justinzane

So, being a newb, I started with a big box store generic Bell helmet. And, it sucked! The fit was not awful, but the airflow was so poor that I simply could not wear the thing except in winter. Since I'm nowhere near a retailer that stocks a variety of road helmets to try, I've been done my initial research online. Between reviews and posts here on bikeforums, I got some idea of a few items that might be ideal for me.

Then, this past weekend, my wife and I took a road trip so she could go shopping and I went to REI and an LBS in Medford, OR and got to try one of the highly recommended lids, the Giro Atmos. OMFG! Though it is clearly light, carefully engineered and very well made; it hurt! Perhaps I am phrenologically challenged, but there was no possible adjustment or size that allowed the Giro helmets to rest on my head without a severe pressure point on the forehead.

Then I found an orphan Limar helmet and it fit like wearing nothing at all... Perfect. Of course, it was in a thoroughly disgusting color pattern (to me, the paragon of fashion ) and had no price, UPC, serial or other identifying marks to let me know what exactly to shop for.

But, I digress. The point of my little tail is not the fit of any particular helmet to me; but the question of whether helmet fit is as much of a personal preference and individual biometric alignment issue as something like saddles. Some swear by their vintage Brooks' seats, some love the odd looking ISM Adamo line, some the more classic ProLogos.

What do you all think about the nature of helmet preference? Even within the same discipline -- TT, Road, All Mountain, BMX, Touring, etc. -- and the same basic size -- 56cm, 60cm, whatever -- are helmets generally a personal pick or do most riders find that they could switch lids between brands without much discomfort?

mconlonx

Head shapes are different and different brands fit different head shapes better or worse. Generally speaking, there are those with round heads and those with oval/elongated head shapes, with different brands fitting each better or worse. If you have an elongated head and try a round helmet, you'll get pressure points fore and aft. Round head, elongated helmet and it will press in on the sides. I like POC helmet styles, but in one size, they press in on my skull right above the temples; next size up is too loose.

I don't know which brands/models fit which head shapes better or worse, and I don't know that there's a handy list out there, but there is definitely this fitment difference to consider. Try helmets on in person and buy one that fits where you are trying it on -- do not try one on in a shop and then buy it cheaper online...

bmthom.gis

Uhm, I could easily switch helmets if I wanted to pay more for one. As it is, I went to a bike shop when I first started riding and asked about helmets. The employee showed me the display, and I picked the cheapest one they had (a Bell, no less!) - it has served me a few years with no problems.

I don't always wear a helmet, and a $40 helmet does the same thing an $140 helmet does. I would rather spend $140 on another Brooks saddle. I'm sure a more expensive helmet would be lighter/have more vents but I cannot complain about the one I have. I usually wear a cycling cap under it, anyway.

justinzane

Being the type of person who looks universally silly in hats of all types -- baseball, bowler, beret, fedora, cowboy, etc. -- I've never thought about skull shape. This article is quite heavy, but gives good information about the overall range of human skull morphology. I can't quickly see their raw data to extract just the reference points relevant to helmet fit; but clearly the data exists. Would love to dig more, but life requires attention focussed elsewhere.

JonathanGennick 

Precisely my experience. My head is not round, and that affects which helmets I can easily be comfortable in.

Maybe helmets will someday be sold in sizes like Medium-Round and Medium-Elongated.

MRT2

It makes sense that different head shapes will fit different helmets. That said, I am not all that particular and a lot depends on whether I am wearing a hat, or headsweat underneath. I have 4 helmets. The smallest is the Cannondale Teramo, and it feels the best in warm weather. But it is too tight when I try to wear it with a headsweat or hat in cold weather. The Giro Trinity and the Bell Solar fit almost the same and seem to work with or without a headsweat underneath. These are cheap and versatile helmets, both retailing for around $40 but available for less. this is the helmet I would recommend for most people looking for a helmet and not looking to pay a bunch of money. finally, I have an Ascent helmet that, when worn with just a headband fits like a bucket on my head. But it fits perfectly with a headsweat worn underneath.

So, I would say helmets are personal, but maybe not as personal as saddles.

PoeCo

[QUOTE=Maybe helmets will someday be sold in sizes like Medium-Round and Medium-Elongated.[/QUOTE]

Yes! This would be fantastic!!

Personally, my head shape does not work with a few brands of helmets out there. Even within brands I can have trouble from model to model. Then, when I find one that fits properly, I have found that there is usually some small point on the helmet that still pokes at me. The best overall I've found thus far is from Kask - but that's for my head. I have given up trying to buy online and instead have to go around trying them on when it's time for a new one. I just happened to luck out with the Kask (and it was a gift of all things - so that was insane!).

JohnnyCyclist

The Atmos is infamous for its 'pressure point on forehead'. I've got one, and unless I wear a headband under it, I've got that problem too.

Cyclosaurus

Yes, helmets are like saddles in that comfort depends upon a match between the geometry of the rider and the helmet.

But they are different in that saddles are holding up a significant amount of body weight and your legs are in motion relative to the saddle. Therefore the effects of a good or poor fit are magnified. You will likely notice if your saddle is a little off on a century ride. Helmet not as much.

Also you can easily choose to not wear a helmet. Going without a saddle is possible but not truly practical.

justinzane

Perhaps I'm a comfort junkie, but I could barely handle 30 seconds in the store. I'd hate to have that on my head for a 50+ mile ride.

justinzane

Unless you happen to enjoy having the ER doc pull carbon fibers out of your ass...

I do appreciate the notion that a helmet should not, unless in an accident, be subject to much pressure or motion. The flip side is, though, that humans have evolved sit bones for sitting on things like flat rocks and bare ground. So, the ennervation in the posterior is very different from that around the cranium. Plus it is somewhat easy to slightly alter riding posture to ease saddle discomfort. It seems that the ability to slightly tweak one's helmet while riding is more limited. Perhaps that is just because I've never owned a decent helmet, though?

daihard 

Interesting. I have an Atmos and it fits like a charm. I tried other brands (such as Bell and Specialized) which just didn't feel right.

yashinon

I decided to try a different helmet this year, something a bit more aerodynamic and different color. My old helmet is an inexpensive Giro 'Transfer'. I plucked a nice Giro TT helmet off eekbay but realized that it is overkill. Ended up with a Mavic Espoir from a seller on Am*zon. Turned out that it is the same color as my previous helmet and even looks nearly identical. Well...except for the cool Mavic logo and the word "ergoride".

Cyclosaurus

While I'm actually riding my bike, I don't notice the helmet at all. All the other sensations are enough to drown out whatever minor discomfort comes from the helmet. However, if my saddle is uncomfortable, there's no not noticing it.

Looigi

That's the goal. The better it fits your particular cranium, the more lightweight, and the better the ventilation, the less you'll notice it.

FWIW: I found significant differences in internal shape/fit between different models in a given brand.

justinzane

Seems to be another vote for "highly personal fit". Thanks.

justinzane

I saw an awesome deal on a Lazer Tardiz, which looked quite spiffy to me. Then I realized that like my avatar, I'm so slow that the irony of wearing a competetion TT helmet would be unbearable! I do agree that Mavic has a certain cachet, elite without being overtly elitist like Zipp.

CliffordK

I must say that I'm not too picky about helmets...
Toss whatever seems to fit on the old noggin.

Pads seem to vary from helmet to helmet... most of the cheap ones seem to be designed for about 100 miles.

yashinon

ha ha - Justinzane ---> I am slow also. This was quite evident when a cyclist riding a nice Litespeed road bike blew my doors off.

WDH74

Well, you have to stop and take the helmet off, but I've discovered that I can move the pads around inside my helmet if I start getting some discomfort. They're held in with Velcro so its easy to do. Scootch them forwards or back a bit and all's well. I wear a Giro Indicator, for what it's worth.

I keep thinking about getting a Nutcase or a Giro Reverb, just cause I like the looks, but I never pull the trigger.