What should you look out for when buying a road bike helmet?

A bike helmet is the most important part of a safe ride, protecting your head in the event of an accident. Its importance is self-evident, so how do you buy a helmet that fits? We have a few tips for you

The right retention system

First and foremost, a helmet must be on your head to work in a crash. Just like shoes, helmets from different brands fit slightly differently, so it's important to try them on before buying.
Most helmets use a dial-based retention system (such as Giro's Roc Loc 5 or Kask's Octo Fit) to adjust the fit, but the vertical adjustment range (i.e. how high the rear adjustment support sits on your head) will vary from helmet to helmet, so this is something to be aware of.
Adjustable and comfortable straps are also essential - you need to be able to wear them fairly close to your chin for the best effect.

Advanced materials

Most cycling helmets are made primarily of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. The helmet skeleton is then covered to varying degrees with a hard polycarbonate shell (and sometimes a small amount of carbon fiber) to strengthen and protect the EPS foam from accidental bumps and scratches.
This basic design has been around for decades, but other manufacturing techniques and materials are beginning to percolate, such as 3D-printed polyamide 11 or other proprietary polymer materials.
Of course, manufacturers claim that these designs offer advantages over traditional bicycle helmets, but whether these advantages are realized in use remains to be seen.

Safety Features

It is worth noting, however, that all helmets sold in the EU must comply with the EN 1078 European standard (and therefore must be CE marked). In the US, they must be CPSC-certified.
Recently, we have seen a significant increase in additional safety technologies, such as rotational inserts (MIPS) and Bontrager's proprietary WaveCel material. These innovations are said to increase protection against head and brain injuries by reducing rotational forces or simply by using materials that can better absorb certain impacts.
There are some independent safety tests for cycling helmets, but these things are obviously harder to test outside of a lab, and overall, these extra safety features are certainly worth it and have trickled down to fairly inexpensive helmets by now.

Ventilation

For road riding, especially on hot days, ventilation is key. A well-thought-out system of vents and channels in the helmet's internal structure can help draw air into your head and dissipate heat.
Punching holes in a helmet to increase ventilation will reduce the weight of the helmet, so the helmet needs to be more robust, to compensate for this, vented helmets usually need more reinforcement or be made of more expensive materials to ensure they still meet safety and durability standards.

Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics is touching everything these days, adding cost and making all your existing gear look obsolete, but for helmets, it can make sense. If you care about riding fast, the energy savings that an aero helmet could offer shouldn't be overlooked.
Of course, there are compromises: improving aerodynamic efficiency often means closing vents or putting up with a weird helmet shape that, frankly, can sometimes look a little ridiculous. But then again, if your main focus is just riding faster, maybe looks aren’t that important (they’re usually tadpole-shaped).

Other Features

Only a few brands actively advertise the ability to secure sunglasses to the front vents, but it’s a real bonus.
Helmets that also make sunglasses tend to do a better job of this, but be sure to wear them when you buy a new helmet so you can check the retention.
It’s worth considering what kind of riding your preferred helmet is designed for.
Let’s say you like a classic-looking helmet with lots of vents; if you live in a cold place, perhaps you’d be better suited to an aerodynamic-focused helmet with fewer vents.
Similarly, if you live in a hot place, the opposite might be true; if you don’t want to wear a helmet because your head gets hot, then even if the helmet is more aerodynamic, it’s useless.

Tags: #bike helmet #road bike helmet #traditional bike helmet #CPSC Certified #CE mark