Waterdawg

My last two helmets and most of what I see available are all designed for "racing" or aerodynamics.
Since I'm riding for Utility and upright, aerodynamics are pointless.

What kind of non traditional helmets have you seen or use?

bulldog1935

I don't think you can beat Bell Muni.
Front visor.
It offers a snap-on rear-view mirror, and mounts for Bontrager flea blinkies front and rear.
I'm on my 4th.

Jiggle

Stop by a local thrift shop and see what they have for $5. My current mountain helmet was like $4 otd. I left the price tag on so all my mates know what a savvy shopper I am. It even has an adjustable retention system.

Craptacular8

Off the top of my head, I'd say Nutcase helmets...look more like traditional skate helmets. Their metroride ones are lighter, and better ventilated. On the downside, they are only available in m/l, so don't come as small as their other bike line, which aren't as ventilated, kind of typical of the urban helmet style, and they are a tad heavy (to me anyway). Giro and I'm sure others offer a urban/messenger style which also look like the nutcase helmets, without the fun designs, lol, but they look better ventilated, and may be lighter.

jefnvk

I'd never buy a used helmet. You have no idea what it has been through. Especially so one that looks like my Schwinn helmet, which I bought for $15 or so brand new, hardly an astronomical cost.

To the OP: mine was about $15 from a local big box chain. Schwinn branded, but probably from the same factory as the Bells, they looked identical. It fit MY head well, which is the most important thing. If it ever takes a good whallop on a fall, for $15 I won't mind swapping it out, either. Even at the cheap price, it has the aerodynamics of any higher priced, non specialized helmet, and it came with a blinky red light on the back, if that matters to you. Aero look is at all price points, unless you really hate the look it is rather the standard these days.

Jiggle

You use a sensor system called a Mk. 1 eyeball to do something called an "inspection".

jefnvk

If you can do a through inspection of the foam's structure with your eyeballs, you are better than I. Not worth it, IMO, to save $10 on, might as well just wear my ball cap and hope I don't crash.

I wrecked a motorcycle once. Other than a few scrapes, you couldn't have noticed the helmet was involved in a crash despite a rather violent faceplant twice, and as such, I marked it as wrecked with a paint pen and buried it in the trash, knowing someone would likely use it if found.

BKE

Look up Melon helmets at amazon, lots of cool designs (even a melon one).

ramzilla

Just go grab something off the shelf at Target or Walmart. Done deal.

idiotekniQues

Bern makes fantastic 'utility' style helmets. Highly rated company. I had a Bern Brentwood and liked it and was always against those aerodynamic style helmets (mostly for looks). Until I tried one that is. Much more ventilation, lighter and to me now they look just as good if you have the right one.

JanMM

Vast majority of helmets sold since the mid-70's have looked sorta like 'racing' helmets but really are just 'cycling' helmets.
A lot of the 'non-traditional' helmets don't look very well ventilated.

jade408

The new nutcase metro helmets are pretty light. There are also Lazer Helmets. And the Carerra foldable helmets.

Public Bikes has pretty much all of the utility helmets!

TenSpeedV2

A used helmet? No thanks.

fietsbob

Look at Nutcase Helmets | Cool bike helmets for everyday riding

Bern helmets Has a Ski Line too made to be warmer https://www.bernunlimited.com/

Craptacular8

Good to know. I need the 52cm size, and nutcase told me they didn't come that small in their metro helmets. I have one of their other bike line helmets, and it's comfortable, and I think their strapping/magnetic clasp is the bees knees, but it's heavy, and hot. I keep thinking I'll make it my errand/short ride winter helmet

sarahbruce

I too dislike "pointy race" helmets and like extra coverage on the back of my head that is provided by some of the more rounded helmets. If you have a normal size head, the Bell Lithium is a great helmet sold at Target. This is what my wife wears and she has no complaints.


However, if like me, you have a large melon, and one size fits all doesn't fit- I have the Bell Stoker. The large size really is pretty large, and the ventilation is good enough for long rides in the Florida heat and humidity. I highly recommend!


Bruce

Miele Man

I would NOT ever trust a used helmet from any thrift store. You don't know what abuses it might have been subjected to.

If i were a helmet for utility riding I prefer a rounded design one rather than one that's longer than wide. The more round a helmet is the less likely it is to give you a rotational head injury in a crash.

Cheers

idiotekniQues

I'm just gonna sneak back in here to post a pic of the Bern helmet I mentioned:

Waterdawg

Not sure how cost got into the discussion. As I use to tell fellow bikers (motorcycle, not pedal) Buy a cheap bike and expensive gear. I have a perfectly good helmet, but I don't like the racing look. I'm not concerned with cost as much as I am with function and fit.

Thanks for the suggestions on the non racey look helmets. Those are exactly what I had in mind.

Camilo

Yea, seriously. Just go to a store with a variety of helmets and buy one that fits, is in your price range and you like the look of. A helmet's a helmet, except for those three factors.

canklecat

If possible, visit REI or any store that stocks helmets. Handle them, examine the insides, fittings, straps and locks. You'll see why the Bern and Nutcase helmets cost around $70, compared with the Bell Segment and similar non-racer helmets.

Nothing wrong with the Bell -- Bells are usually excellent values -- but the attention to detail in the Bern and Nutcase is extraordinary when compared with others.

Tonight I examined several helmets at the local REI and will probably buy a Bern or Nutcase as my winter helmet (they're probably too hot for Texas summers). The padding, straps, tension/fit adjustment and, especially with the Nutcase, the snaps, are all extraordinary for $70.

And after some uncomfortable close calls tonight during a rainy ride, including the most ridiculous right hook I've experienced yet, I'm ready for a most substantial helmet for cool and rainy rides.

And I did buy a better headlight at REI after nearly an hour of playing with most of the popular brands and models of headlights and taillights. I can see why REI is so popular. Few bike shops carry that kind of variety in selections.

Garfield Cat

A lot of it is style. Even those helmets that are simply against the racing helmet style is really a style in itself. So no matter which way you go, the marketing has identified those who want to be different.

Safety first and then its about how you ride. Even if you don't race, the question is about how you want to handle heat build up that may result in sweating down your face and eyes.

If you ride like short distances and go just 10 mph, that's hardly a sweat.

Machka 

NOT something I would do, or recommend doing. But I guess it's your head.

Jiggle

If a helmet takes a hit, the foam deforms, which is apparent. It does not magically break on the inside where you cannot see it and still look pristine on the outside.

I'm glad we haven't tossed around the old myth about helmets needing to be replaced every XX years, which has been thoroughly debunked, and is really just an ad ploy to generate more sales. I'm proud of you, bikeforums peoples.

linberl

Bern, Nutcase as mentioned. They fit differently so you need to check how it sits your head. I've used both. I love the Bern for the liner and the ventilation. I love the Nutcase for the magnetic strap closure (I'm always forgetting to latch the helmet when I leave a store after a quick stop and I can do the magnets one-handed while riding). Also, you can pick up a Giro Sutton MIPS helmet for a very reasonable price and they are imo nice looking. Did not fit my zippy-the-pin-head very well or I 'd have one. Better for normal sized heads.