buffaloborn85

Hey everyone!

I was wondering what you guys use to protect your noggin's on tour. On my trip across New York last spring, I rode with a Bern helmet which was hot as hell. I'm looking at purchasing a new one for the fall, and am looking for the lightest, coolest temperature wise, and least expensive one on the market.

If I find one that has high reviews from a lot of people, I will forgo the expense and splurge if it's worth it.

Thanks!!

Charlie

prathmann

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...1_10000__11501

Cheap, very light, washable, can add some water for extra cooling on hot days.

kayakdiver

On a more serious note..... The more you spend the lighter they get... the more vents as well... Sucks but true.

skijor

Do NOT buy anything that you can't try on first. My last skid lid was a $$$ Giro Atmos...doesn't fit as well as my either of my old helmets. If a $30 helmet is what fits you best and has several vents, get it.

And a helmet with a visor can help keep some of the rain off your glasses...just so it's also vented, otherwise it could promote fogging of glasses.
g/l

nun

I agree, I went over to a cap rather than a helmet a few years ago and find I enjoy my riding more. The only time I get a bit worried is on downhills.

https://www.rapha.cc/rapha-cap

skijor

Per the OP, "I was wondering what you guys use to protect your noggin's on tour. "

How does a cap protect one's noggin? This is a thread about helmets is it not?

NoReg

I don't mostly wear one, but often have to carry one for certain jurisdictions, in which case I carry an original Bell, from back in the day when they made a helmet that was designed to do something other than suck in cash. If I was replacing it, I would probably get a climbing helmet, they are light and strong, or maybe a carbon novelty motorcycle helmet. When descending at speed I want a real helmet if I was worrying about it.

NoReg

"How does a cap protect one's noggin? This is a thread about helmets is it not? "

By keeping one aware that the average helmet is not much better than the cap? A lot of the time on tour I am going slower than joggers. Average speed of 10mph, with average speed on the dial of about 14 mph. I have been passed by people running for the bus.

Or maybe he was thinking UV...

buffaloborn85

i was talking about helmets.

kayakdiver

Kind of like those that don't... to each his own. I wear a helmet on every ride. Doesn't matter if it's to the end of the neighborhood or across the country. I've crashed to many times be it on a bicycle or motorcycle and that plastic lid was what separated my head from the ground.

If a car hits me... I'll take any little bit of extra protection I can get.

Do as you will but please don't tell me it's not better than nothing.

skijor

Go to your LBS and try on several without paying attention to the price, color, or how cool/uncool they look on you. Focus on fit, just as you would/should with your bike fit.
Good luck!

PurpleK

I use the Bell Citi. Sure, it's intended purpose is for urban riding and commuting, but it's comfortable and I like its rounded, understated style. Plus, it has a strap on the back where I can clip a blinkie light. It also comes in some colors that help make you more visible.

https://www.bellbikehelmets.com/produ....asp?prodID=14

Cyclesafe

I switched to the Kong Scarab several years ago. It's approved in Europe for cycling, but sold here in the U.S. for climbing, kayaking etc. It seemingly provides substantial protection to the noggin, but I haven't yet had an opportunity to test it for its primary functionality. It is very light, the fitting system is well thought out and comfortable, and it never seemed too hot when riding in the California desert this summer. It does not have CPSC approval for cycling, however, but at $150 it is not priced for that market anyway.

Oh, I'm wearing it in my avatar at left.....

https://www.kong.it/doc305.htm
https://www.sierradescents.com/review...ng/scarab.html

LeeG

go to the shop and try them out, most manufacturers divide the lower end in two categories, one size fits all and multiple sizes. Around $40-$80 is a good helmet. Getting opinions on fit only works if your head is shaped like others. I've had helmets from Giro, Bell and Specialized in that price range and they all worked regarding ventilation. I had to outfit some with bits of sticky backed weatherstriipping to take out hard spots. Going upa long hill at 5mph with a 5mph tailwind makes taking the helmet off a consideration but it seems that all the helmets nowadays are pretty good once there's a 7mph+movement of air through the helmet.


https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...jsp?spid=39406

LeeG

I did all my touring with a cap when I was younger in the 70's. Rode all over California. Only got into helmets when I got into racing and training. Now I'm an old fart and have had enough cumulative experiences with caring for people with head injuries and experiencing my own that it's no longer a worthwhile risk.

Chris L

What he said. If you buy a helmet that does not fit properly, you might as well ride without it.

JohnyW

Hi Charlie,

I had the same problems and I bought the Giro Atoms. It increase the temperature by 10°C. My old helmet was useable till 25 °C the Atmos up to 35°C. Unfortunately I even get higher temperatures (on the road - not in the shadow) on tour. So I decided not to use the helmet on a bike tour. The last times the helmet ended at the rack I only used it for long downhills and gravel roads.
I only use it on the race (faster = cooler) and MTB (forests = more shadow). Regarding the heat: For me is more comfortable to use a cap, which I can turn that one ear, the neck is the shadow. Making the cap wet, it's a good AC.
So buy you good helmets - try it - but remove it if it's getting too hot.

Thomas

Cyclesafe

Riding a bike without a helmet is as stupid as smoking. When I see a person riding without a helmet I think "dumbass" - pretty much the same as when I see someone with a cigarette burning between their fingers.

TheBrick

Just quoting you so you can't change what you've written.

rpk0925

As long as we have a current thread discussing helmets going, here's something I've often wondered about. I've seen helmets from Uvex that have a bug screen covering the front vents (from the inside). Does anybody have any experience with these or have an opinion on whether a bug screen is a feature worth seeking out in a helmet? Thanks.

Cyclesafe

Why would I ever do that? Is it the bit about the helmet or the smoking that you find provocative?

Have you ever been stung by a bee or wasp that got trapped in your helmet? I have several times and its not pleasant. A screen wouldn't be my first priority in picking out a helmet, but it would be a positive feature.

Chris L

I'm wondering where this idea about helmet getting "too hot" comes from. I've toured on days that were 47 degrees C in the shade -- ridden up 9% grades in those conditions, and I didn't feel the need to remove the helmet, or even that removing it would make all that much difference. I also regularly ride in humidity exceeding 90% and still don't feel the need to ride helmetless to avoid the heat. Maybe someone could explain that one to me.

LeeG

really? I think, how cool and sexy.

staehpj1

My experience greatly differs with the part of your post that I changed to bold. I usually tough out the climbs with my helmet on, but on one long climb where the heat was doing me in I took off my helmet and wore a bike hat. It felt 20 degrees cooler and I completed a long climb that I had been struggling on in relative ease.

BTW: I have also found that wrap-around sunglasses can make it feel a good bit hotter. This probably depends on the glasses, but I found that with the ones I wore on the TA, taking them off on a climb in hot weather helped a lot.

I wear a helmet, but am not in the camp that considers folks who don't wear them on tours to be idiots.

rpk0925

Say no more. With that in mind, I'm a little surprised you don't see more of those types of helmets.