I hate to sound vain,but...does anyone know of a bicycle helmet that is low profile, functional, AND cute?

Answer 1

Well, if you like the skate helmet styling, you should check out the Giro Makai or Flak helmets....they're cheap ($20 to $40) and they come in some "girl" colors, too. They look pretty cool....I have two of them (in non-girl colors) that I use for urban riding. There are lots of other skate lids from several manufacturers.....lots of colors and designs on them, too. Check www.jensonusa.com or www.danscomp.com for choices.

If you want a regular helmet, the Bell Metro and Giro Xen are cool and seem to fit your desires. The Xen is expensive, but worth it.....you can find model year closeouts for $60 to $90 but the normal price is around $120.


EDIT: Ok, now those Nutcase helmets in the post below mine are just COOL! The correct link is www.nutcasehelmets.com .....and I'm glad he shared that company! :o)

Answer 2

Normal ribbed-type bike helmets sometimes do have a pretty big profile. Those looking for a smaller profile tend to use the Multisport-type helmets popular with skateboarders and rollerbladers. Those are better known as the Pro-Tec type helmets.

I like the Pro-Tec classic helmets. Low profile but conforms to CPSC crash standards for bicycle use. The only disadvantage is that the low profile means it cannot have as much ventilation holes as a regular ribbed bike helmet in order to maintain structural integrity.

Just about anybody who does extreme sports uses Pro-Tecs for the lower profile (skateboarding, BMX freestyling, snowboarding, Delta Force commandos fast-roping out of a Blackhawk helicopter, etc.) :-D

Not cute I guess, but definitely low-profile and functional.

Answer 3

Braincatcher is important for your safety . To many made is now on market . Brand is just personal preference - I did prefer Giro because was comfortable . When on bike shop to pick up my new Trek Fuel , I also buy cute functional Trek helmet for about $50 , it is much better then my 2 or 3 years old Giro helmet because high tech technology those days .

Answer 4

Cute is in the eye of the beholder. Try performancebike.com for a wide variety.

I had to go through all that to get my son to wear one through his preteen and teenage years. Not cute, of course, but it had to meet his 'style' requirements. I probably spent a lot more than I needed to over the years so he would wear it but not look dorky. It was still cheap insurance.

I digress. I kinda like the protec style, although I have a couple of regular Specialized helmets for MTB and triathlon use.

Answer 5

Try nutcase helmets
they are definitely the cutest and most fashionable helmets around.
They have really cool designs and are only $40 a piece.

Answer 6

There are a lot of cute helmets but they look so skimpy that they almost look useless in the event of a collision, unlike older helmets that cover the whole head.

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This website is an excellent source of nformation on bike helmets The most efficient shape for a helmet in a crash resembles a bowling ball. Round, smooth surfaces slide well and "scrub off" energy from a crash, while avoiding any tendency for the helmet to snag and jerk the rider's neck. This has been demonstrated in lab tests. But designers began flogging "aerodynamic" designs in the late 1980's as the aero craze peaked. Greg LeMond wore one in a famous time trial where he came from behind to win the Tour de France. Bicycle helmet shapes have become elongated ever since, basically as a fashion trend, since the aero quality of the helmet has no real effect at the speeds most riders travel.



An unfortunate trend in shapes became evident in the late 1990's as designers began producing helmets with ridges, rear projections and squared-off lines to give them a more stylish appearance. We have ranted against the trend, but without much effect, and have been unable to get provisions in any standard requiring low sliding resistance. We could only hope the fashion will reverse as fashions always do, and lead us back to smoother designs. Finally in 2004 there were signs of at least a few rounder, smoother designs produced for the "commuter helmet" niche in the market. Bell introduced the Metro, followed quickly by a number of others.

The most efficient shape for a helmet in a crash resembles a bowling ball. Round, smooth surfaces slide well and "scrub off" energy from a crash, while avoiding any tendency for the helmet to snag and jerk the rider's neck. This has been demonstrated in lab tests. But designers began flogging "aerodynamic" designs in the late 1980's as the aero craze peaked. Greg LeMond wore one in a famous time trial where he came from behind to win the Tour de France. Bicycle helmet shapes have become elongated ever since, basically as a fashion trend, since the aero quality of the helmet has no real effect at the speeds most riders travel.

An unfortunate trend in shapes became evident in the late 1990's as designers began producing helmets with ridges, rear projections and squared-off lines to give them a more stylish appearance.

Answer 7

http://www.bellbikehelmets.com/productDetail.asp?prodID=3

http://www.bellbikehelmets.com/productDetail.asp?prodID=22

The ones on these pages - browse the site - alot of nice choices.

If you want low profile - you automatically eliminate alot of the really "cool" helmets.