Helmet Recommendation?
 

Need help selecting a helmet.

I will be riding 15-25 miles and may eventually go up to 30-35 miles 3-5 days a week.

I know they can go up to $150 + but I don't want to spend more than I really have too. I realize you get better air flow with some but I also know that they all have to meet the same standards!

Allow me.

Whichever fits best and feels most comfortable.

Giro Pneumo...can be had for $100 or less....I love mine.

Giro fits rounder heads better
Bell fits oval heads better

Both made by Bell, both are very good quality. Try them on..the one that fits best wins.

yes, i believe that more money just gets you better looks, weight and airflow, they should all protect your dome about the same.

If by round you mean narrow. My wide head won't even fit in a Giro helmet. And a large Bell is just wide enough.

I fully agree that this is the best starting point...of course, there are other factors, but, this one is key...the other factors that I care about are ventilation, ability to scratch my head when it is itchy, looks and price...I own a Giro Atmos, which fits pretty well, has good ventilation, and nice big vents for poking my finger through to scratch an itch...and I like the way it looks and the price was somewhat reasonable when Performance had a sale and I used a coupon (about $120 or so)...my other helmet is a Specialized Echelon...this fits me perfectly (I did not know about it before I got the Atmos), it keeps my head cool, although, I wish the vents were a bit wider for scratching purposes :-) ...and the price was terrific (about $55)...the look is fine...in my book, if it fits, the Echelon has to be considered a great value.

Las!

Bell Alchera FTW.

But buy locally so you get sized correctly.

Don't underestimate the effects of weight and airflow, though. It's nice having a helmet that's so light you forget you're wearing it. And coming home from a long hot ride and finding your hair is the only spot on your body that's still dry is kind of nice - not to mention the effect all that heat transfer out the top can have on total body cooling.

If you're not spending too much time in the saddle don't waste your money, just grab whatever fits. I personally use LAS and I spent $170 on mine, it's worth it because I spend 10-15 hours of my week in the saddle.

By round I mean round.

Then I guess by oval you mean the sides of the head being further apart then the front to back...

Air flow is not that important unless you are climbing mountains on really hot days.
Just try on a bunch of helmets and buy the one that fits your head size/shape the best.
Also, look for adjustments that are easy for you to understand. Most helmets have adjustments on the sides and back, as well as the neck strap. Carefully adjusting the helmet should prevent it from falling off your head during a crash.

All helmets sold in the USA have to meet minimum safety requirements, so even a cheap helmet will work well if it fits you well.

it's worth it to have a good, comfortable and attractive(to you) helmet. you'll wear it.

I just replaced my old Bell with a Lazer O2 Road. So far so good. Keeps my head cool, looks good for a helmet, and the Rollsys tightening system is awesome. Got it for $116 from LBS. Can be had for around $100 online.

Lazer O2, msrp is $110

I have a Genesis, the next step up and its the most comfortable helmet i've had

I dig my Rudy Project Actyum.

just got a new Bell Alchera helmet from Performance. Man what a difference. I've been wearing a 5 year old Giro that was pretty cheap back then.

With the new helmet I can actually feel air moving across my head and exiting out the side. It really cools my head. This will make a big difference this summer.

And the Bell Alchera was a pretty cheap helmet, too. $49, but I added a pair of sunglasses to get it just over $75 total and got an extra 20$ off so that made the helmet only $39.

Service from Performance was perfect. Ordered on a Sunday. Shipped Tuesday and received on a Friday. No hassles. Good price. Good product.

Anyone with thoughts on the Bell Furio?

Specialized Echelon. $55 or so. Great value, and very comfortable. I've had a Giro Monza too, which is a relatively expensive model. I prefer the Specialized.

so why do u need a new helmet?

The alchera is more comfortable and better vented.

Bell Alchera is without a doubt the best value in a helmet with good ventilation. Commonly available for less than $50.:thumb:

:thumb:

The only thing I'd add would be in-mold construction rather than taped-shell. Since in-mold helmets are so much more common these days and can be head for reasonable prices, I don't see a reason for a taped-shell helmet that disintegrates after the first hit and provides zero protection during the rest of a bad crash.