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Aesthetically Pleasing Helmets

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Old 05-16-11, 10:53 AM
  #26  
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I think they're all equally silly looking.

I like Uvex, a German helmet company that I think provides a LOT of bang for your buck. They have a great retention system and I really like their dial in setup.
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Old 05-16-11, 11:07 AM
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I really like the Bern Macon helmet in brown but they don't make it in my size so I have a big shiny white one that makes me look like a spaceman.
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Old 05-16-11, 11:11 AM
  #28  
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All equally silly looking? No, I disagree. The ones that look silly are the ones that pretend to be something other than they are. I accept that some people don't think helmets are necessary. And I hope they're right; I hope mine remain as unnecessary as they've always been. But meanwhile, I will wear one, not because I think it looks great, or feels great, but because I believe I am safer with one on my head.

Therefore the best looking helmet, in my opinion, is the safest.

Now, I understand that the jury is out, on whether a helmet is really that helpful in the event of a crash. So let's not go there. I still figure a helmet that's sufficiently visible, by being bright yellow and highly reflective, will reduce the likelihood of a crash; so I put a bright yellow reflective cover on any helmet I own. I also figure my safety depends on my awareness of my surroundings; so I put a rear view mirror on any helmet I plan to wear.

Pretty? I dunno. Maybe not, but then that's not really the point. It's not a fashion statement.

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Old 05-16-11, 11:12 AM
  #29  
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+1, they are all goofy looking. I do think that the brands that attempt to hide the goofiness just take said goofiness to a higher level.

Danggit! RHM beat me to it.

Since I am editing my post, I own a Trek Vapor. It was their cheapest model, it fits ok and looks pretty stupid. The thing that really bugs me is the excess straps flap in the wind... I should cut them. The first day I wore my helmet, I landed on my head... it was actually pretty funny.
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Old 05-16-11, 11:13 AM
  #30  
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I have always avoided all types of head gear because I'm afraid that it will restrict blood flow to my hair follicals and I'll go bald. I'm 63 and I still have my hair, so that proves that I was right all along.
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Old 05-16-11, 11:19 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by snarkypup
I like the look of these, but could never afford one:

https://www.behance.net/gallery/VIVA-...warded)/970355
That looks like something that should have been in the last star wars movie, all helmets look pretty goofy like others have mentioned. The only time I wear a helmet is when I play hockey, and thats because they make you. Unfortunately I don't wear one biking, I'm sure there's others on the forum too. I skateboarded for 10-11 years of my life, a bunch of years at a pretty competitive level without a helmet so I guess it doesn't really scare me to not wear one of a bike.
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Old 05-16-11, 11:26 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by snarkypup
I like the look of these, but could never afford one:

https://www.behance.net/gallery/VIVA-...warded)/970355
These remind me of equestrian helmets. I don't think it's a bad look, but it seems to me to be leather for leather's sake. Does it really look better, or does it just look more expensive? As the linked website says, "the leather-look distinguishes it from other helmets and places it within the range of high-end accessories.." In other words, it's main selling point is that it's ostentatious.
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Old 05-16-11, 11:27 AM
  #33  
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Helmets were always used as an effective symbol for battles in wars which one might consider bike racing would be. The have attached plumes, feathers, horns, skulls, dragons, spikes, eagles, national colors, and shaped them to look agressive to keep the morale up and maybe scare the other side that might not have as nice a headgear. Helmet eesthetics not important?? Tell me that when someone finds evidence that a TDF team wearing Skid Lids or Bell Bikers won a single stage!

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Old 05-16-11, 11:38 AM
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Man, I LOVE the looks of that Casco Attack! If someone could make something similar-looking for around $50 I'd be all over it.

I hate helmets that have all the spiky and/or bulging stuff on the back. Just a plain round helmet please.

I currently wear a nearly C&V helmet : Mid-90s Giro Hammerhead SC.
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Old 05-16-11, 11:38 AM
  #35  
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We're getting a bit too much of the helmet necessity discussion in here. Let's keep it to looks.
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Old 05-16-11, 11:43 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by 20grit
We're getting a bit too much of the helmet necessity discussion in here. Let's keep it to looks.
Ehhh...aesthetics with a helmet is a losing battle. Let's be honest, we all look, well, uhhhh...special...in helmets. I think things that are saftey based are saftey based decisions, or, in the case of a helmet, a comfort based decision. In other words, I don't ask myself which brake pad looks best...I ask which one grips the rim well.

I like Uvex because it's comfortable and convenient. It fits well, has lots of aeration and has passed the same tests the others pass. I think they look about as goofy as every other helmet out there.
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Old 05-16-11, 11:54 AM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by 20grit
We're getting a bit too much of the helmet necessity discussion in here. Let's keep it to looks.
If that's me you're talking to, well, I apologize!

But I have to agree with Aaron again, it's going to be a losing battle. It's a question of how we dress, and why we dress the way we dress. In the case of the helmet, there are two closely related points here: First, I wear it for practical, rather than aesthetic, reasons. Second, loud gaudy coloration (which I, personally, consider ugly) makes the helmet safer, and therefore more practical; an unobtrusive (and perhaps more attractive) helmet would, for this very reason, be less practical.

Last edited by rhm; 05-17-11 at 06:39 AM.
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Old 05-16-11, 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
Man, I LOVE the looks of that Casco Attack! If someone could make something similar-looking for around $50 I'd be all over it.

I hate helmets that have all the spiky and/or bulging stuff on the back. Just a plain round helmet please.

I currently wear a nearly C&V helmet : Mid-90s Giro Hammerhead SC.
The helmet with the many big round holes for the last two TDFs look especially hideous!
Almost looks like the racers had a big chunk of swiss cheese on their heads, specially from the back! Yecchhhh!!

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Old 05-16-11, 12:00 PM
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Few people have seen The Hat.

Part helmet, part aphrodisiac, part metal. I'll see if I can find a pic...
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Old 05-16-11, 12:09 PM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by Amesja
I really like the look of my Wife's Bern Brighton in Gloss Purple. As far as aesthetically pleasing it does it in a nice classic style that doesn't look out of place on a C&V bike or a modern bicycle.

There are a number of modern helmets that don't look too unappealing visually. I think what I like about the Brighton (other than the purple color because I really dig purple) is the built in visor cap with the liner. The visor really makes that helmet and gives it a touch of being a hat and not so much a spaceman spiff look of many modern helmets that just turns me off aesthetically. My wife just bought this helmet at the end of last year's riding season to replace a helmet so old it could rightly claim credit to C&R status in and of itself. It was the older brainpan shaped softshell beer cooler with the fabric cover. My wife really wanted the impact protection of a helmet in case of a spill and I was dubious as to the ultimate efficacy of that old POS helmet as well as the negative neck-twisting effects of the helmet sliding along on the pavement wearing such an ancient fabric-covered monstrosity.

I like the Styling of that Bern and will probably be soon buying one for myself as my current helmet is falling apart from the sweat and will need replacing sooner or later. I like the Macon and Brentwood styles -I'll probably wait and see if one goes on sale/clearance this fall.
That is basically a BMX helmet. Fine for winter, but in summer the sweat pours. I do use one in winter sometimes, except my is khaki in color and has a "M*****F****R sticker across the back.
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Old 05-16-11, 12:10 PM
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Found a pic of my current helmet. Got it on super clearance in 1997 or so. It's got a bit of an Alien bulge in back but not too bad. If it was all black it would look pretty good.

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Old 05-16-11, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by KonAaron Snake
Ehhh...aesthetics with a helmet is a losing battle. Let's be honest, we all look, well, uhhhh...special...in helmets. I think things that are saftey based are saftey based decisions, or, in the case of a helmet, a comfort based decision. In other words, I don't ask myself which brake pad looks best...I ask which one grips the rim well.

I like Uvex because it's comfortable and convenient. It fits well, has lots of aeration and has passed the same tests the others pass. I think they look about as goofy as every other helmet out there.
+1 Best statement yet. Yes, they are all geeky. Small style variations make no difference. It's all about safety. Nothing else. I have had at least 3 crashes that I might not have walked away from without a helmet.
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Old 05-16-11, 12:21 PM
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Here's one of the ones I use.



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Old 05-16-11, 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
Man, I LOVE the looks of that Casco Attack! If someone could make something similar-looking for around $50 I'd be all over it.
Me too, even if $100 or $150. I was going to forward a link to my wife, as my birthday is coming up, but ouch!

Waiting for the inevitable "what is your head worth to you" comments...
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Old 05-16-11, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by RFC
I have had at least 3 crashes that I might not have walked away from without a helmet.
You should drink less alcohol,... or your neighbors should drink less alcohol,... or both.
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Old 05-16-11, 02:51 PM
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I started a similar thread a few months back, basically asking for pics and no pontificating, though I didn't exclude ugly helmets. For further reading: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...lassic-helmets
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Old 05-16-11, 03:00 PM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by RobbieTunes
Few people have seen The Hat.

Part helmet, part aphrodisiac, part metal. I'll see if I can find a pic...
Real special, Robbie.
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Old 05-16-11, 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by snarkypup
Oh, you guys are just silly. I look adorable in my Nutcase:

True.

And you look adorable without it, too.
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Old 05-16-11, 04:03 PM
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the catch 22 is that the better looking helmets are the hotter ones. so do you want do look cooler or be cooler? i suppose you could have 2 for both occasions.

this met camaleonte is decent for looks:


but i would get this lazer 02 for temperature/price/looks combo:
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Old 05-16-11, 04:14 PM
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If I wear one (and it's rare), I rock my ultra-girly Bern:

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