What kind of helmet do you use?

[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... 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.

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!