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.

https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...+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..

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.



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.

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

+1

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...

Mine match too!!

My helmet likes to be rubbed.

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... silver and blue



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

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.

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?