Helmets- Do you get what you pay for

[Gnasher]

When I bought my first helmet some one one told me (not the salesman) If you have a £50 head then buy a £50 helmet. Do you think a £300 helmet will save your head any better than a £50 helmet.

[alpslapper]

The definitive answer is it might, it might not. v

All helmets sold here have to be of a certain minimum standard ECE 22.05 but many think the american Snell and DOT standard is much higher and more stringent.

ACU stickers have all but lost their credibility, but they're still required for trackdays I believe (but I might be wrong).

Any properly fitting, undamaged helmet will do the job - I suppose it just gets down to technicalities in the end, personal preferences and the like.

I can see how someone could ''feel'' they have more protection if they spend 200 quid on a lid than if they spent 50 quid on a lid, but apart from maye being quieter, better venting, etc I dont actually think there can be THAT much of a difference in the level of protection they would both offer you.

[Tarka]

Here we go again.

[YEN_POWELL]

I actually have a £50 head, since my stroke it now has hardly any resale value. However, I treat it to about 150 quids worth of helmet every few years cos it does stop the rain going down my neck.

[alpslapper]

Long but interesting article here:

Helmet Standards

[alpslapper]

PS to my first reply: I have a £250 Shoei I wear every day, and a £80 KBC - so I shove my noggin in both and dont feel any more or less safe to be honest.

[Mr NiceGuy]

Any kit you buy needs to fit you right in order to give the best protection. A cheap helmet that fits your head better than expensive helmet that doesn't fit too well will give you the better protection. That said an expensive helmet that fits just will give better protection through the superior materials used.

[samben]

I have now got an £80 KBC wich is a great fit. I had an Arai tourx untill November which was also a good fit but after an accident, even though there were only a couple of small scratches on the back i did the decent thing and threw it away. Silly as it may seem throwing away the tourx had a bearing on how much i was prepared to spend on a new one. I can not afford to throw away £300 every time my helmet takes a small knock were as £80 does not feel that bad.

[Mudwiz]

I still, for the sort of riding I do, go with the idea of a cheap one, changed often. Mine gets constantly knocked with all sorts of bits/trees/rocks etc I belive its the best way forwards.

[samben]

I still, for the sort of riding I do, go with the idea of a cheap one, changed often. Mine gets constantly knocked with all sorts of bits/trees/rocks etc I belive its the best way forwards.

With your sort of riding you should replace it on a weekly basis.