A buying guide to cycling helmets

Crash helmets are an essential piece of safety bike wear for any cyclist whether you do it regularly or rarely. 75% of cyclists who are killed die of head injuries, so this statistic alone tells you just how important they are and just how important it is to make sure that you buy the right one. This article provides you with a guide of what to look for when you are buying a cycle crash helmet.

Look at what the helmet is made of

The best bike helmets are made of a material called EPS foam with a thin plastic shell covering the outside. This shell helps the helmet skid easily on rough pavement and avoids jerking your neck if you crash. The shell also holds the foam together after the first impact. Some excellent helmets are made by molding foam in the shell rather than adding the shell later. You are looking for a smoothly rounded outer shell, with no sharp ribs or snag points. Excessive vents mean less foam contacting your head, which could concentrate force on one point. Aero helmets are not noticeably faster, and in a crash the tail could snag or knock the helmet aside.

Colour

Believe it or not, the colour of your helmet can be a massive factor in your safety. Cyclists are encouraged to wear bright cycle wear so that motorists can see them and a crash helmet is no different. A crash helmet with bright colours will stand out more and means that you are more likely to be seen which means that your chances of being hit or not seen by the motorist is reduced. Bright colours such as luminous yellow or pink are ideal.

Comfort

A comfortable cycle helmet is a good one, so you should always make sure that you buy a helmet that fits properly. The chances are that if it is uncomfortable, then it doesn't fit properly and if it doesn't fit properly then it is not going to be able to provide you with full protection. Furthermore, if a helmet is uncomfortable, then you are unlikely to be giving the road or cycle path your full attention which will increase your chances of having a crash.