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How to choose the right bicycle helmet?

8 important things to know when choosing your bike helmet

Security: The headset should be European (or any other part of the world where you are). Western standards assure you that the helmet has successfully passed shock, resistance and maintenance tests. In addition to the standard homologation, there are helmets offering additional protections, such as rear lights, geolocation system, MI technologyPS (for Multi-directional Impact Protection System)…

Type of cycling: The type (or types) of cycling you do will determine your helmet choice.

Usage : A person who practices once in a while will not need the same equipment as someone who spends hours and hours on it. That said, you can totally spend € on a high-end helmet that you will only wear on the weekends, and € for a helmet that you will wear every day, the choice is yours !

Price : Bicycle helmets come in a wide range of different designs. There are indeed products dedicated to a specific cycling practice (mountain bike, city bike, professional cycling, BMX, electric bike...). From one product to another, the design, the level of protection, the quality of the materials and the functionalities will also vary greatly. Think about what you'll be using it for, what kind of cycling you do, and you're bound to find a model that's right for you. budget.

Ventilation : If you tend to sweat a lot or live in a hot place, then choose a well-ventilated helmet. You can opt for a more closed shell if you live in a cold region or you don't sweat a lot. The most versatile helmet will be a well-ventilated helmet that you can wear with a cycling cap, a thermal under-helmet or a beanie to face the cold or the rain.

Support system: straps and fasteners. A basic, low-cost helmet will only offer a pre-adjusted or adjustable chin strap with a buckle as a fastening system. A better helmet will also offer an adjustment system located at the back, most often par scroll wheel. The quality is better, the security too, but the price is higher. That said, in mountain biking the fit of the helmet is very important: the tighter it is, the better your comfort and safety will be.

Comfort: A helmet should be comfortable, especially if you wear it a lot. Ventilation, attachment system, weight and interior padding are important. But choosing the right size helmet and fitting it correctly using our guide in this article is also essential.

Personal preferences : Design and aesthetics are also criteria of choice for a cyclist looking for a model that goes well with his clothes or his bike.

Choose your bike helmet

The major criteria are to be taken into account when choosing a bicycle helmet: size, comfort and choice of materials.

Size

Measure around your head using a measuring tape, place above the eyebrow line. A properly sized helmet should cover the top and back of the head, the forehead and also the temples. Inside each bicycle helmet is the corresponding trim. Bicycle helmets have knobs and straps to adjust the fit and tightness. Prefer non-elastic adjustable ties for better comfort. The ventilation holes provide good ventilation under the helmet, which is very important especially if the child works out a lot. The "CE" label, synonymous with compliance with European safety standards, guarantees the best protection.

An adjustable helmet is a guarantee of safety and comfort! You can also evaluate the ease of adjustment of the straps and the quality of the closure (anti-pinch buckle, with padded under-chin strap).

A bicycle helmet will be effective if its size is well suited to your morphology and if there is no risk of it moving unexpectedly.

Helmet comfort

User comfort is essential for a bicycle helmet! A helmet must know how to be forgotten and become like a second skin.

What shape of the helmet?

Choose an enveloping design that covers the sensitive points of the skull, the temples and the rear part (occipital area).

For what practice?

For optimal safety, the bicycle helmet must be adapted to each discipline.

For family hikes and more sporty activities (mountain biking), the ventilated models are the most interesting.

The different materials

Let's take a look at the pros and cons of the different materials used in the manufacture of bicycle helmets.

Polycarbonate is the most common material used to make the outer shells of modern mountain bike helmets. It provides excellent impact protection and holds up well to low and mid-speed impacts. Additionally, it is durable, lightweight, and relatively affordable. The main disadvantage of polycarbonate is that it can crack in the event of very violent or repetitive impact in the same place over a long period of time.

Kevlar or aramid fiber (a type of synthetic steel) provides superior protection par compared to polycarbonate thanks to its increased resistance to violent or repetitive impacts at high speed as well as to the corrosion causedar some harsh chemicals often grazing our wet forest paths. However, its price remains quite high given its exceptional durability.

A more affordable alternative that offers a compromise between weight/protection/price would be the EPS (expanded polystyrene). It's softer than plastic, allowing the helmet to compress when needed to cushion impacts to your head. Plus, it helps keep weight relatively low par compared to other types of raw material.

All our advice around the bicycle helmet

The outer shells of the helmets are designed to absorb shock and provide maximum protection for your head.

Most models also include a removable inner liner that helps keep your head cool while you ride. Additionally, some models feature additional padding that helps reduce the risk of being cut in the event of a collision with a sharp object such as a branch or fence.

Finally, some models have also been designed specifically to be usedar professional riders to provide the best possible protection when riding at high speeds on twisty or rough roads.

Cyclists should always wear a helmet whenever they ride their bicycles to ensure their health and safety along the way. Today, there are various types and brands available on the market depending on the use: for adults as well as for adolescents and even those intended for children; it goes from style vintage up to the modern look; not to mention the advanced technologies on offerepar certain manufacturer such as integrated visor etc…

A shock can affect the structural strength of the shell: consider changing a helmet that has already suffered a good fall. Do not hesitate to compare the weight data between the different models that interest you, to appreciate the comfort.

GENERAL HELMET SIZE EQUIVALENTS
TEE TOURTE IN CM	EQUIVALENT SIZE
53-54 cm	XS
55-56 cm	S
57-58 cm	M
59-60 cm	L
60cm or more	XL

Depending on the brands, helmets come with additional accessories that optimize comfort and aesthetics. Let's take as an example the helmets which present additional foams in their interior. This type of helmet cradles the head while sucking up perspiration.