Helmets - what testing labels and whatever should I be looking for?

[nogoodnamesleft]

If favouring one with air vents, check if those air vents have anti-insect mesh. When I used to use a helmet, cycling along you could end-up with some bug ending up on the inside of the helmet and crawling around ... I ended-up wearing a Buff under the helmet which was hot but better than having unknown types of bug crawling around on my scalp.

 

[Pblakeney]

When I was riding in the Alps last year I was sweating that much it was running on to my glasses and that was with a Halo sweat band on as well. I had stop and take my glasses off and put them round the back off my head. Where as when they fit in the vents, that’s a one handed job.

I tried a sweat band. They work well. Right up to the point where they are saturated.

Regarding bug meshes, excellent suggestion as I got a wasp in there one day and I was stung 2 times before I could get my helmet off.

 

[Webbo2]

I tried a sweat band. They work well. Right up to the point where they are saturated.

Regarding bug meshes, excellent suggestion as I got a wasp in there one day and I was stung 2 times before I could get my helmet off.

A Halo sweat band is an stretchy band fastened by Velcro at the back. It has a piece of rubber across the front inside which means in normal sweaty situations😉 The sweat runs down the side of your face.

 

[fossyant]

For a sweat system, I use skull caps. They soak the sweat and the air vents help evaporate the sweat.

 

[Pblakeney]

A Halo sweat band is an stretchy band fastened by Velcro at the back. It has a piece of rubber across the front inside which means in normal sweaty situations😉 The sweat runs down the side of your face.

Fine.
As long as people have tried all the options and found out what works for them, in real conditions. All good.

 

[PaulSB]

Addendum

My feeling - and reason for asking for info from anyone who knows more than me

was that there are lots fo helmets out there from well over £100 down to about £15
and apart from the design and colour there seems to be very little difference
unless you include "smart" ones - some of which just have a light on them!


but this is a thing that you only really use for safety unless you are hard core and need weird aero things


but what makes it safe is the question - and all I got was marketing

very few of the ones I looked at online - and in Halford - actually mention the British or European Standard

OK, I'll chuck my two pennyworth in........and then put on my tin hat....helmet

Halfords £15 helmet ex VAT is £12.50 retail. I would suggest most retailers work on a margin if +/-40% - this is based on experience supplying independents and big box retailers.

At 40% margin Halfords paid £9 for that helmet. The manufacturer has to make profit from that sale, then there are distribution costs, fixed overheads, sales costs, labour costs all to come out of the £9.

My question would be how much of that £15 actually went into materials to protect one's head.

I wear a Kask. This is my third, of the other two the first cracked in four places, the other in two. I have no evidence but when I'm thrown threw the air after being hit by tractor driver from behind at 30+ mph........I know which helmet I put my trust in!! Yes, of course there's an element of marketing in £120 - 150 helmets but it ain't all marketing bull.

 

[MontyVeda]

...
very few of the ones I looked at online - and in Halford - actually mention the British or European Standard

Are they allowed to sell cycle helmets in the UK (eg, Halfords) that don't meet the british standard?

 

[Exlaser2]

The simple answers is get one that comfortable as you will wear it more plus spend a decent amount and only the OP can how much that is .
The sweet spot for me and mrs exlaser is in the £70 to £120 range .
Mrs exlaser current helmet is a Kask Mojito which can found in loads of places in the £100/£110 price range .
My current helmet is a mid range Giro one that only cost me £70 as it was in a sale as it was had been superseded by a newer model . Its original price was over £150.

.

 

[oldandslow]

but I have heard of MIPS and seen long detailed reasons why it is good
and even longer ones about why it is no better than anything else - or even worse

If we take for granted that helmets are worthwhile, as requested, then I have to say that I have not seen anything against MIPS, and that would be my choice (except that no MIPS helmet is made large enough, so last time I bought a cheaper, more basic one instead).

Also heads vary considerably in shape, from more round to longer and narrower. So fit would be important.

Beyond that and some specific points already made, it's often been said that more cost does not obviously equal more protection.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Are they allowed to sell cycle helmets in the UK (eg, Halfords) that don't meet the british standard?

They are not. Even the cheapest at £10 will meet the British Standard EN1078. Its demands are not onerous.