Definative helmet fitting guide required!

[Pukey]

Hey people,

As the title sugests I need a "Definative helmet fitting guide"

I have been doing the rounds of the bike shops locally looking for a helmet and the opinions of which fits best, why and how to test varies massively!

Also the facts on materials used would be interesting!

Cheers Luke

[ranathari]

There's no such thing as one helmet that fits best. Everyone has a differently shaped head and all helmets have differently shaped interiors - you have to keep trying different helmets on until you find one that's comfortable. That doesn't mean putting it on and taking it off again, it means putting it on and leaving it on for 10-15 mins to see if it gets painful with time.

[IrishRob]

Like Cinderella's slipper, when you find the right lid you will know. Then again, maybe I have an odd shaped (bloody expensive) head. I know it can be frustrating when you go to the shows/shops, although it is ultimately your opinion that counts, you expect the salesperson to be well trained and to poke and prod around. When the OH was getting her first lid I had to tell the salesperson to do this, I also had to tell them to stop talking to me and talk to herself.

Age old rules apply:
Shouldn't come off - so buckle up and try to pull it off (so to speak)
Crown should be even and comfortable
Cheeks should be tight as these will give
Vents - can you work them with gloves. Lots of vents means a cool head, and lots of noise.
Does the bottom of the lid cover the chin?
Does it foul your nose?
Oh, and if you wear contact lenses (as I do) try to get something with a flexible material cover under your chin. Withh my last lid the wind blast would occasionally deflect off my chest into my lid and played major havoc with my lenses.
Personally I like a very bright helmet to help get attention of car drivers - there appears to be a huge selection of grey/tarmac coloured lids available for reasons I just don't understand.

Oh, and pay absolutely no attention to magazine reviews - ultimately it is fit that is most important and we all have different shaped heads.

[Pukey]

Thanks for the reply Ranathari, I understand that everyone has a different shaped head and one does not suit all, what I need to know is how to determine which fits best! I can tell which ones are comfy but I need to know how to make sure a comfy one will give me the best protection in the event of the unthinkable!

Rob, thanks that was what I was looking for! I must admit I'm not to keen on bright fussy lids but I take your point! It seems I too have an expensive shaped head, or is this just what the people selling helmets want me to think?

Anyone got any pointers on the way you should and shouldn't be able to move it on your head, where or not you should be able to poke your fingers, where your eyeline should be and the proximity to your mouth?

Thanks again Luke

[the_lone_wolf]

When you try on a helmet, get the smallest size that doesn't feel restrictive, if you shake your head about it should stay fairly firmly in place, try sticking a finger between the forehead pad and your face, if it's too loose or tight it'll feel as such. Try doing up the strap and twisting it left to right, it shouldn't move beyond the natural movement of your soft facial tissue

Other than that, if it's comfy and doesn't leave you with big red blood constriction bruises when you take it off then go for it, you may find later down the line that there's some aspect of it that isn't perfect but short of a lifetime test ride you won't know this until you purchase:)