Last season sometime, Bonktown (Chainlove) had the Bell Volt at $79. That is the single most comfortable helmet I've ever tried on. However, I just put the deposit on the Lynskey. I'd rather not have to spend $179 on a helmet if I can help it. I'm assuming they had the helmet on BT because it was last year's model and the new ones were out. Anybody know about what time of year that happens?

I bought two helmets at Performance a couple years ago. One for me and one for my wife. Sunday was the first time she took hers out of the box. Size Large didn't fit!!! Wow, there is no way her head is bigger than my fat noggin'. Well, it turns out the box was for a Large. The helmet is a small. I'm an idiot for not checking that. So, we'll hang on to this for when my daughter grows a little more, I gave my wife my helmet (she's much more likely to need it than I am!) and now I need to buy a new helmet. I'll drop the $179 if I have to, but between med bills and the bike, I'd like to save what I can.

Thanks!

Performance has the Giro Monza on sale right now (realy good helmet) if you are not only considering the Volt

On a related note, what exactly makes one Bell helmet worth $179 compared to the cheaper ones you can buy at Walmart, etc. As an example, I have a $30 Bell that is a few years old and was considering an upgrade to a Volt until I put mine on a gram scale and found that it weighs 234 gms, which is considerably less than the Volt is rated at (297 gms). It carries the same safety rating and is plenty comfortable. So what would I be gaining for the additional $150 other than a heavier albeit somewhat cooler looking helmet?

cycling pro-ness is directly correlated with how much money you spend

In all seriousness, you are mostly right. I buy helmets in the $50-$90 range now and have noticed they look cooler and are slightly more comfortable than $30 ones at Wal-mart, but that's about it. Some say that the extra cost is applied towards research to make high-end helmets lighter but still provide adequate protection. Not sure how much of this is true, but it sounds plausible

You just spent $6000 on a bike and wear a $30 helmet!?

May locusts infest your field.

All I know is I tried on a bunch of helmets one day. The shape of my head and the Giro's don't play well together. Some bells felt good, the Volt just felt like it disappeared. It simply was the most comfortable on my head. I understand that it's JUST a helmet. There is no additional cost to make one over another of similar design so the difference in cost is absurd. I'm definitely open to other ideas. What model Bell do you have Fred? I'll go try it on. Like I said, I'd like to save money where I can, but not at the expense of comfort and cooling. What makes it "worth" that much? Nothing. What makes it "cost" that much? Profit. Am I willing to pay the bill? Not if I can find a better deal or a more economical helmet that is (nearly) as comfortable.

Did I miss a post somewhere? You just bought a $6,000 bike and you're implying that I'm nuts for wanting a volt? Your point is well taken, but you also just gave me a great laugh. Thank you! BTW - what made it worth more than......oh.....never mind. I'm sure it's a beauty and rides like a dream. Enjoy!

I have no idea what model Bell it is or if they still make it. My wife bought it for me a few years ago, and frankly, it does look like I have a mushroom on my head, but I'm cheap, so I am keeping it until I can find a closeout Bell or Giro for dirt cheap. Until then I will just have to settle for wearing my sunglasses over the straps as the limit of my pro-ness.

BTW, I did not and have not bought a $6000 bike. That was someone's else's joke, nor am I implying you are nuts.

Ah.....fell for another one! And I AM nuts, but that has nothing to do with the helmet. Looks like I'll watch for a sale at Performance and go try more on. Maybe end up with what I had. It wasn't that bad and something like $59 on sale. Speaking of Performance, anybody know if they still do their Tuesday Lunch 10% discounts?

I could have sworn you had a thread a few weeks back with a budget of ~$6000...then you recently bought a new bike(?) I am probably (incorrectly) connecting the two...If so yeah my joke is no good

Must be confusing me with a different Fred. There are a lot of us around here.

D'oh! I'm confusing my "Freds"...it was DropDeadFred.

My apologies.

For what it's worth I like the look of the Bell Volt. Never tried one, though.

Yep. Every tuesday noon. 10% discount.

I'm a Fred.....Hey.....maybe I need to change my name to PhotoFred!

Thanks. That apply to sale prices, too?

They're still going to make the Volt I think, but Bell has just come out with their new top-end helmet, the Gage.

I'm the same as some others mentioned here, Giro doesn't fit me at all, and the Volt is the most comfortable helmet I've found yet. It's awesome.


It's so good, last time I caught it on sale, I bought 2: one black and and in the BMC team livery. But I later realized I don't actually like the BMC colors, so I've been trying to sell that helmet for real cheap but haven't had any luck. So as of now, I have a spare, still new in the box, at least until I find someone else who wants it. Either way, I'll still buy another black one next time I find one on sale at a good price.

I dropped almost $200 on a Specialized Prevail, and it in creased my average speed by at least .000021 mph! All kidding aside, it is much lighter then the Bell Alchera I was using before but the biggest difference is the cooling is much better with the Prevail. I'm still a Fred, though...

I own the BMC colorway. I wanted something that had Blk-Red and was matte and that was the only choice...and if anyone is wondering if I put on the decals - no I have not.

I own a Lumen as well...can't say I like the other one better, but Blk/Red is my favorite combo for everything.

Just buy whatever you want to buy if you can afford it. You don't wanna buy something else and tell yourself months later "I should've gotten the ones I wanted"

Not bonk town prices, but you can get the volt for $135 at Amazon. I got one for $120 from amazon, they do jump the prices around a bit. I love mine, my head also liked Bells more than Giros.

Haven't seen any Bells on Chainlove, but they have been rotating Giro super light for under $80. Might fit your wife.

Like a lot of other people, Giros don't work on my gourd, either. I've worn a Bell City (liked it) and, for the past year, a Bell Volt. I got the Volt as a freebie when I bought my bike last summer. It's OK but, to me, it's hot and LOUD in the wind. My LBS recently got in an order of Kask helmets so I went to check them out. I tried on the Mojito and fell in love with it. It's light, very well ventilated (that's important down here), and extremely quiet. It's the most comfortable lid I've ever worn. It actually feels more like a cap than a helmet on my head. Of course, it wasn't anywhere near cheap but, for me, it was money well spent.

I just got an Uvex Boss from REI Outlet on sale. Quite happy with it. I did have to remove (gulp) the visor to remain compliant with velominati rule #35.
It's light as a feather and the adjustment system is awesome.
My previous helmet was a Bell so I would recommend this helmet for Bell-shaped heads.

Bell-wearer here. I still wear a Bell Arc I bought in 2004, the year I got back on the bike. Last year I bought a Bell Slant, and it fits every bit as well. Giro helmets are too round and bind front and back. We all have differently shaped eggs, but I also do not see the point in spending more than you need in order to receive the same protection.

As for the Fernando Lamas Effect here in the 41 (Better to look good than to feel good), some dude caught me on my commute this morning like Lancelot approaching the castle in Monty Python's Holy Grail. He had at least ten years on me, was on a touring rig (I think), was wearing lime green (jacket, not kit) and sporting a mirror on the helmet. Now, I am not fast, but I hold my own: This guy was weird fast, like shouldn't have caught me that fast fast. By BF standards, this guy should not have been able to smell my fart in a headwind, yet he schooled me.

Moral: Protect your noggin, who the frack cares what you paid for the helmet.

There's obviously a tremendous markup on helmets. Saw a Giro Ionos for $90 (lg/xlg) not too long ago, about as cheap as you'll find that helmet. Saw a Volt last week for $74 somewhere (sorry I can't remember what site it was) but it was in what I thought was fruity colors. The same helmet on same site in different color was over $130. Just goes to show that they'll charge what they think you'll pay for the styling.

I have the Volt and love it, I bought it last year on sale for under $100.

check this out - 2012 Specialized Echelon for $60.00

If you don't have to have the most "in" color, you can pick up a Bell Array from Amazon for around $50.