Quick helmet advice needed

[lordofthemark]

Bell Super 2, a MTB helmet. On clearance at REI. What do you guys think of it as a choice for a commuter non mountain recreational rider like myself ? (QOTM would get my old Bell Solar) QOTM likes that is has a visor to protect me from the evil sun. It is a bit heavier, is shaped differently than I am used to, and even after clearance is pricier than basic helmets.

Edit: Or the Giro Xar? Lighter and better vent4d, but still an MTB helmet.

[mstone]

You pretty much have to try a helmet to see if you like it, that’s a really personal choice. In general you pay more for less weight, bigger holes/better ventilation, better attachment system, or fashion. (On the lowest end there’s also a definite lower quality tier, but even relatively cheap helmets have gotten away from glued-on plastic covers and such.) Visors are nice if you ride fairly upright, and they make it really hard to see in a road position without killing your neck. The super 2 wraps around pretty low, which is good from a functionality standpoint but does mean that more spots need to fit properly. It would help if you said what you’re looking for, what you like about different helmets, etc. Is it an aesthetic thing that’s drawing you to MTB helmets vs road helmets vs commuter helmets (e.g., the bell hub) or something else? (“Looks” is a perfectly fine answer, just trying to understand what you’re looking for.)

[lordofthemark]

@mstone 136221 wrote:

You pretty much have to try a helmet to see if you like it, that’s a really personal choice. In general you pay more for less weight, bigger holes/better ventilation, better attachment system, or fashion. (On the lowest end there’s also a definite lower quality tier, but even relatively cheap helmets have gotten away from glued-on plastic covers and such.) Visors are nice if you ride fairly upright, and they make it really hard to see in a road position without killing your neck. The super 2 wraps around pretty low, which is good from a functionality standpoint but does mean that more spots need to fit properly. It would help if you said what you’re looking for, what you like about different helmets, etc. Is it an aesthetic thing that’s drawing you to MTB helmets vs road helmets vs commuter helmets (e.g., the bell hub) or something else? (“Looks” is a perfectly fine answer, just trying to understand what you’re looking for.)

Thanks.

All the clearance price helmets (other than one much pricier racing helmet, and the Nutcases ) are MTB helmets.

[mstone]

@lordofthemark 136222 wrote:

Thanks.

All the clearance price helmets (other than one much pricier racing helmet, and the Nutcases ) are MTB helmets.

In that case, get the super 2 unless it feels horrible.

[lordofthemark]

@mstone 136224 wrote:

In that case, get the super 2 unless it feels horrible.

It kind of did, so I bought the XAR, which was also a bit less expensive. I can still return it if anyone thinks it is a terrible idea.

[trailrunner]

As mstone said, fit is important, and different helmet companies use slightly different shapes for their helmets.

Another thing that’s important to me is the tension adjustment. We’ve come a long way from adjusting the fit (not on the fly) with different size pads. The current Roc-Loc type systems work great, but what I really like about them is that during this time of year, I can easily make it looser in the morning for when I wear a skull cap, and tighter in the afternoon if it’s warm and I don’t have an extra layer on my head.

As far as the visor goes – I remember when these first came out for mountain bike helmets in the late 1990s. I bought one, wore it for a while, and didn’t see the benefit of the visor. That was a long time ago and maybe I should revisit it. YMMV.

I currently have two helmets. One is a mid-range helmet that I use for commuting. I keep my light on it always so I don’t have to hassle with taking it on and off (with “hassle” being defined as taking more than 15 seconds). It is completely bright neon green, and I added reflective tape. My other helmet is for when I’m not commuting. It’s a nicer one. It is bright neon green and black. Visibility is important to me.

Beyond these considerations, to me, a helmet is a helmet.

[hozn]

You should also pick up that free Bell helmet you claimed! . (Seriously, it is going to Goodwill next weekend.)

[lordofthemark]

@hozn 136233 wrote:

You should also pick up that free Bell helmet you claimed! . (Seriously, it is going to Goodwill next weekend.)

Check your PM. Thanks.

[Emm]

@trailrunner 136228 wrote:

As far as the visor goes – I remember when these first came out for mountain bike helmets in the late 1990s. I bought one, wore it for a while, and didn’t see the benefit of the visor. That was a long time ago and maybe I should revisit it. YMMV.

I removed the MTB visors from my last two commuter helmets. I never found them to actually block much sun, wind, or rain. I don’t think they’re big enough. I also heard horror stories of what they can do to your face during crashes, but I’m hopeful those were just urban legends…

I usually buy MTB helmets for commuting. I like the fit of them more for the commute–I like the additional coverage they offer–although I have a nicer, lighter weight road helmet for my weekend road biking. The XAR helmet looks just like my last 2 commuting helmets, which IMHO means it’s going to work out well for you as long as it’s comfortable

[Crickey7]

I love my helmet visors. For those heading south and east in the a.m., they can be useful for blocking the blinding early morning rays. They also keeping light rain from hitting glasses. I’ve never heard of issues with visors in crashes.

[huskerdont]

I find the visor works for low sun angles if you’re willing to fiddle with the helmet a bit to get the visor a bit lower. Or I guess you could tilt your head. But sometimes going up Custis in the afternoon, I wouldn’t be able to see a thing without it.

[Vicegrip]

Pick the helmet based on form, fit and function then finagle the financial. Cost per mile per day over the lifespan is almost the same for a cheap one as it is for an expensive one.

[hozn]

Yeah, helmets definitely fit differently and the fit is the single most important feature to me — for both comfort and safety.

A few random observations:
– Consider what you need to wear under the helmet. E.g. cycling cap, ear warmers, obviously adds circumference. So try it on with any under-helmet accessories to make sure it still fits.
– Having a nice ratcheting system (e.g. a round dial) is great when you constantly switch layers under the helmet — like this time of year especially.
– Bell helmets are rounder than Giro and my Rudy Project (Sterling) helmet is nice and green, but is also very round (too round). So I only wear it with a cap to help use up space.
– The Lazer Oxygen helmet is by far the most comfortable helmet I have owned from an adjustment perspective.
– The Kali Markaka was one of the most comfortable helmets in terms of the pads, straps. Too bad I crashed and crushed that one and that the yellow-color was discontinued.
– Many helmets are coming with MIPS options now. While the advantage may not convince everyone, it sounds like there’s a fair bit of science there and probably the extra $$ is worth the gamble. In a Pascals-wager sort of way. (None of my helmets are MIPS helmets yet, but my older son’s helmet is and I plan to continue that trend.)
– Some helmets work better than others with lights. Assuming you want option to helmet-mount a light (or camera), depending on mounting fixture, you may want to choose a helmet with vents down the center and relatively flat shell (rather than sharp ridges).
– Pretty much the only difference between MTB helmets and road are the plastic visors. They have some benefit (branches in eyes), but usually just get in the way from being able to see; I remove them as I’d wear a cap unless it’s especially hot. Of course I’m wearing eye protection / sunglasses on the bike anyway.
– Some MTB-style helmets do offer more coverage in the back; that is worth something, especially if you’re actually mountain biking.
– The advantage to aerodynamic helmets is quite significant. If you’re already shaving your legs and using deep wheels, you might consider a helmet that has been designed in a wind tunnel. (Typically the aero road helmets are also hotter; some like Giro Synthe are good compromises. They tend to look pretty dorky, but they’re becoming more standard so they look increasingly less dorky.) It probably goes without saying, but if you’re thinking you should maybe buy a TT helmet, the answer is “no”. You’ll know when it’s time to use a TT helmet when your corporate sponsors give you one that matches your TT bike.

Finally, eBay is a pretty good place to buy [new or ridden-once-doesn’t-fit] helmets once you know what brand/size works for you.

[Crickey7]

The comments about looking at the helmet’s design on top if you plan on mounting lights is also applicable to Go Pro mounting with the adhesive mounts instead of straps. Even with straps, some helmets don’t work very well if they have a pronounced center ridge.

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