Q. I plan on riding my bike all year round, and I need some suggestions on what's a good, full-face helmet. Specifically, it has to be comfortable enough to go on a two hour, 100 mile road trip once a month while also being air tight enough to keep the cold out while having enough vents to keep me cool during the summer.
I was looking at everything from $130 helmets to $400 helmets. Obviously the higher price=the better quality, but I was hoping to get a realistic idea of how airtight, comfortable these helmets will be at different price ranges. Also, feel free to throw in your own helmet choice and why you bought it.
I was looking at everything from $130 helmets to $400 helmets. Obviously the higher price=the better quality, but I was hoping to get a realistic idea of how airtight, comfortable these helmets will be at different price ranges. Also, feel free to throw in your own helmet choice and why you bought it.
Answer
First of all, every head is different, and what "I" like or what fits "ME" may not fit your shape head. I have Raider, HJC, and Scorpion full-face helmets and I never should have bought the Scorpion... I bought it online based on ratings... the size is correct, but the "fit" is not quite right, so it was wasted money!
You can buy a good helmet online and save tons of money, but before you buy online, go to a real shop and try a bunch of different brand helmets on, and have one of the sales-reps give you a hand picking out the brand and size that fits you BEST. Helmets should be SNUG when new, and not have space or "pinch-points" anywhere. Once you find the BEST FIT, you can buy there, or find that particular brand/size online and order it.
Helmets all have certifications, DOT, EEC (Europe DOT), and SNELL Memorial Foundation. SNELL certified helmets are subjected to more stringent testing than DOT/EEC helmets, but not all helmets are SNELL tested (because the mfg have to pay SNELL for these tests, they do not test EVERY helmet they produce), so you cannot judge the safety of a helmet solely by the certifications labeled on the back of it.
Price has NOTHING to do with quality of helmet... there are plenty of $80 helmets that perform the exact same as $400 (or even $1000) helmets in testing. BUT, once you start into the $100+ range, you start getting the all-important comfort features, such as better ventilation, removable/washable liners, adjustable cheek-pads, fog-proof visors, 'pin-lock' visor inserts, specialty graphics, logos, etc. etc.
As far as comfort for the "long-ride"... my $120 HJC is DOT/SNELL certified, a perfect fit, fantastic ventilation, pin-lock visor, and I can wear it all day long (8-10 hr). I never have any issues with fatigue (barely know it's there). I wear this helmet in the summer (100+ deg), winter (down to the 20's), and in every weather condition in between! BTW, the trick to a good winter helmet is a chin-skirt or wearing a balaclava to block the wind from your chin and mouth... a good fog-proof or pin-lock visor is always a plus in any cold or wet weather!
First of all, every head is different, and what "I" like or what fits "ME" may not fit your shape head. I have Raider, HJC, and Scorpion full-face helmets and I never should have bought the Scorpion... I bought it online based on ratings... the size is correct, but the "fit" is not quite right, so it was wasted money!
You can buy a good helmet online and save tons of money, but before you buy online, go to a real shop and try a bunch of different brand helmets on, and have one of the sales-reps give you a hand picking out the brand and size that fits you BEST. Helmets should be SNUG when new, and not have space or "pinch-points" anywhere. Once you find the BEST FIT, you can buy there, or find that particular brand/size online and order it.
Helmets all have certifications, DOT, EEC (Europe DOT), and SNELL Memorial Foundation. SNELL certified helmets are subjected to more stringent testing than DOT/EEC helmets, but not all helmets are SNELL tested (because the mfg have to pay SNELL for these tests, they do not test EVERY helmet they produce), so you cannot judge the safety of a helmet solely by the certifications labeled on the back of it.
Price has NOTHING to do with quality of helmet... there are plenty of $80 helmets that perform the exact same as $400 (or even $1000) helmets in testing. BUT, once you start into the $100+ range, you start getting the all-important comfort features, such as better ventilation, removable/washable liners, adjustable cheek-pads, fog-proof visors, 'pin-lock' visor inserts, specialty graphics, logos, etc. etc.
As far as comfort for the "long-ride"... my $120 HJC is DOT/SNELL certified, a perfect fit, fantastic ventilation, pin-lock visor, and I can wear it all day long (8-10 hr). I never have any issues with fatigue (barely know it's there). I wear this helmet in the summer (100+ deg), winter (down to the 20's), and in every weather condition in between! BTW, the trick to a good winter helmet is a chin-skirt or wearing a balaclava to block the wind from your chin and mouth... a good fog-proof or pin-lock visor is always a plus in any cold or wet weather!
Snow helmet for biking?
snoop
So I'm commuting in the winter on my bike. I was wondering if a helmet designed for snowboarding/skiing would work. They're warmer, which would be good on those colder days, but I was just wondering if they would be less safe or some other reason that they may not be as good for biking.
Answer
As far as regular cyclist-marketed foam hats that lessen the blow from slapping the pavement without having put out your hands or the blow from a two to six thousand pound automobile can do, a snowboarding helmet ought to be able to do the same. If you're goin to add that much weight instead of just wearing a balaclava and taping the vents on your bike helmet, why not just go with a DOT/SNELL approved motorcycle helmet? That was sarcasm from somebody who does not wear helmets except when on a motorcycle or while involved in a sanctioned bicycle race and instead wears reflective+dayglo emergency personnel attire and has lights mounted front and back on the bike during normal rides. I've only been hit once- and that time I was without any of my bright stuff on a lightless bike. Most helmet-wearing bicyclists that I know are perfectly happy with the balaclava+taped helmed setup.
As far as regular cyclist-marketed foam hats that lessen the blow from slapping the pavement without having put out your hands or the blow from a two to six thousand pound automobile can do, a snowboarding helmet ought to be able to do the same. If you're goin to add that much weight instead of just wearing a balaclava and taping the vents on your bike helmet, why not just go with a DOT/SNELL approved motorcycle helmet? That was sarcasm from somebody who does not wear helmets except when on a motorcycle or while involved in a sanctioned bicycle race and instead wears reflective+dayglo emergency personnel attire and has lights mounted front and back on the bike during normal rides. I've only been hit once- and that time I was without any of my bright stuff on a lightless bike. Most helmet-wearing bicyclists that I know are perfectly happy with the balaclava+taped helmed setup.
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