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Choosing a helmet properly
A helmet only works if it fits snugly and sits level on your head, not tipped back off your forehead. Measure around the widest part of your head before you buy, and try a few shapes on, since head shapes vary more between brands than sizes do.
Look for a safety certification mark inside the shell before anything else. It should cover your forehead, with two fingers of space above your eyebrows and no more.
5. Eva Solo: Danish Furnishing Accessories
Straps matter as much as the shell. The side straps should form a V under each ear, and the chin strap should leave one finger of space, snug enough that the helmet cannot pull forward off your head.
A helmet that moves when you shake your head has not been fitted properly, no matter how good it looked in the shop.
Spin the helmet gently once it is buckled. If it shifts more than a little, tighten the retention dial or try a smaller size.
Price is not the main thing to chase. A well ventilated, properly fitting mid range helmet protects you better than an expensive one that sits loose because it was a size too big. Fit first, features second, and replace any helmet that has taken a hard knock, even without visible damage.
4. Magisso Finnish Design Movement
Road and gravel riders usually want more vents and less coverage at the back of the head, since climbs generate heat fast. Mountain bike helmets extend further down the skull and often add a visor for low sun and branches. Downhill riders need a full face design that protects the jaw too.
Choose the shape that matches the riding you actually do, rather than the one that looks fastest on the shelf.
The best helmet is the one that fits so well you forget you are wearing it, and still does its job the one time you need it to.
A helmet does its job once. After any crash where your head made contact, replace it, even if the shell looks fine from the outside. Foam compresses in ways you cannot see. As a rule, replace a helmet every three to five years even without a crash, since foam and straps age with sun and sweat.
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A helmet only works if it fits. It should sit level, two fingers above your eyebrows, snug enough that it rocks slightly when you shake your head but doesn't pinch.
Road riders want light, well vented helmets. Trail and downhill riders need more coverage and a sturdy visor.
Always check the straps form a tight V under each ear, and replace any helmet after a hard knock, even if it looks fine.
Children's helmets need checking more often than an adult's, simply because heads keep growing. Re measure every few months and move up a size before the fit gets tight. A helmet that no longer sits level or leaves a red line across the forehead has been outgrown, no matter how new it looks.
2. Alessi: the Italian Factory of Design
A quick release buckle you can operate with gloves on, or even cold fingers in winter, is worth paying attention to in the shop. Fumbling with a tiny clasp before a ride is a small thing until it happens every single time you head out the door.
A helmet left baking on your back seat all summer ages faster than one stored indoors, so give it a cool spot at home and it will look after you for longer.
Come in and try a few helmets on before you decide. Ten minutes with our fitting mirror saves you from guessing a size online and getting it wrong.
A visor keeps low sun and rain out of your eyes on the trail, but it can catch wind at road speeds. Most mountain bike helmets let you remove it entirely, so try a few descents both ways before deciding which setup suits the riding you do most.
1. Leolux Design Furniture
Buying a helmet online without trying it on is a gamble, since the same size label fits differently across brands. Measure your head and check the brand's own size chart before you order.
A helmet that needs constant adjusting while you ride is the wrong size, however good the reviews looked.
Once you find a shape that suits you, note the brand and model, it makes replacing a worn helmet far easier next time.
