Road Helmets: a Buyer’s Guide
“The top three things to consider when purchasing a helmet are FIT, FIT AND FIT.”
WHEN BUYING A HOME, THE top three things to consider are said to be location, location and location. In that vein, the top three things to consider when purchasing a helmet are fit, fit and fit. As a safety device it cannot do its job properly without a good fit. As a type of hat, it is most pleasant to set one upon the head for hours at a time if it fits well. There are other aspects to consider, but they are very secondary to fit.
Thankfully a modern helmet has a high chance of fitting thanks to the inclusion of an adjustable fitting mechanism in virtually every helmet. That adjustable dial, usually on the back, permits each rider to incrementally set the fit. Many even adapt well to different head shapes.
EXTRAS
Those things that distinguish different models of helmets within a brand and different brands across the market are the little extra details incorporated in each design. Some are going to be more important to one rider than another rider.
BETTER VENTILATION: more, and larger, vents and deep channels inside the helmet allow air to flow through and contribute to a cool helmet. More airflow is always better, with the possible exception of a cold winter morning. When I have spoken to helmet designers, I have been surprised at the difficulty of getting a really breathable helmet that also protects the head. “Airy” is tough, and ultimately expensive.
LIGHTER WEIGHT: this mostly correlates with ventilation. The vented helmet is lighter because it is full of venting holes and deep channels (which both decrease the amount of foam present). Some light helmets also use low density foams to achieve their barely-there feeling.
BETTER ADJUSTMENTS: expect a more expensive helmet to have better quality adjustability and possibly more adjustments too. More adjustments means a better fit for more heads while
