New to the forum, not new to cylcing. I had a awful spill a few weeks back and took a blow to the head. I have/had a great Bell helmet (forget the model) but obviously need to replace it.

I could have easily had a very bad concussion or serious damage but am indebted to the construction of the helmet. From what I can tell online, they don't make my model any more and it was expensive at the time.

I am looking at Bell again out of loyalty but see that Giro has some good models. I know that expensive doesn't always mean the best but I am not skimping on spending $$ for protection.

As I compare brands and models, the top end models brag about ventilation and cooling, but I want one that brags about durability, safety, beefiness in construction.

Can anyone enlighten to their experiences with the top end helmets of either manufacturer? Thanks!