Helmet for large head
 

I want to replace my aging road helmet. It is a Louis Garneau size XL. I wear a size 8 hat and have an oblong head shape. The Garneau was the best fit I could find years ago but they don't seem to have an equivalent now. I ride road only and want something well ventilated. I can't seem to find much online. Suggestions?

Two that I'm aware of are the Giro Syntax MIPS and Bell Falcon MIPS. Both are available in XL and should fit your head. Not sure about the shape though. And it seems like everything else bicycle related in these COVID-19 times that helmets are in short supply so finding one may not be easy.

Giro Synthe helmet run pretty big.

bucket?....................just kidding i couldn't resist

I have this (last years model in red) in extra large, but it is showing out of stock at moment:

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/al...ext=60820-3052

Like Shoes Its better to go to a shop and try it on in person.

I, too, have an oblong head,* and the most recent helmet I’ve bought that fit well was a Giro Aeon. (Also light, and lots of ventilation.) I tried a POC helmet, and it was painfully round on my oblong noggin. Sent it right back.

*Also makes finding glasses that fit well hard. Not many frames have narrow lenses and long temples.

Now Bell Sports Owns Both: Giro more oblong , Bell more Round..

I also have a big, "long oval" shaped head and have not found the perfect helmet yet. I currently have the Giro Synthe and it is working well-enough for me even though my noggin' is at the very limits of it's size adjustability.

I recently had the revelation that in order to block sweat from my eyes, I started wrapping a sweatband on the outside of my helmet straps so as to not screw-up the sizing on my helmet which gives me a headache. (Pictures of what I mean here) After making that adjustment, this is the first cycling season I've had in a long time where my helmet is no longer causing me head pain and I can see out of my glasses for the entire ride :thumb:

I find it frustrating that the bicycle industry seems to refuse to acknowledge that heads have different shapes. While there are helmets in the motorcycle industry for "long oval" heads, no such thing exists for cycling.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ed4e8ca02e.gif

I've got a size 8 head, too, and developed a habit of trying on helmets just about every time I pass a display of them. If I find a display model fits comfortably I'll open a boxed one and try it. If it fits I buy it. I've got two ready and waiting. :D (I go through a helmet per year).

I agree it certainly is a challenge to find a Helmet for those of us with XL or even XXL heads. I have two Specialized MAX helmets that fit well but you may have to search because like other brands mentioned earlier, this series appears to be out of stock at many dealers. Maybe you can have better luck?

Try Kali Protectives. When you call the owner picks up the phone. I am sure he will help you. I have a Kali and it fits perfectly. Highly rated for protection by CR.

Giro Bishop

The POC Omne Air Spin may fit. It's oblong and runs larger than spec. My noggin is 23", on the cusp between medium and large so I ordered the Omne in large, but it's just slightly too big for my head -- although I usually wear a bandanna which takes up the slack.

The Omne is made in China to POC specs and runs about half the price of the Octal and Ventral helmets. Right now Nashbar has 'em on sale for $120.

It's a bit heavier than some road helmets due to the thicker foam and "roof" that runs ear to ear. It's more of a well ventilated commuter helmet than a high end roadie helmet. But it looks less bulbous and mushroom-heady than POC's Octal and Ventral, despite having very similar profiles. I suspect it's an optical illusion created by the very different vent patterns. The Octal and Ventral have a very distinctive appearance that some folks hate to love or love to hate. The Omne looks more conventional.

While I got it for errands and casual rides on my hybrid, I ended up wearing it more often on road bike rides in summer because the air flow is so good, better than my Bell Formula MIPS (which isn't bad at all, and a better overall value than the POC).

My only gripe about the POC Omne is the thicker foam and lower fit on the skull means I can see the helmet overhanging my brow when I'm in the drops. It would be unsuited to TT/tri-bikes in the aero bars because of the overhanging brow. But for mostly upright rides it's very good.

Excellent, inexpensive Amazon helmet
 

I have a large, round head, picture Charlie Brown. Got one of these, and like it a lot. Gonex Adult Bike Helmet, Cycling Road Helmet with Safety Light, 24 Integrated Flow Vents, Adjustable 22.5-24.5 inches (Red)

Its very light, and has a wheel at the rear that you turn to tighten it around your head after you buckle the chin strap. Very light, well ventilated, and has bug netting inside that covers the front vents.

Alien cyclists?

A great helmet is only great if rigorously tested and built to exceed tests. Cheap helmets may have some fun features or might be light but without proper testing and really good construction it may not protect well. I have high doubts Jeff Bezos or Gonex is going to do much testing and serious design work to make a safer helmet. If I were them I wouldn't there is no money in that, The secret to companies like Gonex and others on Amazon and eBay are take a design someone else made and copy the looks or general design and get it sold extra cheap. It might be fine for their duffle bags or phone arm bags that is not safety equipment but a helmet not so much.

dont know what hat size I am, but the Large Kask helmets fit me pretty good, as do Giro

My big head is long, front to back but narrow. I usually have to get the biggest helmet I can find so it doesn't uncomfortably press on my forehead but usually ends up being loose side to side.
Now I have a large Leatt DBX 2.0. It's a cross country mountain bike helmet but I use it for all my road riding as well. It's by far the most comfortable helmet I have ever owned. I broke one in a MTB crash and replaced with the exact same model. I've never liked a helmet enough to replace it with the same thing before. If anybody local sells Leatt I would recommend checking them out if a helmet visor doesn't bother you.

If you're replacing a helmet now the Bontrager Q-cell helmet is a good idea. It is a bit oblong but the most important feature is that it is designed to prevent concussion whereas other helmets follow the International standard which is designed to prevent skull fracture. Most of the bad head injuries isn't skull fracture but concussion. And I had one of those and had no awareness because no short term memory for two years before a friend got me to a proper neurologist. Most of these guys treat aging diseases and forget how to handle concussion. Neurologists that work with football teams are far more familiar with treating concussion. I have to take medication for the rest of my life and it screws up my balance. So I couldn't pass a drunk test under any conditions. In fact, I have to retain a visual horizon to walk. Good thing that bikes balance themselves. This crash was caused by a large number of coincidences that would be almost impossible to repeat.