At $20, that is about the same price as the generic adult helmets at WalMart/Meijer/Target. I paid $35 for my Bell Solar after having the opportunity to use my old cheapy Bell that I bought from Walmart at the beginning of summer. It fits so much better, and I feel like I'd be safer in the unlikely situation that I had to use it.

How much is your head worth?

A couple million dollars but I can't find the funding or a helmet for that price.

Jeez, they're more expensive here - the range was like $40AUD to $280AUD (specialized 2D).

>How much is your head worth?

According to that logic, very few people could afford to ride a bike.

Steve

Point is, your head is very important. Don't settle for a cheap helmet.

I would NOT buy a used helmet. There's no way to tell how they were treated. You can't tell if the foam has been fractured without breaking it.

+1. Just like used motorcycle helmets, just cant tell what condition the foam is in and I wouldn't want to need the helmet to find out there was a problem. One drop from waist height and it damages the foam protection. Just my $.02.

I usually wear skate helmets. They usually meet the same standards, and dont have funny shaped vents to get caught on things if I go down, and are usually under 30 bucks. The down side is they look like a skateboard helmet and have mostly no venting.

All helmets sold in the US have to pass the same safety test. $20, $250: it doesn't matter. The rest is all fashion;)

Why would you not use a mirror at night?

+1

If the $20 fits good and has good venting, roll with it. But let fit and venting drive your decision...

What I have always felt is that you should buy the helmet that is most going to make you want to wear it.

For me its a balance of looks, comfort, ventilation and weight.
I just bought a great LIMAR helmet from italy, and i love how adjustable it is. Plus the more money you spend on a helmet just reminds me i better wear it to get my moneys worth.

OK. Third time somebody tried to push this idea, so I had to respond. I've seen this argument all over motorcycle and auto racing forums, and it is mostly useless.

Alright, don't be so cheap as get a "vintage" helmet off of E-Bay and think you're good to go. But as long as you're comparing two "NIB" helmets that are reasonably freshly manufactured, and meet the same safety standard, the only things left to compare are fit, ventilation, looks, color, features, and so on. You cannot guarantee better protection by spending more, nor does spending less mean getting less protection (to a point).

My main concern was purchasing a used helmet.

They all have to meet safety standards. The only real considerations after that are your comfort, fashion sense and brand snobbery level.:thumb:

I have a $15 youth helmet from Target. I like it because it fits (adult helmets are too big), that it allows me to ride a bike during triathlons (the only time I ever wear a helmet) and because it has blue flames on it. But I admit I'm silly like that.:D

There are three things to look for in a helmet: fit...fit...and fit. If a $20 helmet from Target is a "perfect" fit for your head, you are good to go. I like helmets with lots of sweat pads around the forehead area...so I'm willing to pay a little more for the extra padding...say....$30 or so.

HA HA!:rolleyes: Did he also have a sign that said "LBS owner likes Johnny Walker Black, buy a $150 helmet."

Almost all the bicycle helmets on the U.S. market meet the same safety standard, the helmet buyer does not get more "safety" by spending more money.

I wish I could wear the Target helmets. I'd love a Scooby Doo helmet. My head is big though (60cm) and I can't get any department store helmet to fit. I've been using Bell Citi and Metros, though I think Giro has some that will fit fine for < $50 too. Luckily I've been finding my Bells on "last year's model" sales.

Tried it and the cheepo $20 Bell Adrenaline at WalMart was a good fit. I got the black and silver model. It saved my melon from a hard smack onto the pavement just this morning. It only looks scratched to me, but conventional wisdom says I should replace it. 'sides, it's only 20 bucks.

FWIW, sanctioning bodies in motorcycle and auto racing won't allow helmets, restraints, etc that are over 5 years old, so that takes a lot of older spec stuff off the markets.

-R

Now you look much better...
 

Here you go...


This is design on a dime, anyone can see you from a mile away and will look good w the american muscle car.

It ain't worth much in regards bicycling helmets on the U.S. market. What old spec helmets on the market?

The CPSC "Spec" that ALL helmets in the U.S. must meet is US Consumer Product Safety Commission (US) Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets. Final Rule that took effect as U.S. law on March 10, 1999. The higher unofficial standards "Snell" that a few might meet was also last modified in the same year. Other countries' standards are at least as old.

More money paid at retail doesn't necessarily get any more "Spec" built into a helmet.

"They all have to meet the same standards", etc etc.

Which ones meet Snell testing standards? As far as the U.S. goes, it's supposed to be tougher than CPSC testing -- but not all helmets have Snell certification, either.

Do a "find in page" for the name Snell at the 2008 page at helmets.org and you won't find many that aren't actually rated for motorcycles. They even mention Specialized as being the last major U.S. manufacturer to build to either the B-90 or the newer & tougher B-95 Snell standard.

Looking at the list at Snell's site, it seems that there aren't many at all:
http://www.smf.org/
http://www.smf.org/certlist/std_B-90...90C_B-95C.html

+1, if it fits. Fit is everything.