Sprocket_Jockey

Helmets are for sissies.





















and this sissy likes his Giro Monza that was around $100.

Cassave

I've got two:

Giro Eclipse - paid about $50, nice helmet, decent ventilation, good fit, my commuting helmet

Giro Atmos - paid $99 from Nashbar with 20% web coupon, great helmet, light with excellent ventilation
great fit and it came with the helmet pod.

Look for sales on discontinued color schemes

Brian Ratliff

If you have to ask the question, get the $30 one and only increase your price range when you know the disadvantages of the cheap ones from first hand experience. From the cheapest to the most expensive, they are all tested to the same standards.

That said, the biggest advantage to the more expensive ones is that they have more vents with the same safety standards, so they keep your head cooler without compromising your safety. Since they have less material yet must pass the same standards for crashes, more engineering work must go into them, so they are more expensive.

EDIT: If you do go cheap, I would recommend you get one with an "in-molded" shell. Helmets with taped on shells (as opposed to in-molded) will shatter into shards at first impact, making them utterly useless (your head is basically bare) for a second bounce. The in-molded shell helmets will take a couple hard bounces during a crash and not shatter. That's not to be read as an excuse to use it after it's been through a crash though. Just that it is good for a few bounces during a single crash. I consider the in-molded shell technology is probably the most important improvement to bicycle helmet design from a safety standpoint since the development of back-of-the-head helmet retention devices.

thelazywon

I got an ironman helmet from wally world. 25 bucks, has this cool AL stringer running up the middle, don't notice the weight (alot less than an Army Kevlar Dome of Obedience), and fits ok. Made by Bell.

Nachoman

And don't forget that the upper end Bells have the little adjusting wheel in back to secure a perfect fit!

z415

I have used two helmets. The Bell Sweep something or other priced at $100+ and a $25 Bell Solar from The Sports Authority. The $25 helmet was actually 30g lighter and had 3 more vents than the Sweep. The Sweep doesn't look any better or vent any better (it had bigger vents, but 3 less so it didn't equate to much). Also, both had similarly effective adjustment knobs in the back and the adjusting flippy things on the sides. I can only assume that the more expense helmet was safer due its extra weight, but who knows.

Oh and both have a molded/fused shell. To me, the Sweep was better only because it wasn't black and therefore wasn't as hot.

I don't know about other brands, but it seems there isn't much advantage to getting a more expensive Bell, unless it actually is safer.

CdCf

Helmet colour hardly makes any difference. All that foam insulates your head pretty well from the surface heat of the helmet...

Wordbiker

Buy this helmet, it's the fastest.

z415

Probably a mental thing for me then. I tend to pat the top of my helmet once in a while when I am riding and it is hot to my hands.

666

+1

The fit system is better than the Giro, too.

nroth

+1, got this at 20% off from nashbar, so around $50. Fit is great, and it looks good.

bitingduck

I usually get closeouts of the $80-100 helmets for $25-50. The most noticable thing about the more expensive helmets is that adjusting them for a snug fit is easier-- they usually clamp to the back of your head and getting the straps right is easier.

doctortalk121

xxx

Dan_

Bell Alchera is what I have, love it.

urodacus

just wear your motorbike helmet. it's much better. it may get a bit hot though.