Stepping up my helmet game, need help.
 

I have a Specialized helmet that I am looking to retire, and would like to step it up for my next helmet. For road biking, what should I be looking in the direction of?

For road biking, you should be looking directly ahead, 15 or 20 yards, and occasionally scanning sides and rear.

For a helmet, I find weight makes a difference, so go light, but also aero makes a difference, so light and aero.

Also red, for speed.

I went with the Specialized S-works helmet with ANGi helmet sensor love it

I have the Evade as well. It’s definitely designed for more narrow, oblong heads. A medium is juuuust barely too narrow for me and a large fits, but I can fit my fist between the foam shell and the retention mechanism at the back. It also looks comically huge on my head (I’m 5’ 7”). I’m also not convinced that it is much more aero than my old helmet, owing to its size.

That being said, it’s a very secure and comfortable fit so I cannot complain too much. The magnetic clasp is also super nice.

I have the Echelon II. It’s serving it’s purpose fine, but wanted maybe a lighter and more aero helmet.

Recently googled this a lot and will probably go for ABUS, they seem to make very good helmets at a decent price. Particularly the Airbreaker, where I live it is quite a bit cheaper than its competitors (maybe because its a German company), it is quite light, especially for a more aero helmet and has a lot of ventilation.

I can echo the comments on Specialized, according to my research they make top quality helmets, I just dismissed them as they are too expensive, at least here.

It is all about the fit, first and foremost, and everyone's head is different. Try before you buy or make sure the store has a good return policy.

Other than that, all helmets have to pass the same basic safety certification. The more you pay, the more bells and whistles you get (better ventilation, better aero, sharper looks). MIPS and similar systems can add some more safety for a small extra cost.

Fit counts most, but also look at VA Tech ratings which are not industry sponsored as far as I can tell.

https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html

Yup - fit comes first. I have a Specialized head - each of the last two times that I've gone helmet shopping, I've looked at other brands, but none fits my noggin nearly as well Specialized. Definitely try them on for size; if you have a similar fit experience, just move up the line a bit for lighter and/or more aero.

I think MIPS and the Bontrager Wave Cell are the ones with improved safety. I've been pondering a Wave Cell but they look like they could be hot with that extra layer.

What price range? I am also changing my entry level helmet (Bell Formula) for an ARO3 or ARO5 from Oakley. Still undecided between the two, but I think I'll go with the ARO3 because of my needs. The Giro Cinder or Synthe is also a good choice, but I am sold to Oakley.

Always try before buying! :)

Make sure it fits. Last year I found a killer sale on a Kask Protone. And, my gf bought a Kask Mojito. I rode with the Protone for a couple months but it never felt right. I tried her Mojito and it fit like a glove. So, I sold the Protone to a friend but couldn't find a Mojito at a good price. Took a chance on a Rudy Project Sterling. Really nice.

I have the Lazer blade + with mips. I super happy with it. $100 helmet that feels like. $250 helmet

Huh. That's weird that the fit differs between two models of the same brand.

That's what I thought too.

I was actually considering the Giro Cinder. My Specialized echelon fits pretty good, so maybe I should look at the higher end models of Specialized, but I am not married to the brand at all.

I keep thinking that I want a helmet with better ventilation, but I'm not sure how much ventilation is "enough". I mean the aero helmets with none (or very little) aren't going to work for me, but at some level, it's going to be hot no matter what.

This is kind of the question that runs though my mind, with either the Spec Evade or Prevail. It'd be nice to have both, but that's $500 bucks in helmets, and I ain't got that budget. The fact that I have very little climbing in my area makes me think that something like the Evade, which supposedly has decent airflow for an aero helmet, might be enough.

The focus on ventilation is mainly marketing Kool-aid IMO.

I use one helmet with lots of vents, and an Air Attack with few,

and wouldn't think to wear one or the other based on heat or ventilation as there's little difference (although slow ride i.e. mtn biking might be hotter with the air attack).

I don't sweat that much so YMMV

It does.

I, on the other hand, sweat so much that I can't see by the end of the rid if I don't wear my halo headband.

I have an Air Attack as well, and haven't had a problem with ventilation (and am prone to over-heating).

I was thinking of upgrading to something else with more concussion protection, like Wavecell or MIPS, but I hate the idea of not having the eye lens/shield and having to go back to sunglasses. The Vanquish looks too enclosed, and others don't have the lens.

I went with the Bell Stratus MIPS helmet and I've been very pleased.

https://www.amazon.com/Bell-Stratus-...D6Y?th=1&psc=1

I have Giro Synthe MIPS and I am planning to upgrade to Aether. Got excited last fall and bought a Bontrager Ballista but realized it wasn't a good fit. Also haven't really weighed the helmets but Ballista feels pretty heavy. I will keep it anyways.