Protection is not an issue, as all helmets have to meet certain safety standards. Like others have said, find one that is comfortable for you. A lot of people swear by the Giro Atmos and Pneumo, both of which I really wanted to like but they just weren't comfortable at all and didn't look good either. I've only found one helmet that I've ever liked in terms of comfort and looks, and that's the Bell Sweep R. I have a small head, and for some reason, that's the only one that doesn't look like a mushroom on me. And it's light with a lot of vents, so I don't even realize that it's on.