TripleB67

Looking to buy a new road cycling helmet to replace my 16 year old WM Bell helmet I purchased when I got my 2000 Gary Fisher Mamba Mountain Bike (currently upgraded the tires to Bontrager H2 to ride the bike on the road).

If I'm looking to stay under $75, what would you recommend?

The Bell Achera and Giro Monza seemed to get great reviews but I'm sure there are at least a hundred others.

I've read that higher priced helmets offer more comfort, lightness, and ventilation but really don't offer a great deal more protection...truth?

Thanks for any and all help!

TripleB67

fietsbob

depends on your head shape.. I Found BNell Rounder Gyro more oval.

To Make less act like More the pricier helmets do that thru engineering

but $45 helmet may be adequate .. check Your Bike shops..

Bike-Ski-skate helmets may be the way to go for the winter 2 helmets for different weather ..

Maelochs

RETURNED: Bell Lumen Road Helmet - Closeout Buy this (if it fits) and buy something else for $50.

Sy Reene

Truth.. get a cheap helmet and a dremel tool to make the ventilation holes bigger while also reducing weight.

MRT2

You don't need to spend $75 to get a decent helmet. My go to helmet the last couple of years is this Cannondale helmet, currently on sale for less than $50 at Nashbar. It fits my head great.
Cannondale Teramo Road Helmet

Beyond that, I like Bell and Limar helmets. I bought a Limar helmet on sale earlier this season for $30 to replace my Cannondale, and I rotate between the two. I bought my wife a Limar all sport/mountain helmet (basically a road helmet with a little visor) but after about a month she went back to her preferred helmet, a Bell Solar. My son uses a Limar helmet, also bought on sale for less than $30. His previous helmet was a Giant, also about $30 on clearance from a local bike shop.

ltxi

Cannondale Quick. Good reviews. About $40.

shelbyfv

I like the Specialized Echelon. You can try it on in the store.

Jiggle

A few years ago I was browsing a thrift store when I came upon a shelf of bike helmets. Did you know that many of the cheap ones these days have a retention system? For $3.99 I got a couple of them and they are quite comfortable. Now it's all I use.

rebgen

Giro Revel....$45

I just replaced my old Giro with this helmet and it has been very comfortable and without any problems. Fit is excellent (subjective). Hope to not crash test it to really confirm it's a good helmet but everything short of that is excellent.

https://www.rei.com/product/864342/g...el-bike-helmet

Tony P.

Everybody's got their favorite; mine's the Kali Chakra Plus. For the money, I don't think there's a better helmet. They're very light, with good features, and style. In terms of fit, look for how a helmet adjusts; some are much better in this regard than others.

https://kaliprotectives.com/helmets/trail/chakra-plus

BTW, I believe this is the authoritative source on recreational helmets (not just biking):

Bicycle Helmets for the 2016 Season

jefnvk

I'd never buy a used helmet, and I am about as cheap as they come.

If I am bothering to protect my head, it is not going to be with something of an unknown history, especially when I can often buy a new Bell or Schwinn branded one at my favorite big box store for $15.

But its me 

I'm partial to the Fly Racing Freestone. Mountain bike specific design, which makes no difference to me, but the design does have more back of head coverage than my older Bell road specific helmets (I ride mostly road or MUPs). Jenson USA, https://www.jensonusa.com/Fly-Racing/...ne-Helmet-2015

Homebrew01

Giro Bishop at my local shop for $45... Fits my fat head.

Hiro11

The Bell Alchera is surprisingly comfortable and well made for $45.

Jiggle

Yeah, but why spend $15 on something you'll never need when you can spend $4? At $4, I have one in the trunk of each car and I can clip it to my commuter without fear it will be stolen. So this way, I'll always be wearing something I'll never need so that the do gooders will never yell at me, and I am at peace.

jefnvk

I mean, I guess if your only point of wearing one is so people don't yell at you, go for it.

If I'm going through the process of wearing one, it might as well actually be worn in a way that provides me protection, just for that odd time I actually decide to go out and hit my head...

jade408

Because you have no idea if the helmet has previously been in a crash. And helmets are toast after a crash. Piece of mind is worth another $10.

TripleB67

Love the looks of this helmet!

Any problem with it fitting properly? It doesn't it seem like it comes in sizes...just one size fits all.

Thanks for everyone's input so far!

TripleB67

TripleB67

Anyone have any experience or opinions on any of these helmets?
- Bell Verge $25
- Bell Piston Sport $36
- Giro Trinity Sport $40
- Giro Revel $45

Thank you!

TripleB67

Yendor72

Go try them on. It doesn't matter what I recommend. My wife loves her helmet, when I tried on the same brand and similar design I felt like I was going to suffocate because of the way it fit on my head. I had to tell the pushy sales guy that there was no f***ing way I was wearing that thing. I ultimately bought a Specialized Echelon, but that doesn't mean that you would like it. Everyone's grape is different. Get something that you feel comfortable in. You previous helmet fit will be a factor. you've come to recognize it as being what is comfortable.

MRT2

One size fits most. I have one of these, but it isn't my favorite. The fit isn't the best for my head.

puma1552

Specialized Align, very happy with it for $40. Has the little wheel to tighten it around your head.

Retro Grouch 

On order:

1. Color.
2. Size, head shape and adjustment features. (Some are rounder, some more oval.)
3. Price
4. Ventilation.
5. Aesthetics.

To be certified, all must pass the same pass-fail test. There is no way to determine if a higher priced helmet scores better or actually scored worse, only that it passed. Relative to safety, I'd consider all certified helmets to be equal.

When I'm buying a helmet, I want what I want. As you are aware, there are a lot of helmets. If I can't get the color that I want from one brand, somebody else will have it and still match my other criteria.

AlexCyclistRoch

Styrofoam breaks down over time. That is why bike helmets really have to be replaced when they reach 10 years old. Those $4 helmets will probably work OK.....until the day you get hit and your head shatters the oxidized styrofoam into a million chunks as your head smacks the pavement with nearly full force. Of course, you can come back and tell us how right we were, but only after you've had 3 or 4 years of physical therapy for brain damage.

No, I'm not THAT cheap either......

MRT2

A friend of mine has that helmet. He has it the last 2 years and likes it enough, given that he hates helmets in general. I was there when he bought it. Looks pretty decent for the money.