ALthough I really like my bell metro, I wish I could put it on backwards. I can't because of the adjustable fit system in the rear (and I don't think I need the adjustable fit system anyway).

Does anyone know of a similar helmet that can be worn either forwards or backwards? I know that I can just get a helmet without an adjustable fit system, but I really like the earmuffs on the bell and don't think they'd fit another model.

Why do you bother wearing a helmet at all?

If part of your reasoning is to protect your brain, shouldn't you use it the way it's designed to fit?

She says it fits better backwards?

^^^^^

Kind of proves my point doesn't it? Do you think her helmet is going to provide much frontal lobe protection?

In order of importance, the reasons I wear a bike helmet:
1. To mount stuff.
2. They're light.
3. They're well ventilated.
4. Liability.

Protection is not one of them. Although speaking of design, helmets are designed to (in order of priority):
1. Look good.
2. Be well ventilated.
3. Be light weight.
4. Make money.
5. Provide protection.

I doubt the forward/backwards orientation of a helmet has much influence on the particular low priority design goal of which you're concerned. For christ sake they're made out of styrofoam.

EDIT: Actually now that I think about protection is on the list of reasons why I wear a helmet. It protects my thinning scalp from skin cancer, which unlike some concerns is a real and actual danger the helmet is capable of protecting against.

I don't think that you know very much about bicycle helmet design, testing or manufacturing.

Thanks. I think that's too bulky in the "front". Is anyone aware of a more symmetrical helmet? Something like the Bell Metro or Citi without the fit system.

I know enough. What difference does it make to you? You don't have to argue because you ignorant safety nannies have already won: I have to wear a helmet for liability reasons.

go down to the Harley shop and get one of those stainless steel bowls they sell as helmets they can be worn backwards and appear to provide litte protection.

If I were willing to wear something that heavy and with that little ventilation then I might wear a helmet that actually provides protection (ie not a CPSC approved bike helmet).

Thinning scalp, fears sun exposure...sounds familiar...

I don't even pretend to understand the question, but FWIW, maybe you CAN wear it backward. When foam helmets were new--what was it, 15 or 20 years ago--a friend of mine bought a pair for himself and his wife. He's a very experienced, hard-core ultradistance rider, does several centuries a year, but they both wore the helmets backward (inadvertently) for weeks, until somebody looked at them and said, "Uh, excuse me, but..."

Nothing to us really apart from the great fun of it all. [Well, assuming you use some other insurance carrier than me.]

Here's something you might consider. Some jurisdictions require helmets, but fail to specify where they're to be worn. There's GOT to be something useful there.

Photos, please.

I'm thinking I'm probably going to just remove the fitting mechanism from my Bell Metro and velcro in some pads. None of the decently ventilated fairly symmetrical helmets without fitting systems seem to be any cheaper anyway.

Please. you would be lucky to have me group under the same insurance carrier as you. I am a very health conscious individual who knows exactly what is good for me and what isn't. It is you mindless helmet wearing zombies who wouldn't know safety if it bit you in the ass that are costing the rest of us money. Not me.

You could always turn your head around towards the rear of the bike and use a helmet mirror to see what is in front of you. That should work.

I think the OP has never fallen off a bike, thats why he doesnt know how much helmets protect you.

Or maybe he has?

Some more ideas:

-Buy two helmets. Saw each in half and glue the two rears together to use. Glue the two fronts together to sell to a sucker on CL.
-Use a pursuit helmet backwards. That would be totally cool. And surely that spike out in front could only dropyour liability profile even lower.
-Looking again at the four goals you had in mind for wearing a helmet, it seems like all four would be squarely accomplished by pretending to wear a helmet.
-What about using one upside down? Could you sit on it?
-Wear a stocking hat, but call it a helmet?
-Bubble wrap. Make sure to poke holes in it for ventilation and breathing and such.

jim

Yep. Smacked his noggin big time. Video at 11.

Top reasons I wear a helmet:
1. To keep my skull from bouncing off the pavement.


Top things i look for in a helmet:
1. In-mold construction
2. Proper size/adjustability
3. Ventilation

Welcome to my world.

???

???

???

Airbags are made of air.

========================

I doubt there are any that are intended to be worn either way. I suspect that you are just going to have to try ones out and see if they happen to work for you.

.......... why???

If you want to wear something backwards, use a baseball cap.

This has GOT to be a trolling question.

Yeah I don't get why he wants to wear it backwards either

Alas, Barracks', I fear you're right. We should go do something with a little more challenge. Maybe shooting carp in a barrel with a shotgun would provide better sport. Gotta' go.

I think this is a great thread! It ranks right up there with asking how to set up your bike so that you have to pedal it backwards, or how to use a steering wheel instead of handlebars. Troll? Nah, couldn't be!