What kind of helmet do you use?

[Ann G]

My helmet is a few years old, and I've never been in a crash, but the shell has chips in it from packing it in a duffle bag and then having other bags piled on top of it on the bus to and from RAGBRAI. I'd like to replace it, and I'm wondering what kind of helmets other women cyclists like and why. I have a recumbent, so I never ride with my head down, so I kind of like having a helmet with a visor. Yesterday I was riding in a pretty strong wind, and I started wondering what kind of effect the visor has on wind resistance. Maybe not much, but that's one of the places where the shell is chipped, so the visor was actually flapping just a little, and it was annoying. So now I'm trying to decide whether to get one with a visor or just rely on the sunglasses to keep the sun out of my eyes. Some of the helmets specifically for women are really attractive looking, like the Bell Vela and Giro Skyla. Any opinions out there?

[Fredwina]

I have a Specialized decibel that I really like, but it's discontinued, and may be more that you want to spend(cost me about $130).

[motochick]

Giro havoc (XS) with visor. After reading Lance's book I will forever support Giro.

Brenda

[Aggie_Ama]

I have a Giro Atmos and a Bell Furio. The Atmos vents really help, I was a skeptic when my husband claimed that but the ventilation really does help.

I prefer Bell to Giro because you can adjust the tension on the bike with their GPS system but I liked the Pink Atmos. :rolleyes:

Bell makes Giro but Giro uses the Roc-Loc adjustment system.

[bike4ever]

Giro Pneumo and Bell Sweep. I like the fit of the Pneumo more. I just use the Sweep as a commute helmet now.

[csr1210]

Louis Garneau "Fast" helmet. Looks decent on my head (isn't that what it's about?!?:p), pretty well vented, and under $80.

Giro's didn't fit my head shape very well:confused:

Liked Bell Sweep - but a little pricey

Specialized helmets just looked dopey on my head (can't have that:o)

The LG has served me well for about 1000 miles so far.

Christy

[RoseRydr]

I have found that we all have different shaped heads and each helmet brand is a different shape. I'd say try on different brands. I used to wear Giro but when I tried on a Bell I found it really fit the shape of my head (no, not pointy :p). I hadn't realized the Giro really didn't fit me too well till I tried the Bell Furio.

Most brands have an adjustment on the back so you can really get a custom fit.

Happy shopping!

[KnottedYet]

I have a Bell shaped head. Tried Giro, no luck. (Sweetie has a Giro head.) Bell Citi is my favorite helmet. $48. Hot screaming lime-yellow. No faux-aero pointy bit at the back to catch on the pavement and snap your neck when you crash. Nice visor, keeps the cooties out of the eyes when riding. Reflective tape all over the place, including the straps.

Helmet hair is sexy. :p

"If you won't wear a helmet, then I won't wear a condom."

[Beane]

I have found that we all have different shaped heads and each helmet brand is a different shape. I'd say try on different brands.

+1. very happy with my bell helmets.

[Trek420]

The Giro head here. I like the Eclipse.

Current Giro came with a visor, I took it off. I wear a cycling beanie when it's sunny or rainy or any time I just want a visor. :)

[Bad JuJu]

Another Giro head here, with a more round-shaped helmet, the Giro Xen. I've read that the rounder helmets slide better on the pavement--in case you actually hit it :eek:--and therefore are less likely to cause neck injuries, which we're all better off without.

[sundial]

Specialized Propero. It automatically adjusts and it's very cool in the heat of the day.

[Bron]

Alpina, it was that or a Giro and the Giro didn´t fit my head as well (shame as it looked a bit nicer). It´s a dark grey one and I bought it a couple of weeks ago to replace a six-year old helmet that hadn´t been in a crash but was startng to look a bit battered.

[7rider]

I prefer a helmet with fairly neutral colors.
Other than that, I go for one that fits my head and my wallet.
Everything else is pretty much window dressing.

[CarbonCandy]

"If you won't wear a helmet, then I won't wear a condom."

love it.
I've got a Trek Sonic, and soon to be a Giro Xen. The giros just seem to hug my head is all the right places.

[singletrackmind]

Giro is the brand that fits me. I prefer the visor on my mtb helmet enough to wear it instead of the roadie helmet when on the road. Either's not too bad with my glasses, the visor's just that little touch shadier. Don't know if color matt

[Geonz]

Like my Trek Vapor in XS with visor, pastel blue. No visor = headache frm sun for yours truly.

Any 'benter complainin' about wind ... :p:p But I think if it's in place it shouldn't be that much of a problem.

[shootingstar]

Giro. I don't go by brand, more by price, model, colour, etc. I just happened to buy Giro. On a helmet I want a visor.

I have a big head...I have try on at minimum, Large. At 5'1" tall, a big head..is big. :D It amuses me if any manufacturer thinks a women's heads are smaller...

[smurfalicious]

I have a big head...I have try on at minimum, Large. At 5'1" tall, a big head..is big. :D It amuses me if any manufacturer thinks a women's heads are smaller...

Amen! When I bought my last cowboy hat the girls at the store we're trying to offer me a 6 7/8 and I politely told them no, 7 1/2.

I was really surprised when I bought my sexy Giro Animas that I got a medium. Guess that model ran big. The large fit at it's smallest end. Boggles my mind because hats much bigger than 7 5/8 are almost impossible to find so I want to know who the large fit in that model.

This does bring up a good point though, in cowboy hats there are "head shapes." Round, square, oval. I'm an extra long oval so I either have to special order or get something oval and pray it can be shaped without ruining it.

[shootingstar]

My head..on the right side. I was a grouchy looking kid. :p

[Tuckervill]

That picture is adorable!

We woulda called you punkin' head when we were kids! :)

Karen

[Bad JuJu]

My head..on the right side. I was a grouchy looking kid. :p
I know this thread is about helmets, heads, etc, but just look at your cute little shoes in that photo! Grouchy, maybe, but what a cutie!

[Peanut03]

I have been wearing a Giro helmets for years now. The most recent is a white Giro Atmos. I find that Giro fits my tiny head the best.

[shootingstar]

I find that Giro fits my tiny head the best.

I call my partner pinhead. :) His issue is finding a light helmet..which might sound abit strange to some of us. But he is sensitive to barometric air pressure changes ..ie. high means headaches, ears ringing, etc.

Methinks someone else should start up a brand-new thread elsewhere for our baby pics. the smaller, cuter girl next to me..is a sister, 1 yr. younger than I.

[bboston88]

Giro Pneumo. I also have a pinhead. works for me but sometimes I get a nice little indentation/red spot in my forehead after a long ride. It looks great when I run into the grocery store!

[Mr. SR500]

I have a couple I regularly use. I have a red, white, and blue Giro Atmos that is great! I also have a Giro Pneumo that is dark blue and black and matches the bike nearly perfect (go figure). The Atmos is a slightly nicer helmet, but being an OCP I usually rock the Pneumo. If and adjustment is excellent on both helmets. My wife likes the Giro Monza, also a nice helmet.

[Mr. SR500]

Giro Pneumo. I also have a pinhead. works for me but sometimes I get a nice little indentation/red spot in my forehead after a long ride. It looks great when I run into the grocery store!

My first Giro Pneumo was a small (too small) and I always got the forehead mark, so I took a Dremel tool and smoothed out the bumps - much better, but I've since bought new helmets in a larger size.

[Miranda]

Road bike = Giro Pneumo. Mt Bike = Giro Havoc.

I hate any kind of hats. When I first started riding, the prospect of wearing a hat, aka my helmet, was not a happy thing. But, it is an absolute must.

To minimize my hat hatred, I made sure I got the features in the helmet I knew I wanted. The Pneumo is more $, but bigger vents, cooler, lighter. All a plus. I also did not "settle" for a color I didn't like. Both of my helmets are a silver white combo. The road bike is this scheme, and it compliments the mt bike. I knew regardless if I changed jersey color, or even bikes, those helmet colors would blend with anything and not be an eyesore.

Next to your bike itself, a helmet is the most single important piece of gear that you own for cycling. It is used every ride. Get exactly what you want, regardless.

Miranda

[tc1]

Bell, cause its the best fit for my 7 5/8 size head. That's an adjustable medium-large. I can make Giro's fit, but not the greatest. And the dog ate the last Giro I had.

[Becky]

I have a Giro shaped head, so that's what I buy. Some of the Giros do come with the little dial thingy in the back (similar to what Bell uses), rather than the tabs. I only buy dial-adjust helmets- I love being able to adjust it one-handed.

The current helmets are a Giro Kaya and a Giro Skyla. A $30 helmet protects as well as a $230 helmet, as long as it fits properly, and I don't feel guilty or upset if something happens to one of my cheap helmets.

[Miranda]

I have a Giro shaped head, so that's what I buy. Some of the Giros do come with the little dial thingy in the back (similar to what Bell uses), rather than the tabs. I only buy dial-adjust helmets- I love being able to adjust it one-handed.

The current helmets are a Giro Kaya and a Giro Skyla. A $30 helmet protects as well as a $230 helmet, as long as it fits properly, and I don't feel guilty or upset if something happens to one of my cheap helmets.


That is an excellent point that I was thought about later. If the $30 helmet feels great to you, has what you want in it, etc.... go for it. More $ does not have to equal better. One crash and it's toast (even if damage is not visible, they say it's intergrity is potentially compromised). Btw... the packing description of your helmet getting smooshed in the bag... do you think it got a really hard impact? Just a curious thought.

When I'm shopping normally, I usually try things by what I like, vs price. Then after I've fallen in love with the 'whatever' it seems I look at the price. The lbs guy said about my pneumo, "yep, it's nice alright, and a nice price, it's the most expensive one we carry on the shop floor." Oh, great:mad:... ugh.

[Aggie_Ama]

I don't get matching the bike althought my last helmet did my current one does not. I must look like such a clown. Many of my jerseys do not match my pink helmet. In fact I only own one pink jersey SS jersey and one pink LS jersey. But I really love my pink helmet and I have agreed to stop buying jerseys for a while because I have so many. :o

Maybe the solution is to buy a bike to match the helmet!

[indigoiis]

Basic Bell Bella in baby blue... on sale for $25.

I was told you don't need anything fancy, just something that will keep the brains intact.

[Aggie_Ama]

I was told you don't need anything fancy, just something that will keep the brains intact.

Yup, they all have to be certified and meet the same standards. The only thing I find better about the one I have now is more venting which is heavenly. Some of the least expensive do not have as many adjustment options but they will still protect your noggin.

[NoNo]

I have a Bell for the mountain bike, not sure what model specifically. It was ok as far as comfort went, but all the padding pieces were glued on, and most had fallen off after the first summer. For the roadie I have a Rudy Project Kontact and I love it. Easier to adjust, plenty of padding, and a nifty liner so that bugs and other random stuff doesn't get into your hair through the vents. Found it on ebay for way cheaper than new.

[PscyclePath]

My favorite is a red, blue, and white Giro Atmos, and I have a Pneumo in similar colors as a backup. For mountain biking and commuting, I have an acid green & white Giro Xen, tricked out with lots of reflective tape, that is super-comfortable. I like Giro helmets, initially a little bit for the "Lance factor," but I've also gotten six years of good fit, comfort, and service from them, and they've taken good care of me at least on three occasions when I was pushing the boundaries of my skills.

As Ama noted, you really can't buy a new helmet these days that doesn't meet at least one (or all) of the ANSI, Snell, or CPSC safety standards. So, the $20 helmet from Wal-Mart or Target will protect your noggin as well as the newest $200+ Giro Ionos or whatever. What you're paying extra for is style, and maybe a little more comfort.

[SalsaMTB]

Lazer Genesis. Best Fitting Helmet EVER!....for me at least :)

They're fit system is fantastic, there is a dial on top of the helmet that you turn and it tightens a cord all the way around your head, not just at the back. Most people I know who have tried this helmet can't believe how comfy they are.

They're definitely not as popular/common as Bell or Giro so it may be a bit more difficult to find.

[violette]

My helmet is a few years old, and I've never been in a crash, but the shell has chips in it from packing it in a duffle bag and then having other bags piled on top of it on the bus to and from RAGBRAI. I'd like to replace it, and I'm wondering what kind of helmets other women cyclists like and why. I have a recumbent, so I never ride with my head down, so I kind of like having a helmet with a visor. Yesterday I was riding in a pretty strong wind, and I started wondering what kind of effect the visor has on wind resistance. Maybe not much, but that's one of the places where the shell is chipped, so the visor was actually flapping just a little, and it was annoying. So now I'm trying to decide whether to get one with a visor or just rely on the sunglasses to keep the sun out of my eyes. Some of the helmets specifically for women are really attractive looking, like the Bell Vela and Giro Skyla. Any opinions out there?

I have a bike helmet...Just teasing.
I have a specialized ?. Have no idea what series it is.

[Ann G]

I'm going to take the bike in to the bike shop before RAGBRAI this summer, so I'll try on some different helmets for fit there. Considering that there is a lot of variation in fit from one kind to another, I don't think I can just order one form Performance Bike or something. About that impact question, I really don't think that the helmet took any major blows. The shell is just a little chipped in a few places, but it's enough to bug me. Also, I think that newer helmets have more and bigger vents, and are probably cooler as a result. :)

[KnottedYet]

I'm thinking if it has chips, it suffered impact.

[Flur]

I have a Trek Interval WSD helmet. It was affordable ($50), has a lot of vents and I love the colors - blue with just a few red hibiscus on it. The visor snaps on and off so I can use it when I want to and not when I don't, and it's so comfy and light that I sometimes forget that it's there.

[aicabsolut]

I can't fit into Giro or Bell--I'm between a small and medium. Small barely fits, and I can't get any caps under. A medium is too big.

Specialized helmets fit me best. I used to have an Aurora (cheaper version of the Decibel). Now I use a Propero (cheaper version of the S-works 2D). I like the S-works too, but the straps are too close to the backs of my ears and feel weird. The Propero is lighter and more ventilated, and the retention system doesn't hit pressure points in the back like the Aurora used to. I find it's also a little more sunglasses friendly, because the retention system doesn't come down so far where the arms of the glasses go. Plus, it's over $100 cheaper than the S-works. I do really really like the white/navy S-works for color, though, because it would look great with my kit.

[Peanut03]

Does anyone remember the old Brancali helmets in the 80s?? Just before the styrofoam Giros came out (remember Greg Lemond's helmet in the tour) I wore a Brancali because it was smaller and lighter than the Bell helmets. I looked ridiculous!! But, I was one of the first few wearing a helmet in my area! And the guys in my LBS were wearing them when no one else was.

[ikkin]

giro havoc with the adjuster thing in the back. use it for both road and mtn biking. love it. also use giro helmets skiing...just really like the fit, style, and light weight.

[Becky]

giro havoc with the adjuster thing in the back. use it for both road and mtn biking. love it. also use giro helmets skiing...just really like the fit, style, and light weight.

Come to think of it, my ski helmet is a Giro too! I really do have a Giro-shaped head!

[ilima]

Another Bell-shaped head here. Giros just don't feel comfortable on me.

I currently have a Bell Ghisallo, which is a pretty basic helmet with a lot of vents. And it was cheap.