For commuter use, fashion is irrelevant! The best helmet is either white or a highly-visible color (reflective materials are even better), has a round, hard shell (number of vents is not all that important since you will sweat buckets anyway), a secure fastening system, and FITS YOUR HEAD!

For most of us, A BMX/skate style helmet will work no matter the riding position even if it looks "dorky" to some people. Perhaps the best type is a BMX full face helmet, but if one is riding in a really low position/uses drop bars one cannot wear one of these (the visor and/or chin guard will impede vision by cropping out a large part of the critical visual field). In the latter case, the fact a helmet is full-face does NOT create problems with hearing what's going on around oneself and actually can help (by cutting down/out noise artifacts such as wind squeal). Both these types of helmets work better for keeping the weather off, too (a concern if one rides year-round in almost any weather).

If one crashes? A smooth, round surface helmet will slide along the pavement, minimizing possible additional injury. A real problem with the "aero" helmets (and visors which are not designed to break away easily) is that the "sharper" edges WILL tend to "catch" on the pavement/ground and therefore raise the risk of injury simply because the helmet is there.

Not a small problem: What good would it be to protect the head against impact if one does fall but to end up paralyzed anyway because the helmet's edges "stuck" on the pavement and one's neck got broken?

After years of Racer Boy wannabe helmets from Giro et all for around $20, I recently bought a Bell Metro which I believe is nearly the same helmet as the Citi. It was new, but last year or the year before model. I think I paid about $35 from nashbar.com, regularly around $80 for a 2008.

What a HUGE difference in comfort and fit. It is not a universal size. It is made in small, medium and large with an adjustable head band to fine tune the fit. It also has EASY to adjust straps. Ventilation is better than any helmet I've had. Even has a blinkie strap in the back for mounting a blinking red light. Overall finish is excellent. I would never go back to the cheapest helmets again. My head's worth at least $35; on some days, maybe even more!

Eric

I don't think us Metro owners are unhappy with them.

The big difference between the Citi and Metro is the adjustable fit.

http://www.thebellstore.com/images/B...angeSafety.jpg

^ Officer, I swear I didn't see him...:rolleyes:

All helmets meet a MINIMUM safety rating. I firmly believe that some significantly exceed the minimum requirements. I think a $80 or so helmet is a better helmet than a $20, but I'm not convinced that a $200 helmet is much better than an $80 helmet. I think at some point you just start buying name/style instead of safety and durability.

I can damn well guarantee you that my Bell Metro will do much better in a crash than my first helmet, also a Bell, but it was a $20 Kmart special. I was just looking at the old one today while cleaning the garage and it's pretty flimsy compared to the Metro. And they do still sell that model.

The Citi and Metro are both quite good helmets, and I have had both now and will continue to use them. However, they do not have great venting (this is good IMHO; venting = places where the helmet has holes in it = weaker) so some people will think they are quite hot. I don't really mind the lack of venting myself.

I have a 2005 Citi and a 2007 Metro. I just looked and the only difference is that the Metro has a plastic impact rim glued to the bottom of the styrofoam, and snaps on the top to attach the rain cover and whatever other accessories, and the rear blinkie strap. Both have the same adjustment system, or pretty close (probably just different due to the years). I don't think the winter kit will fit the Citi either.

That doesn't matter much to me, since the mirror isn't that good, the elastic rain cover I have is fine, and just the rain cover and a balaclava has been more insulation than I've needed down to -25*F so I don't need the winter kit either. Heck, for a couple of years I just duct taped up the vents in the winter and that was fine.

The metro is available in different size ranges. The Citi is only one size, and barely fits me opened up all the way. So for me the Metro Large is a better choice but for the majority of heads, if you weren't going to go for the accessories, the Citi is as good. I got the Metro mainly because at end of year they put them on good sales and I got mine for $35.

Bell Slant -- $35 @ Price Point -- universal fit and wonderful airflow!

Actually most helmets are overbuilt and the more expensive a helmet is, the more it approaches the minimum safety limit, but the lighter it gets.

A $200 helmet will most likely be weaker than an $80 helmet and less durable. But on the other hand, it will probably fit better (because it's a bit lighter), have more vents, and be more comfortable over a long ride.

Every helmet I've had, from the cheapo $20 to the $180 giro atmos, has left me with lines of sweat, sunblock, and salt dripping into my eyes in 95+ degree weather after 2-3 hours out on the road. It was bad enough that I could barely see after a while. I recently bought a specialized s-works helmet for $210 because it was the only helmet that had a padded liner that held the front of the helmet off my head and also vented the lip of the helmet immediately above the eyes. So in that case, money does buy a better helmet.

I believe the Bell Metropolis (or Metro) has been discontinued. It is no longer on the Bell website, and they are all on clearance right now.

If you want more protection/durability, then you may want to look at the Pro-Tec SXP line of helmets designed for multi-sport use. They pass multiple certifications, and Pro-Tec claims they can sustain multiple impacts. They are also relatively cheap. I recommend you replace any helmet after a serious crash regardless of manufacturer claims.

Speaking of Specialized, they tout their helmets as having a kevlar web molded into the foam to keep it in one piece (relatively speaking). I've heard that other manufacturers also use some form of internal reinforcement in their higher-end helmets.

Would this be where you actually get a better helmet by paying more?

another vote for the nerdy Bell Citi.

I love it's price, simple design and dorky look- anyone who tries to convince themselves that they look good in a cycling helmet of any kind (and spends a lot of cash on it for that reason) is a true nerd.

it's about comfort and fit. If a cheap Bell fits buy it, if nothing feels right on your head but the $250 helmet buy it- just don't bother to look in a mirror at either of them to make the decision.

If vanity is your standard for cycling headgear buy a cool hat.

Just for kicks, I took a couple looks in the mirrors at the shop as I was trying on helmets. No matter how the helmet was styled, I still looked like a dork. :D

Probably not... and I can tell you from my numerous experiments crashing and getting knocked out. The cheaper $30-40 helmets have so much mass that they usually don't shatter into many pieces. It's usually just 2-3 large cracks and there's enough material in the outer shell that it's bonded to to keep it together. On the lighter more aerodynamic road helmets, the vents are so massive that there's very little material in the webbing to keep it together. So when you crash, the helmet does indeed shatter into a bunch of pieces since the shell material is too insubstantial to keep it together. That's why they have to resort to an internal webbing of aramid, kevlar, or carbon fiber.

So the cheaper helmets use enough foam to keep itself together and the more expensive ones use an internal webbing of reinforcement. My guess is that the helmets in the $20-60 range can absorb more impact with the next strongest being the $150+ range helmets with the internal reinforcements and the ones from $60-150 (esp those towards the higher end of the range) are slightly weaker because they use less foam but also don't have the internal/external reinforcing.

Ok, that makes sense. By wanting to make so many vents, they have to resort to other reinforcements to keep it together.

Fit is the most important factor. The CPSC label insures decent protection. I use a cheap BMX helmet in winter because it is warmer and has more coverage when I fall over on the ice.

Get a helmet that is comfortable.

:beer:

Giro offers a neat replacement program. If you crash your helmet, you can send it back for a 50 per cent rebate off a new one.

I believe most manufacturers offer this. I know Bell and Rudy Project have similar programs, but I think they ask you to send the old helmet back with a detailed description of what happened.

Right -- it's basically real-world testing for them.

Oh, I didn't realize that. Good to know for future recommendations.

Liner choices
 

Exactly what I am looking for. Are there other makes and models with any kind of replaceable soft liner where I can buy an extra 2 or 3 liners and switch out each time (washing the others as I would the rest of my commuter clothes)? I am tired of stinging sweat in my eyes halfway through, and I'm seeking a solution like that but am unlikely to come up with $200 to do it (I'd buy brakes or wheels with that much $$$).

Yeah it's the only one I've found so far, so I shelled out the bucks for it. They have another one in the range called the chamoinx that's like, half as vented at the front, the foam is very close to the forehead but it's still more vented than the others and it's only $70.

Here's a pic of the venting system in my sworks helmet.
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/9017/p5051225yp0.jpg
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/3621/p5051226zh2.jpg

The Bell Variant I just got has a one-piece pad. You can buy replacement pads for any Bell helmet at bellhelmets.com for $10 each.

My solution to the problem is to wear a sweat cap underneath my helmet. My head remains cool enough even in 80 to 90° weather and it prevents the pads in the helmet from becoming completely saturated. I've even been able to increase the life expectancy my older Specialized Air Force helmet whose pads were beginning to disintegrate from the helmet being put on and taken off.

I should report that in the end, I just walked into the LBS and bought a Giro Indicator for my husband. He works so many hours and in the wrong direction from town and the situation was desperate (he needed a helmet right NOW, of course), so I just took a flyer on it fitting well. It did. He's happy and his head is covered. Now I just hope he doesn't "need" it again any time soon.

+100000000000. I see people all the time whose helmets are tipped back on their head, that aren't even close to being adjusted correctly. You don't have to spend a million dollars, but spending a little extra for something like Bell's "GPS" system (or similar from other manufacturers) is worth it.

Bell has the same. It's not really worth the bother. It's 50% off the MSRP, which is barely less than most online retailers sell for normally, and when I went to replace my Citi, it was about $8 more than I could buy last year's Citi for on closeout, and only about $5 less than I paid for a closeout Metro.

I always just shop around for what's on sale and will fit me, and 50% off retail isn't going to be less than a closeout sale. I think I may actually start keeping an eye out, and buy a nice helmet when they're on sale to have one waiting in the basement for when the current one gets broken or just dies of old age.

Do you need to thread a lock through the helmet: chose fewer large vents.
Winter use: more helmet and less hole is warmer. Most hemets stress their cooling abilities for summer use.
Peak are good for rain.
Met helmets use a fitting system like most other safety helmts: an adjustable nylon band that conforms to any head shape.
A helmet that is moulded into the shell rather than glued is stronger.

My commuter helmet too one knock too many (after 5 years) and spontaneously cracked without ever having been in a crash.

I like my Louis Garneau MTB helmet. It was $35 or so. Do you live in New England (you said "wicked" which made me think that)? If so, he should get a balaclava to wear underneath the helmet, whichever he gets. They work great for the cold winter days.

Ok, good -- glad to hear that he likes it. :thumb: