Time To Pick A Helmet
 

I've decided to get a road helmet. Up to now I've ridden every ride, from fast morning rides to centuries with the same helmet: an old Giro MTB helmet that carries light, mirror, visor and that I also use for commuting. My friends say I should get a road helmet for the lighter weight and less neck flex when in the drops.

So I went to the LBS and tried on lots of helmets. A few worked for my large and oval head, here they are:

http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...psaz5ssynm.jpg

http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...psxqk2u7qe.jpg

http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...psnj3oyeao.jpg

http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...pssecc2gzx.jpg

The helmets pictured range from $65 to $270. One has MIPS. They all seem to weigh about the same. All are tolerable looking, to me.

Which would you lean toward, and why?

I'd go with the one that fitted my head best. In most stores, there's only one that really does fit well, and that's if I'm lucky.

If there are two or more that both fit well, take your pick of least expensive or has the best vents, depending on your budget and typical riding environment.

I like number 1 and number 3. Both look like they have good ventilation.

pic the one that feels the best to you...of course ventilation is important especially if you live in a hot, humid area...they all give similar protection.

Pick a price point and look at all the helmets at that level and they are still all dorky looking and pretty much the same. Whatever fits best is the one.

I agree. #1 or #3 .

Pick one that will save your life.

Here, also. #1 or #3 .

Went back and found #3 in white (heat reflecting) in my ideal size (XL) on close out for $59 (cheapest one in the store). Happy!

My first modern helmet was a Giro Torrent MTB helmet, with a visor. A few years ago I got a Giro Atmos, which got trashed in the crash a few weeks ago. I just replaced it with an Atmos II, which seems to be identical.

I've tried on Cannondale, Trek, and Bell, and my head likes the fit of Giros best.

Look at that, a consensus and a selection. Can a forum be better than that?

Both Nashbar & Performance have some super deals on 2014 models.

I really like my Bell Array. Light, comfortable, plenty of venting.
Since I ride mostly in the evening hours, I always buy a white,
or mostly white, helmet. Of course, this is a personal preference.

If that is the Giro Foray, you got a great deal. I picked one up a few weeks ago and used it on a 500 mile multi day tour. Fit is great and ventilation is even better.

It is a Giro "Savant". Very similar to the Foray which is #1 , but they had the Savant in white.

I did not get the Giro "Savant" with MIPS ($110), because I am skeptical about the benefits of a system that allows 5mm of slip between your head and the helmet. No bike helmet fits so tightly that it can't be shifted 5mm on my head. Indeed, my scalp can be moved 5mm on my skull. And I nearly always wear a cycling cap between helmet and head anyway.

I did not get the POC "Octal" ($270), although I did like it a lot and in particular its rear and side coverage seemed a little bit better that the others. But only a little bit. The price was very high, by my standards.

I like the Giro "Air Attack" ($240 w/ visor, $200 w/o) but the visor doesn't fit over my glasses and the ventilation seemed borderline.

I Found Bell rounder, Gyro more oval shaped .. Bell Sports owns Both now, IDK what shape they made the new Molds.

its 10 ~ 20F cooler out here , and often warmer in the Winter.

Every one he pictured will do as well as any other, at that.

Smart Shopping!!!
 

:thumb::thumb::thumb: Kudos
I also purchased my helmets (Bell Metro, Giro Pneumo) at steep discounts (both at Nashbar Closeout Sales, as I recall). Both also in white, size XL.:D

I think that remains true. The Bell helmets I tried were round, the Giro helmets oval. The POC seemed oval too.

Now I have to mount a mirror on the helmet. My roadie friends don't use them, I always do, and looks be damned.

These are made locally EVT | Safe Zone Mirror

I wanted a bit more coverage in the back and I really like the built In sun visor.

Bontrager Rally $95 I really like it, venting Is great, white Is the coolest summer color.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=462272







The Lithos Is a step up for $150, A little more weight and comfort

So glad you didn't get the one with the initials for Piece-O-Crap on it.
Whew....

I haven't noticed that light helmets are any cooler than dark ones. There's enough foam insulation that it just doesn't matter. What matters more is ventilation.

The light ones might be more visible to traffic, though.

That Bontrager looks like a good choice, jyl. I had a few Bells before springing for a Giro Atmos, choice of which I was dismayed - but only for the lack of visor. Even with the coolest wraparounds, I personally preferred a visor. Everything else on the Atmos was perfect. It was comfortable enough that I often went looking for it only to find that it was already where it needed to be, and the mounting system was stable enough to disallow any forced displacement - as alluded to in the posts, you want it to stay put. I recently trashed the Atmos it in a freak accident, and it quite literally saved my life. I went looking for an AtmosII but so far I haven't found one in a store. I haven't gotten around to posting about it yet - few days more maybe. Thanks for everyone's wise input.

Interesting comment. I started with the old Bell Biker and stayed with Bell until about 10 years ago, when I found that the Giro Xen fits my roundish head perfectly. I suspect the other Giro models are, as you note, better for those with a more oval head shape.

I started using a helmet-mounted CycleAware mirror about 15 years ago and now hate to ride without one. I carved a notch in the left side of the visor of my Giro Xen, and I have had to replace the mirror's adhesive pad once, but otherwise, no issues. I have morphed into one of those obnoxious mirror evangelists. (I have also noted, on the few group rides that I have taken, that the older guys are the ones who tend to wear the mirrors. Maybe we have learned something over the years?)

Provided the helmet in question fits his head properly. All helmets have to pass the same tests, but the variables are retention system and inside shape.

Best advice in the entire thread -- restrict your short list of final choices to the helmets that fit your head best. In my case, the Giro Xen was by far the best candidate, but "your mileage may -- actually, will -- vary."

Both my wife and I use the Giro Savant and are very satisfied with them.

There is one problem: The chin straps work loose over time. This seems to be true of all the Bell and Giro bicycle helmets, at least in my experience. The straps are slippery enough to work through the little O-ring that is supposed to hold the adjustment. I solved this problem by sewing the straps together with a few hand stitches of carpet thread.

Helmet chin straps must remain 'snug'; with the strap fastened, one should not be able to pull the helmet off. This is important and I fault Bell/Giro for not addressing the problem better.


Joe --- who knows a lot about helmets.


jyl:
Your evaluation and analysis of the utility of MIPS is accurate and I predict that MIPS will 'go away' in time.

Also: any legal helmet, no matter the price, will perform to the established and legal standard of performance for normal impacts.

However: Those older helmets with pointy tails can be dangerous and should be replaced with the more current and rounder variety; a round helmet with no protrusions is best. -- JM

Just for the fun of it, Google: "pig snout helmet" This helmet style was developed to deflect things like arrows, pikes and lances. What this same shape will do, when applied to the back of a bicycle helmet, is move the helmet aside so the car can hit your head directly. Such 'aero' helmets might be useful when doing a Time Trial with no one else around, but -- not in traffic with cars. -- JM

I have found for me and it probably has something to do with where I live, but other than fit, airflow is the most important thing to me.