Bike Helmet: Research your needs

In order to end up with the bike helmet best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.

Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of bike helmets are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a bike helmet.

Research the market: Bike Helmet essentials

The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the bike helmet market. The range of options can seem overwhelming, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:

Bike Helmet Shell: A bike helmet is composed of an outer shell. This will be either a hard-shell helmet or a soft-shell helmet. Hard shell helmets have lost some vogue because they are a bit heavier and keep the head hotter when compared to soft-shell models. Hard-shell helmets are sturdier than soft-shell helmets, which are composed of polystyrene and covered with cloth or a thin outer coating. Both types of helmets pass minimum safety standards.

Bike Helmet Foam & Strap: A bike helmet's core safety component is its foam. The foam of any helmet is meant to handle the energy associated with an impact and spread it out. Through the creation of heat and the cracking of the foam, the head is spared the full force of the impact. EPS, or Expanded Polystyrene foam, is an inexpensive option for bike helmets. EPP is similar to EPS, but is more rubbery and is said to be multi-impact foam. Other multi-impact bike helmets include Re-Up Foam and beaded-foams, which allow good airflow and moisture-wicking properties. As far as bike straps are concerned, each is designed to go with a particular helmet and allow you to properly adjust the helmet.

Youth, Child, and Toddler Bike Helmets: Each type of bicycle helmet is designed for the shape and weight of a child's head. A toddler should not wear a youth-sized helmet because it will not provide enough rear protection. Child and youth bike helmets are tested under the same conditions as adult helmets.

Downhill, Mountain, BMX, and Chrono Helmets: Downhill helmets are designed more like a helmet you might see a motorcyclist wearing and are often equipped with chin bar protection for the lower jaw. Some are made to be extra thick and durable, but are extra hot too. Mountain bike helmets tend to have a small flap that acts as a sun visor. BMX bike helmets are closer to motorcycling helmets than downhill bike helmets.

Chrono bike helmets are made as light as possible with aerodynamic properties for road and track racers. These helmets are inappropriate for street use.

Bike Helmet Sizes: Most manufacturers of bike helmets use a common scale to indicate the size of a helmet. A 6 1/2 (48cm) is generally reserved for toddlers. Other helmet sizes vary from 6 5/8 to 7 (53 to 61cm). Some modern helmets come with extra foam so you can line it for a perfect fit.

Bike Helmet Certification: Some bike helmets on the market are not certified. It is of the utmost importance that your helmet be certified to meet certain safety requirements. The CSA (in Canada), the ASTM (international standards), the CPSC (United States), all have certain criteria that the helmet must meet. If not, then you or your child will not be fully protected should an impact occur.

Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself

Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a bike helmet. For example, will you use the bike helmet only for general bike riding or will you be part of a cycling group or competing in races?

You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.

Have I used a bike helmet before?
	If you have used a bike helmet, work out what you did or didn't like about the bike helmet. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient.

Who am I buying the bike helmet for?
	While you might be buying a bike helmet for yourself, you might also be considering buying a helmet for your partner, child or relative. Helmets come in different sizes and are manufactured for certain types of impacts.

What type of cycling am I going to be doing?
	Are you going to use a road bike in your neighborhood, or are you going to go downhill mountain biking? Depending on the type of cycling you'll be doing, you should get a helmet that is made for it.

Do I care if I can reuse the helmet after an impact?
	Some helmets are made to withstand only one fall. An accidental drop or even a small impact can mean that the helmet should no longer be used. However, some newer companies claim that their helmets can sustain more than one impact. These are more expensive, but will perhaps last longer.

When will I use the helmet?

Some bicycle helmets are made to be used no matter the weather conditions. For the winter, they might include a liner and earflaps. Other bike helmets are designed solely for summertime use, with vents to keep the head cool so that the body can regulate its temperature during the ride. Thicker, higher-impact, resistant bike helmets are stronger and more durable, but do not breathe as well as other, lighter models.

Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.

Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of bike helmets and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.

Video Links

Bell Solar Helmet - User Review
This helmet features a tightener at the back to quickly adjust to your head size. (1m 17s)