01-29-2016, 01:20 PM
I'm a helmet nut, but I'm also lazy so in summary:
The "best" brand is Schuberth but they seem to fit... no-one? Seriously, nobody I know has a Schuberh noggin'. For me they feel like a disgruntled employee put a pingpong ball under the forehead padding of every $700+ helmet they make.
Then I would say Arai, but since I have a Shoei head shape I have been with Shoei lately. Arai's are sometimes quirky with their brow vents and visor locks, but nothing to be totally put off by. Some may actually prefer Arai's 'features'. Shoei are typically simpler in design (not to be confused with low quality, they are still very high end) and seem to be catching up to Arai and in some ways surpassing them. For example comparable Shoei models may not vent as well as an Arai but they are quieter and less cumbersome to open/close vents while wearing gloves. Shoei have started putting thicker visors which deflect less when opening / closing and therefore operate smoother. Arai are setup better for communication devices (deeper and larger speaker pockets), but are less effective than Shoei's smaller cutouts because wind noise above 35 mph becomes excessive which necessitates blasting yourself with distorted and pure treble speakers (I'm using Sena S20). For myself, Shoei is the clear winner.
HJC and Bell are suitable for those on a budget, just don't get a poly one... Make sure it's fiberglass/kevlar/carbon fiber.
Never cared for Nolan, as a whole they're heavy, squeaky, bulky and typically aesthetically unappealing.
Then you have everyone else... except Simpson, for which their motorcycle stuff is overpriced junk. I've seen more defects on Simpson than on any other brand. I really wanted to like them but after 3 helmets purchased, 2 defective and one shipped with a visor for a completely different model... I gave up.
I've fitted 30+ helmets and owned 6 within the last 2 years. My ultimate advice is to learn how to properly size a helmet, then try on as many brands/models in various sizes as possible and keep them on your head for a minimum of 15 minutes per helmet. Notable discomfort within 15 minutes means no-go for me.
The "best" brand is Schuberth but they seem to fit... no-one? Seriously, nobody I know has a Schuberh noggin'. For me they feel like a disgruntled employee put a pingpong ball under the forehead padding of every $700+ helmet they make.
Then I would say Arai, but since I have a Shoei head shape I have been with Shoei lately. Arai's are sometimes quirky with their brow vents and visor locks, but nothing to be totally put off by. Some may actually prefer Arai's 'features'. Shoei are typically simpler in design (not to be confused with low quality, they are still very high end) and seem to be catching up to Arai and in some ways surpassing them. For example comparable Shoei models may not vent as well as an Arai but they are quieter and less cumbersome to open/close vents while wearing gloves. Shoei have started putting thicker visors which deflect less when opening / closing and therefore operate smoother. Arai are setup better for communication devices (deeper and larger speaker pockets), but are less effective than Shoei's smaller cutouts because wind noise above 35 mph becomes excessive which necessitates blasting yourself with distorted and pure treble speakers (I'm using Sena S20). For myself, Shoei is the clear winner.
HJC and Bell are suitable for those on a budget, just don't get a poly one... Make sure it's fiberglass/kevlar/carbon fiber.
Never cared for Nolan, as a whole they're heavy, squeaky, bulky and typically aesthetically unappealing.
Then you have everyone else... except Simpson, for which their motorcycle stuff is overpriced junk. I've seen more defects on Simpson than on any other brand. I really wanted to like them but after 3 helmets purchased, 2 defective and one shipped with a visor for a completely different model... I gave up.
I've fitted 30+ helmets and owned 6 within the last 2 years. My ultimate advice is to learn how to properly size a helmet, then try on as many brands/models in various sizes as possible and keep them on your head for a minimum of 15 minutes per helmet. Notable discomfort within 15 minutes means no-go for me.