Helmet recs

Just got my bike late last fall and rode out the year without a helmet. I have been trying on helmets and the trail/roadie ones feel so damn iffy. I mean the damn thing is just one big vent how much protection can it have? Then I tried on a fullface helmet, Bell Bellestic, and it seemed like it offered a lot more protection. I ride around a lot of tree bush land areas. I'm not super extremo on it, but I do plan to ride like a mofo this summer. I'm concerned about heat in the full and with protection with the others.

Any good ideas? Under 80 or so bucks..

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Originally Posted by Sublime

Just got my bike late last fall and rode out the year without a helmet. I have been trying on helmets and the trail/roadie ones feel so damn iffy. I mean the damn thing is just one big vent how much protection can it have? Then I tried on a fullface helmet, Bell Bellestic, and it seemed like it offered a lot more protection. I ride around a lot of tree bush land areas. I'm not super extremo on it, but I do plan to ride like a mofo this summer. I'm concerned about heat in the full and with protection with the others.

Any good ideas? Under 80 or so bucks..

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I have that Bell. It's good for DH, shuttled rides with minimal climbing, or rides where there's one long climb and I can just tie it to my pack and go without a helmet on the way up, but if you're planning on doing normal riding - it gets pretty damn hot going uphill. Good protection though, and I've had a few wrecks where I was really happy to be wearing the fullface. But on regular XC type rides I wear an E2 (Giro).

It sounds like you probably just need an xc style helmet, but if you are unsure about the ventalation (which is nice and cool in the summer), check out a dirt jumping helmet, it has more protection, but is not as beefy or protective as a full face. I know a few people who only rock the protec dirt jumping helmets and they ride it all.

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Originally Posted by Sublime

the trail/roadie ones feel so damn iffy

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They are all certified, don't worry about it. They offer plenty of protection, and are designed like the crumple zone in a car. They are minimal, during a bad wreck where you directly strike your head, the helmet will be destroyed, but your head will be safe.

One thing to think about is if you are riding general trail/xc, the lighter, cooler and more comfortable your helmet, the more likely you will be to wear it.

I have a Bell X-ray. It's their top of the line XC helmet (at least the last few years), is what their teams wear, and is a bargain at $99 new (older colors can be found cheaper. You may balk at $99 new, but compared to Giro's top XC helmet at $160 or so new, it is a steal.

If you're still worried about coverage on your head, but something lighter than a fullface, the reccomendation for skate/bmx helmets is good. Also Giro makes a model called the Xen which is billed as a non-fullface freeride helmet.

Check out the Giro Xen. Full skate-style helmet coverage of the noggin but XC-like vents. It's spendy but Pricepoint has em on sale just above your range:

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm...8&hprice=89.98

XC helmets are pretty much all the same: the more expensive ones have marginally more air and less styrofoam, but the construction is identical. Go to your local REI and try some on. I got a $40 helmet because it fit better than the $70 or $100 helmets and came in silver. (Dark colored helmets suck on hot rides.)

As Scoober said, they dent or crumple in an impact. I've only killed one after several falls. Most companies have a crash replacement program: Bell's is a flat fee (better for expensive helmets), Giro's is a discount (better for cheap helmets).

Thanks for the replys everyone. I looked at the Giro Zen and that seems more like it. I just have to find a shop that carries one so I can go try it on. Seems a little bit pricey but cheap helmet for cheap heads. If I feel like I need more protection I can always get a fullface later on.

I just got the Xen at the end of last season. The added protection in the back is nice, but a bit limited. The thing I really like is the ventilation. This thing is like having a fan attached to your had. And, it's the most comfortable helmet I've owned.

It is a bit spendy though. The only reason I went for it was because I found it for a steal from one of the online vendors. If you look around, you should be able to find it for relatively cheap, especially if you're willing to accept a funky color or an older model. It's nice, but I wouldn't pay the $150 that I've seen it going for.

Edit: Nice price, and good color selecsh:
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm...8&hprice=89.98

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Originally Posted by altagirl

I have that Bell. It's good for DH, shuttled rides with minimal climbing, or rides where there's one long climb and I can just tie it to my pack and go without a helmet on the way up, but if you're planning on doing normal riding - it gets pretty damn hot going uphill. Good protection though, and I've had a few wrecks where I was really happy to be wearing the fullface. But on regular XC type rides I wear an E2 (Giro).

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Copy cat. :D AG was spot on with her assessment. I'd just like to add that it makes a great ski helmet too.

Has anyone tried on the Girl Mad Max? It looks like it has way more vents then the BB. But I need to try on the Zen and a bunch of other more skate style helmets. Sucks that the nearest REI is a hike away.

The Mad Max is gonna be the very similar to the Bellistic as far as weight and ventilation. With the exception of the Giro Switchblade, any full face is gonna be a pain in the ass on any ride that involves climbing or lots of pedaling.

My suggestion, if you're dead set on getting a full face, would be to get 2 helmets. You can find both styles very reasonably priced. You could get a Bellistic or a 661 Full Comp for the full face, and a Giro Semi MX, a 661 Mullet, a Pro Tec Ace Dig, etc...for the skate style helmet. That would put you around a hundred bones total, and you'd be covered for any type of riding.

I was checking out www.jensonusa.com to see if they still had the $29 Bellistics, and saw this, looks like a less expensive version of the Xen.

bagtagley has a good thought though. If you watch the online places like JensonUSA, Cambria, Supergo, etc, you can probably snag both a fullface and a skate or xc helmet for $100 total.