mountainwalker

In terms of comfort, there are helmets you totally forget are on your head after a while, except for the straps, and there are helmets you feel are there every minute.

What's your favorite helmet?

I currently use a Giro Xen which I got at a great price. It's nice and works for road and mountain with a detachable adjustable visor; only downside would be the same probably with every other helmet - the inside pads which run between the ventilation holes leave lines indented on my hair after a ride LOL. But I'll suffer a little fashion hit for safety.

I personally prefer helmets that are rounded (not necessarily perfectly round) rather than having pointy backs, as they may have an advantage in an accident - pointed back helmets could catch in an accident when you roll on the ground, allowing your body to roll when your head doesn't.

It's also nice to be able to use the same helmet for road and mountain, and an added + for helmets that are rated for bicycling and skateboarding (I know Nutcase Gen 3 helmets are) as it's nice to be able to use one for both. I have two loaner Nutcase helmets that I have around for lender bikes for visiting family and friends, but they aren't my size so haven't ever tried them.

Darth Lefty 

I have a Nutcase watermelon helmet and a Smith ski helmet. The former comes in only two sizes with different thickness pads and you need to mix and match pads to get a good fit. I like the graphic, that's about all the positive I have to say. The ski helmet is much better but comes in more sizes and has fabric rather than foam padding, and does not do up like a hard-hat.

Motorcycle helmets, serious ones at least, are available not just in different sizes but also different head shapes. They are not adjustable, and sizes are very different between brands, so you need to try many on to have a good fit. I sort of wish bike helmets were the same way, but I guess there would be more dissatisfied customers.

snotrockets

I had a Limar 777, which was the most comfortable helmet I've ever had. Cracked it in an accident, and couldn't find as good replacement (local distributer stopped carrying them).

For me it was always weight, not shape: the lighter the helmet, the less you feel it.

Lanovran

I use a Bontrager Specter (mainly because I got it for free), and it's honestly the lightest and most comfortable helmet I've ever had. It definitely falls more into the "forget that it's there" category, though not quite to 100%.

alexaschwanden

The helmets i use are the Giro Indicator and the bell achlera (i think that how you spell it.), both are under 50$ and have adjustable head retention systems and are vented pretty good.

Deontologist

Specialized Propero II ... it's so light and comfortable it disappears on my head. I've left the house several times without the helmet only to realize I'm riding without a helmet mid-ride. That's how comfortable it is; it simply disappears after putting it on.

sci_femme

And straps do not whistle at speed.

TransitBiker

Nutcase 3rd gen street/sport 8 ball. Much comfort, many adjust, so reflective such protect, wow.

8 Ball (Gloss) - Nutcase Helmets



My fuji RLX is great for summer, good venting and super snug.

https://shop.advancedsports.com/product_p/w-0054.htm



- Andy

RubeRad

Anybody ever try one of these cheapies?

With all those holes you know it has good ventilation, and hopefully is also light.

a1penguin

Heads come in a variety of shapes and sizes and some helmet brands fit different than others. I have a small head and over the years have found that Bell small helmets fit my head relatively well. I recently replaced my Bell Alchera with a Giro Saros and I really like the Saros. It fits my head well, is comfortable, seems less noisy than the Alchera and provides good coverage. I shopped for several months to find a helmet on sale that fit and wasn't black and didn't break the bank. The Soras was $95 which was above what I figured one should pay for a helmet, but I am very happy with it. The rear isn't super pointed.

RidingMatthew

i have had two bell alchera helmets. I replaced an old one with a newer one. Price and comfort were the two biggest characteristics for using this helmet. I also have a 661 dirt lid. I like the helmet for colder weather but i have written them TWO TIMES about getting some new pads for my helmet. they are coming apart but they have not replied to either email. If the pads fail, I will go get another helmet from another company. Poor customer service in my opinion but it is comfortable for cold to almost 70F.

Telly

After having tried a number of helmets (cheap to high priced models), I've found the one that fit's my large head perfectly...



Bell Metropolis





Unfortunately Bell has stopped production and I didn't get a chance to purchase a spare one, or the rain cover and clip on mirror.

Deontologist

I just use a swim cap to rainproof my head.

ray.garza

Totally agree. Fantastic Helmet.

ray.garza

For commuting I use the Torch Helmet.

Telly

Didn't really need the cover, since I wear the helmet above the hood of my windbreaker... it was just practical during the summer when I didn't carry the rain gear with me.


The point of wearing a helmet is that one instance where you need the protection and could possibly save your life... would you trust a Chinese reproduction (looks like a copy of Catlike helmets) ?

RubeRad

Yes, I'd trust that the Chinese-molded styrofoam in the catlike-knockoff is as effective as the surely-Chinese-molded styrofoam in my current $25 Bell helmet.

fietsbob

SO, what shape is your Head? in the past I noted Gyro more oval , Bell, rounder .. Bell Sports Now Owns both companies .

HardyWeinberg

Whatever expands to fit my massive melon. Bell seems to be best but I always need to try them on IRL, since whenever it's replacement time, the last model that worked for me seems to never be available again.

2_i 

Giro Reverb fits different heads nicely without much adjustment, but I am not sure of it working well for skateboarding.