Inked Mountain Posted March 21 Share Hey Hubbers, I would appreciate your thoughts and opinions on the topic of helmets. With so many options available in the SA market, choosing the right helmet can be a challenge. What factors do you usually consider when purchasing a new helmet? Do you prioritize the brand, features, and price, or do you base your decision on the helmet's appearance and fit? What don't you like? What would put you off buying a specific helmet? I love some thoughts. Maybe we can turn this thread into a helmet buyers guide OVERDRIVE 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapunzel Posted March 21 Share Fit first - head and helmet shape need to be a good match and must sit firmly (ie ratchet and straps must work too) Weight - after 3+ hrs in the saddle, extra weight on the neck can be an issue. Lighter helmets tend to also be cooler Crash warranty Price, brand, looks, MIPS - equally important but wouldn't go for an unknown / unproven brand NC_lurker, nonky, 'Dale and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisF Posted March 21 Share MIPS Everythings else is just personal preference. Different helmets fits differently .... test before you buy Scary Rider, NicholasT and justinafrika 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lechatnoir Posted March 21 Share 9 minutes ago, ChrisF said: MIPS Everythings else is just personal preference. Different helmets fits differently .... test before you buy ^^^^ This. Try it on. And take your eyewear and beanie/buff/skullcap along to make sure. I was adamant I wanted a new Abus. Tried it on and took it off after a second... seems I have a bump on my head the helmet did NOT accommodate it... DieselnDust and Duane_Bosch 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guidodg Posted March 21 Share all the above points very valid...fit and comfort, hence you HAVE to go to the shop and try them on...and with your eyewear too... and MIPS [or equivalent] a no-brainer you cannot buy a helmet on recommendations [like a saddle] amac 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomo Posted March 21 Share 1 hour ago, Rapunzel said: wouldn't go for an unknown / unproven brand Most probably comply with minimum safety standards but I'm probably the same and would rather stick to a reputable brand that's been suitably tested. Fit MIPS has almost become mandatory. Appropriate for purpose. Price Other features will differ marginally between brands and are often difficult to tell difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bichael Dewing Posted March 21 Share Just picking a helmet up you can get an idea of it’s quality.. I like MET helmets and it must be MIPS.. dont skimp on head protection is my best advise.. justinafrika and Genie 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W@nted Posted March 21 Share As mentioned, fit the helmet to see if it pairs well with your head. Fit it with your glasses. I find it annoying if my glasses are touching/hitting my helmet. Also check if the helmet retention buckle at the back/sides interfere with your sunglass arms. I prefer a proper forehead pad inside the helmet, as it keeps more sweat out of eyes. Helmet needs good ventilation to reduce amount of sweat into eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inked Mountain Posted March 26 Share Has anyone had the chance to test out their helmet of choice before purchasing it? I know a helmet can feel pretty different after a few km of riding Does Mips actually make that much of a difference? Most of the big brands have to stick to certain safety standards. Do the benefits outweigh the negatives ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisF Posted March 26 Share 8 minutes ago, Inked Mountain said: Has anyone had the chance to test out their helmet of choice before purchasing it? I know a helmet can feel pretty different after a few km of riding Does Mips actually make that much of a difference? Most of the big brands have to stick to certain safety standards. Do the benefits outweigh the negatives ? 11 March 2023 I had the unfortunate opportunity to TEST MIPS ... High speed incident landing on my head, and twisting my neck into my chest. Two things happened: 1. The helmet did an excellent job of absorbing the impact. Few stones left inside the foam of the helmet. 2. Most of the "twist" action was absorbed by the MIPS. The inner layer of the MIPS stayed in place, with the outer shell of the helmet rotating over my head and face, much like a motorcycle visor would. (strange the details we remember in that moment) Without the MIPS my neck may well have suffered severe injury. Some other brands sell "similar to MIPS" ... but when you look at it, it is actually crumple zones, not a rotating shell. Please ensure you get MIPS or equivalent rotating functionality. cadenceblur, justinafrika, mecheng89 and 6 others 6 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinnaroonie Posted March 26 Share One thing I'll now consider when buying a new helmet is the accessibility and price of replacement parts. I bought a MET Rivale MIPS in 2021 for R2550.00. Great helmet but the forehead inner padding started falling apart last year. No problem, I see the padding as a consumable item. I asked the local MET dealer for a quote for replacement padding... R1200! I struggled to pull the trigger on 6 pieces of material, seemingly worth half the entire helmet. Zebra and ChrisF 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadenceblur Posted March 26 Share 5 minutes ago, Spinnaroonie said: One thing I'll now consider when buying a new helmet is the accessibility and price of replacement parts. I bought a MET Rivale MIPS in 2021 for R2550.00. Great helmet but the forehead inner padding started falling apart last year. No problem, I see the padding as a consumable item. I asked the local MET dealer for a quote for replacement padding... R1200! I struggled to pull the trigger on 6 pieces of material, seemingly worth half the entire helmet. That’s just ridiculous bespokes, DieselnDust, Zebra and 1 other 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pandatron Posted March 26 Share S Works Prevail 3... Saved me from a curb collision. But read this.. https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html Paul Ruinaard and nonky 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MudLark Posted March 26 Share Having seriously crash tested a few helmets already, these are the key things I look for: Firstly, structural strength. I look to see how strong the shell is and how much of an impact I think it can take while still staying in one piece. Anything that doesn't seem very strong is immediately discarded. Secondly, impact absorption. Simply, how good is the inner lining. Third, fit. It must fit very well. And I prefer a helmet that goes down behind the ears. Fourth, ventilation. More is better. Fifth, MIPS. Sixth, replaceability of sweat absorption liners etc. Seventh, eye shade (yes. some roadbike helmets also have removable ones). Eighth, price. Ninth, wind resistance. Tenth, colour. Your priority list may vary. Some would especially puts MIPS higher on the list. But all my crashes have been non-MIPS and utterly destroyed the helmet but I'm still okay (my wife may disagree). They were very strong helmets too though. Edited March 26 by MudLark ChrisF 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MudLark Posted March 26 Share 15 minutes ago, Pandatron said: S Works Prevail 3... Saved me from a curb collision. But read this.. https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicycle-helmet-ratings.html That link is golden. New to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bub Marley Posted March 26 Share 1 hour ago, ChrisF said: 11 March 2023 I had the unfortunate opportunity to TEST MIPS ... High speed incident landing on my head, and twisting my neck into my chest. Two things happened: 1. The helmet did an excellent job of absorbing the impact. Few stones left inside the foam of the helmet. 2. Most of the "twist" action was absorbed by the MIPS. The inner layer of the MIPS stayed in place, with the outer shell of the helmet rotating over my head and face, much like a motorcycle visor would. (strange the details we remember in that moment) Without the MIPS my neck may well have suffered severe injury. Some other brands sell "similar to MIPS" ... but when you look at it, it is actually crumple zones, not a rotating shell. Please ensure you get MIPS or equivalent rotating functionality. I’ve had 2 crashes where I’ve written off a helmet. One helmet had MIPS, the other didn’t. The one without MIPS was a much heavier impact, got hit by a car, and it still saved my head. So I dont think MIPS is the be end and end all. If the helmet has it then great, but all helmets have to pass a certain safety standard anyway. Of course if you have the option, then go for the one that has MIPS, but there are some manufacturers like Abus that still don’t use MIPS. DieselnDust 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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