How To Choose The Best Bike Helmet For You

Choosing the best bicycle helmet can be an unexpectedly daunting task.  Many people walk into bike shops expecting to have a choice of one or two inexpensive bicycle helmets.  The reality of the situation is that the quest for the best bicycle helmet involves a large number of models spanning a wide range in price.  There are a few things to keep in mind if you wish to make the process of finding the right bike helmet move smoothly.

When selecting a bicycle helmet, one must weigh two key factors against one another:  utility and comfort.  On one hand, virtually everybody considers utility when purchasing a helmet.  After all, bicycle helmets are worn for a clear reason:  to protect one's head and brain from damage upon impact with the ground or some other hard surface.  if your only concern is utility, make sure you are in a bike shop and limit your choice to the few $30-$50 options they will likely have on hand.  As long as they bare the CPSC sticker (from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission), you are good to go.  Going to a bike shop typically ensures that you will be getting a product that will do what it is supposed to do if the unwanted crash or tumble occurs.

The only reason to spend more than $50 on a helmet involves comfort.  Simply, the lower priced models just might not fit your head right.  In this case, you will need to look at some other options.  In other cases, the lower priced lids might suffice, but you just want comfort.  Why slum it in a Toyota when you can afford a Lexus?  Or better yet, we roll a Schwinn when you can rock an Orbea??  Understood.  In this case, things get interesting.  Here are some options at both the high and low end of the price spectrum.

When it comes to high end bicycle helmets, for me, the choices begin and end with LAS Helmets.  LAS Helmets are made in Italy which adds to both the cool and quality factor.  But better than that, ranging from about $175 to $235, my three favorite LAS models (the Istrion, Squalo, and Victory) offer unparalleled comfort and a bevy of top notch features. 

The Istrion is a one-size-fits-all model.  As one moves up to the Squalo and Victory, two size choices come into play (S/M and L/XL) along with a larger number of vents.  All three models come with summer and winter liners as well as an adjustable cradle that allows the helmet to sit higher or lower on the back of your head.  When positioned lower, the helmet cradles your skull providing not only comfort, but a nice sense of security.

Giro offers two nice alternatives to the three choices I have presented from the LAS lineup.  Keep with the "cushyness" of LAS is the Giro Ionos.  The Ionos is the model Lance Armstrong wears.  It is a light, high-end bicycle helmet with lots of padding aimed at being comfortable.  It is typically priced at about $220.  The Giro Atmos, on the other hand, is a bit less expensive and offers a minimalist design.  The helmet is a bit like a skeleton with very little padding and little bulk.  Which one you choose will likely come down to which style you prefer after trying on the two different styles.

Most bike shops will stock several suitable $30 to $50 helmets.  Most of the time these helmets are commuter helmets, not geared towards but performance, but for the casual rider it is all the same.  In this category, my go-to helmet is the Giro Indicator.  As with most helmets at this price ($40-$45), the Indicator is a one-size-fits-all model.  It is surprisingly comfortable - for the price - and comes with a trusty, removable visor.  For about ten bucks less you can ditch the visor option and grab the Giro Transfer.  It's like the difference between the base and sport model of an economy car.

Also in the $40 ballpark, Specialized presents a helmet ideally for commuting and general use, but one nifty enough to crack the shell of performance headgear.  The Specialized Air Force III looks more like a racing helmet with a slightly aerodynamic look, but at the end of the day it is little more than an alternative to the aforementioned Giros.

The take home message to this hub, though, is simply to wear a helmet.  While bicycle helmet laws vary from county to county in the United States, it is always a bad move to hop on your pony without one.