All helmets whether they cost $10 or $1,000 meet the same standards for crash protection, the differences between a cheep one and an expensive one, might be more colour choices, different venting, there is an argument whether that difference makes it better or not, I think in many cases those different vents have little to do with cooling, and have more to do with making it fancy looking so that they can sell it for more money. I think the biggest difference, attributed to cost is the name on the front or back. I would rather have a cheap helmet that I can toss if it's involved in a crash and replace every few years, even if it isn't then an expensive one that I need to toss if it's involved in a crash or every few years anyway.