Originally Posted by supcom
All helmet designs sold in the US are tested to the same set of conditions, so whether you buy a $30 or $300 helmet, you will get at least the minimum protection.
That's not quite true. There are a few different standards (for example Snell is more rigorous than CPSC). Any helmet sold as a safety device must comply with CPSC standards but may or may not comply with more rigorous standards. More expensive helmets may comply with more rigorous standards though there's very little (no?) evidence that those standards have any practical impact on injury rates.
Or more expensive may be less effective, as you mention. I'm just offering an alternative.
Pesnally I'm of the opinion that a helmet is a helmet is a helmet.