle, you burn less energy wearing a helmet that weighs half or less what a cheap one does, and you get better ventilation. Back in May, I crashed hard, hard enough that I shattered the interior of my helmet from multiple impacts with the road and fractured my collarbone. I hit the pavement when I lost traction on the rear wheel in a standing sprint, somewhere around 30. I hit the pavement so fast and hard, that A) I didn't even know I was going down, and B) Didn't know for a few minutes if I was going to be able to get back on my feet. If I'd had a cheap helmet, I'd have been hurt a lot more when it shifted on my head, and if no helmet, it's very possible I'd have the same level of consciousness as a rutabaga.

funny thing is junkyard... the reason all you spendaholics get those carbon specialized s works helmets and giro ionos and atmos is the "looking cool" so how can you say that isn't a reason to buy a helmet when if that giro looked just like the one at wal mart that the skateboarder kids where- I bet you wouldn't suggest it. That is the true reason why people buy those $200 helmets, is to look cool. If it didn't make you look like Lance Armstrong, it wouldn't be expensive, that has nothing to do with safety. So when a dude says he wants a cheap and cool helmet, those are contradictory statements and thaat is why i asked evryone about it. get it?

Wow, a little off base are we?

A cheap helmet will protect you just fine, but a better helmet will also protect your head and will have a better retension system which protects the bottom edge of your skull. For this reason they don't come in universal sizes, they come in small/medium, medium/large, large/xl, it's a more tailored fit. Also, a new thing with the higher end helmets are new materials in the internals/shell that allows for multiple impacts. The higher end helmets are lighter and have more vents to keep your head cooler/which helps protect you some from heat exhaustion/heat stroke.

I have 4 helmets, one for road riding, which is a Bell Sweep R. One for trail riding which is a fox flux. One for jumping/street/pump tracks which is a bell faction, and one for racing/downhill and shuttling which is a Specialized Deviant Carbon, which is soon to be replaced by a Troy Lee Designs D2 Composite Full Face in the crow blue.

I might not be here today if I was wearing a cheap helmet for some of my harder crashes.