Choosing a Bike Helmet

The classic sign seen next to the helmet display: 'What's Your Brain Worth?' is a good question. All helmets sold in the U.S. must meet safety standards set by the industry and government. So, the $35 helmet will do the same job as the $300 model, right?

Where and how you ride define the kind of bike you ride, and the same is true for your bike helmet. The general types:

Sport - General purpose helmet good for most riding, but will be heavier and less fitted than activity-specific designs. Some general-purpose helmets even cross over to skateboarding, snowboarding, and inline skate.

Road - Faster riders want to be ventilated and aerodynamic, but still need to survive a crash.

Off-Road - The rougher the terrain, the more coverage you'll need and the more secure the adjustment system should be.

All quality helmets are made with some form of styrofoam very similar to what's used in coolers. This highly-insulating material is also very compressible and absorbs shock well. The insulating value is key, however, because cycling is an aerobic activity, and you are going to heat up. More cycling-specific designs will have large vents and focus protection on the crown of the skull, while general-purpose models will have more foam, offering more protection all the way around.

As you move up the price scale, sizing will become more precise and adjustments finer, so you can achieve an all-day comfort and perhaps some odd looks when you walk into the house still wearing the helmet you forgot you had on.

Sizing

Before you start shopping, be honest with yourself about how you'll be using the helmet and how much you want to spend. Measure your head with a flexible measuring tape or a piece of string you can compare to a ruler. The diameter should be taken at the largest part of your head, about an inch above the eyebrows.

Small: 20"-21.75" (51cm-55cm)
Medium: 21.75"-23.25" (55cm-59cm)
Large: 23.25"-24.75" (59cm-63cm)
Extra-small, extra-large: Below 20" (51cm), above 24.75 (63cm)
One size fits all (men): 21.25"-24" (54cm-61cm)
One size fits all (women): 19.75"-22.5" (50cm-57cm)

Fitting

Open up the adjustment band to its largest size before trying the helmet on, then adjust down in small increments. The fit should be snug but not compressing, and the helmet should stay put in a level position throughout the day. A little bit of play at this point is fine.

Buckle the chin strap and check to see that the front and back don't move too much. You should now feel that the helemt is secure but not restricting.

Choosing

Be flexible about price, since a more expensive model will be lighter and feel better, so you'll be more likely to wear it, and safety equipment is worthless when worn incorrectly or not at all.