Expensive Bike Helmets

[Katana]

Here’s a thought…do we actually need to buy OTT priced helmets with price tags of £200 and above? And do they actually provide better protection than average price helmets? I remember from my motorcycling days that BELL helmets strap line use to be, “If you have got a $10 head then wear a $10 helmet”. For motorcycling it makes sense that one buys a good quality helmet for protection especially against high speed impacts. Obviously you get what you pay for and therefore an average price good quality helmet with MIPS etc for £50-£70 should be adequate enough for cyclists! So from safety aspect do expensive helmets deliver better protection or is it just another ploy of the bike industry to skim our pockets??

 

[fossyant]

No...

I have had expensive Bell helmets - still got my Bell Volt, which is super light, but I've got FOUR lids from Planet X that I use - two road/XC style and two 'enduro MTB' style. Cheap as chips and if I smack them, it's £15-£20 to replace.

I'm not convinced by MIPS. You just need to protect your noggin from gravel rash or a tree branch hit. The big stuff, it's game over anyway.

 

[Webbo2]

I made to mistake of buying a helmet with out checking whether my sunglasses would slot in the vents, which they don’t. While this is first world problem it’s a right pain the arze if you can’t just slot them in when you are sweating for England toiling up some Alp in August.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Given my lack of outdoor riding in recent years compared to pre- long covid and storing it away from direct sunlight, I'm still using my Bordeaux red Abus Gamechanger bought Xmas '20, which I got for a bargaintastic ~£70.

A quick Google suggests the newer version is ~£180 in sales.😱

 

[vickster]

You just need a helmet that fits whatever the price imo

 

[Venod]

i did have a Specialised Prevail that I liked for its lightness, but it got smashed in my last big off, there's no way I am buying another, have a couple of cheap and cheerful Carnac (Planet X) and a bit dearer Kask Mojito to keep me going.

 

[esoxlucius]

Same can be said about cycling shoes. At least there's an argument for helmets because they can help prevent head injury regarding minor head knocks.

 

[HLaB]

More expensive helmets tend to be lighter and more specifically designed for aerodynamics and or ventilation, have more comfortable pads and straps etc, but cheaper helmets, at least in the UK, are designed to the same safety standards, so on a safety point there's no need to buy a dearer helmet.

 

[Webbo2]

However to the majority of the non cycling world you are a knob for riding a bike. So if you can do your utmost not to look like one by wearing a dodgy helmet. You might be doing yourself a favour.

 

[Jameshow]

i did have a Specialised Prevail that I liked for its lightness, but it got smashed in my last big off, there's no way I am buying another, have a couple of cheap and cheerful Carnac (Planet X) and a bit dearer Kask Mojito to keep me going.

My carnac is a better helmet than the giro one I had previously.

 

[YMFB]

Apparently so - https://www.cyclingweekly.com/produ...ginia-tech-helmet-labs-best-ever-safety-score

 

[Punkawallah]

No...

I have had expensive Bell helmets - still got my Bell Volt, which is super light, but I've got FOUR lids from Planet X that I use - two road/XC style and two 'enduro MTB' style. Cheap as chips and if I smack them, it's £15-£20 to replace.

I'm not convinced by MIPS. You just need to protect your noggin from gravel rash or a tree branch hit. The big stuff, it's game over anyway.

Or at least it’s 50/50 - you’re either screwed, or you’re not.

 

[Punkawallah]

Apparently so - https://www.cyclingweekly.com/produ...ginia-tech-helmet-labs-best-ever-safety-score

While of interest, they state their product scores a 4+, ‘better’ than the best at 6+, which is ‘better’ than the other 100 top scoring helmets at “under 12”. They make no comparison of these scores with the national safety standard, only that their product complies with it. As such, I think their advert is simply using the safety score as a promotional point.

 

[YMFB]

I want the best perfoming helmet for safety/impact the next criteria is fit/comfort. Price is the next factor followed by looks.

When I go to buy a motorcycle helmet the minimum standard I buy is ACU Gold, there are other safety standards and approvals. Im not sure cycle helmets have similar standards or am I poorly educated on this?

 

[markemark]

Expensive helmets are just as useless as cheap ones.