General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Bike Helmet Question Rss Feed  
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2014-08-23 6:58 AM

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Subject: Bike Helmet Question
What exactly is the difference between a $30 helmet and a $200 helmet?

I have a run of the mill, bought on Amazon inexpensive Giro bike helmet. As I was waiting for to pick up my bike at the shop yesterday, I was browsing the helmets and got sticker shock - they were all aero helmets, but some were more like $60 and some were well over $200.

I'm not ever going to win a race so I'm not really in the market for buying an aero helmet (I don't think it will make a massive difference in times for me haha) but I'm just curious how two helmets that appear to be very similar have such a price differential.


2014-08-23 12:14 PM
in reply to: ginger1981

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Champion
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Sarasota, FL
Subject: RE: Bike Helmet Question

All helmets should have a CPSC approval sticker which means it complies with safety standards.  So in theory, a $40 helmet will protect you as well as a $400 helmet.

The price difference can be due to ventilation design, materials, weight, color scheme or branding snobbery (i.e., Wal-Mart vs. Giro).

I normally buy mid-range Bell or Giro road helmets, often when I can get them on sale. 

I'm a bit conservative, so I buy a new helmet about every three years to allow for any degradation of the materials in the helmet.  I'll keep the old helmet as a back-up in case something happens to my primary helmet.

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

2014-09-11 7:29 AM
in reply to: ginger1981


20

Subject: RE: Bike Helmet Question
There are some helmets out there that have price tags around $400! That is a LOT to spend on a helmet to me
2014-09-11 4:13 PM
in reply to: RedCorvette

Master
10208
50005000100100
Northern IL
Subject: RE: Bike Helmet Question

Originally posted by RedCorvette

All helmets should have a CPSC approval sticker which means it complies with safety standards.  So in theory, a $40 helmet will protect you as well as a $400 helmet.

The price difference can be due to ventilation design, materials, weight, color scheme or branding snobbery (i.e., Wal-Mart vs. Giro).

I normally buy mid-range Bell or Giro road helmets, often when I can get them on sale. 

I'm a bit conservative, so I buy a new helmet about every three years to allow for any degradation of the materials in the helmet.  I'll keep the old helmet as a back-up in case something happens to my primary helmet.

Mark 

Something to note on the first line is that they have to meet or exceed the same level of safety, but that does not mean they will protect the same. No way to tell on price point alone if one or the other will protect better. Just know that they will all meet the minimum. All the other differences are certainly there, but you don't have to spend several hundred to get a decently comfortable and ventilated helmet, so mid-level on sale is a great way to be value conscious. It's also the aero helmets that tend to push the higher prices too.

2014-09-11 9:30 PM
in reply to: ginger1981

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Veteran
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Hudson Valley
Subject: RE: Bike Helmet Question
I tried on a department store helmet out of curiosity. The straps dug into the back of my head. I also noticed it didn't contour my head as well as my helmet. Some helmets favor people with rounder heads; other fit oval headed people better. That's not a $40 vs $400 difference, that's a brand thing like Nike vs Adidas.
2014-09-12 9:20 AM
in reply to: Six000MileYear

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The Woodlands, TX
Subject: RE: Bike Helmet Question
A lot of the hard core roadies I know are on their bikes 15+ hours a week. You can justify spending a lot more money on something that you're wearing that much. They look for comfort, fit, aero, ventilation, style & color......I think the assumption is that almost all road helmets provide about the same level of protection.


2014-11-05 8:13 AM
in reply to: g_shotts


20

Subject: RE: Bike Helmet Question
Every helmet sold in the US has to pass the same safety standards to so they'll all protect your head. Cost usually increases as weight decreases and ventilation increases
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