Road helmet vs. Mountain
 

This may be a silly question and some may just shake their heads in dismay but I'm putting it out there anyhow. i'm looking to upgrade to a new helmet, i like the styling and profile of the giro eclipse(road helmet) but my buddy at the shop thinks i should get a mountain helmet( giro havoc), Question is, whats the difference in a road helmet and mountain, a visor, i ripped the one on my old helmet off, i felt it blocked my vision a little. so he says more coverage for the back of the head on the mountain helmets but i like the clean styling of the eclipse, does it even matter, also if anyone wishes to recommend a good xc helmet that would be cool. thanks

Mountain Helmet, safer for when on the trails.

I say that the whole business between the two different types is more marketing than safety driven. Go with the one you like.

agreed

Not with design of types of helmets. Downhill riders often use full face motocross type.

Many 'in the know' mountain riders use bmx smash out shell helmets.

If you go big, fast, you get a strong lid.

Road helmets are more areodynamic. Mountain are crash designed.

>jef.

http://www.epinions.com/bike-Compone...-Pro_Tec_Brand

Used as boarder and now for mtb. Good stuff, not so eye friendly. Mines the yellow.

MTB helmets are also designed to provide better cooling at slower speeds. Some people of course will tell you that this makes them less aero and noisier at higher speeds such as when road-riding. It's never really bothered me much so I wear my Giro E2 for both road and mountain biking.

so a bmx helmet is more durable than a mt.bike helmet? Ive been thinking of switching to one but have yet to find one with any decent vents for cooling but yet I havent really looked.thanks for the info. Im going to take a serious look at them.

IMO they are designed for maximum crashes, jumps, they have a life, like motorcycle. If they are hit hard-replace.
The design also has more side and neck coverage. They dont come off easily if your tumbling over...and over and over. (round.)

mines pretty well vented, I got a lighter color to keep cool. Pro Tec came with a second cloth\foam liner, washable.

You look super hardcore too! The kids all eye you and think you're some top gun racer dude retired.

Then they see you fall over a log, totally bail, and KNOW why you have such a bomb lid on your head.

I jump, fall, do crazy stuff on a bike so ya, for me it's more protection.

>jef. Wish I got this one.

Wanna look hardcore? Here you go... the ultimate in head crash protection.

http://www.antiquehardware.com/tims/D238_divehelmet.jpg

Sorry Khuon, that is a pressure diving helmet, It was designed for constant high pressure equal over surface, not high impact to one area.
Looks nice, yours?

>jef.

Yes, I want one! That cant way more than my camelback.

Maybe if it was filled with lead...

That's true of all bicycle helmets. EPS polystyrene works well, once.
I just don't get why essentially a large coffee cup can cost from $30-300.

Liability Insurance!!!!


To answer the original question, get the roadie helmet if that's what you want. The differences are minimal. Yes, a mtn bike helmet is designed for more ventilation at slower speeds, but will you really notice a difference. Probably not.

The biggest difference is a Visor and styling.

L8R

yeah i agree with a2psyklnut get the roadie,
a roadie helemet is design to have extra or bigger vents at the front part of the helmet and 'exhast like' vents at back cause usually ppl would be travelling at high speeds, creating clean flow mtb helmets have vents almost every part but there is no real diff , more of what a2 said

Well, depending on who's head is in it.....