Helmet recommendation

[7rider]

Hey there.
So...I gave myself an early Christmas gift yesterday - the Light and Motion Viz 360 (http://www.bikelights.com/vis360.html). It's a headlight and taillight combo that attaches to your helmet. It is DA BOMB! Brighter, actually, than my Knog Gator 605 headlight.
However, my helmet - a wonderful Bell Sweep R road (http://www.bellsports.com/cycling/helmets/pavement/sweep) helmet - is really not designed to hold lights. Every time I strap lights to it - especially to the back - I really have to contort the straps, twist and bend things, and basically jury-rig the set up to get it to work. I fear I'm putting pressures on the helmet that it wasn't really designed to take. Plus, the lights are all crooked and aimed poorly.
So...
I fear my wonderful new light set up would actually be best on a helmet that was designed for commuter use in mind, and not road racing, and could actually take lights being strapped to the front and back.
Any recommendations? I want something safe, of course, and not bank blowing.
Thanks!

[goldfinch]

"Mountain bike" helmets, like the Giro Hex or Xar probably would work well with your lights. For example:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Kve7kKGtL._AA300_.jpg

TE has the Xar and a number of other helmets of a similar style, like the Bell Arella, that should work. I've been shopping for a new road helmet and am thinking of the "mountain bike" helmets like the Xar and have thought about getting a similar light set.

I think the commuter helmets vary a lot. I have a Bern Berkeley and I am not sure how I would hook lights up to that helmet.


http://www.bernunlimited.com/assets/newspring/main-berkeley-bomber.jpg

This one, the Bell City, looks like it would work:

http://images.teamestrogen.com/ri/300/300/2009_Spring/BL-Citi-YESA.jpg

[Sky King]

you might want to consider the light and motion multi sport head strap (http://store.biketouringnews.com/light-motion-multi-sport-head-strap/) - if it would fit on your helmet L&M site shows this light on a giro (http://www.bikelights.com/vis360.html)

[HillSlugger]

I think that's the same light I have. I like it a whole lot.

My helmet is a Bell, but it's discontinued. I looked for a helmet that had a center rib with paired holes alongside.

[tzvia]

That Giro helmet on the L&M site looks more robust than the typical lightweight road type helmets.

When I commuted with my MTB helmet, (Specialized VICE) my helmet light, a Stella 150, worked great. The battery, mounted at the top back, and the light up front, did not faze the fit or balance of the helmet on my head one bit. This is probably because that helmet, and I would guess, most MTB style helmets, fit lower in the front and back, and the Vice extends lower on the sides around the ears too. So it is very stable on my head with the extra weight up top. I now use a Giro Saros for commuting, and while the Stella fits fine on it, the whole helmet has to be strapped real tight and still moves a bit with the extra top-heavy light. I can guess that a even lighter helmet could be even less stable feeling.

If I had a second chance to buy my commuter helmet again, I would buy another Vice as it works so much better with my Stella (even though it makes me look like a mushroom).

[HillSlugger]

My helmet is the Bell Variant MTB Helmet. I do think it's discontinued, but it appears to still be available.

[7rider]

I looked for a helmet that had a center rib with paired holes alongside.

I think that's the key right there -- at least for the front light.
Of course, what I feared would happen, has happened. A "fin" on the rear of my helmet has cracked - likely from my manhandling the straps on various lights. Now, I'm likely in for a new road helmet and a new commuter helmet (oh, and that TT helmet). Mike is gonna love me! (Mike is the owner of our LBS).