When imagining ourselves riding a bike, we would want to project the "cool cat" look. An image of Tom Cruise riding a bike, chasing jet fighter planes with his Wayfarer on comes to mind. Now that is the epitome of coolness that a bike brings. But have you ever thought of going hundreds of miles per hour and smashing yourself into traffic no that would be splattering.



Choosing a helmet won't be as easy as fitting shirts. Carefully try on helmets one by one until you get the prefect fit and weight since you might be wearing this gear for hours and hours.

Certificates

Before narrowing down your selection to a few pieces that you have meticulously selected, check first whether the brand complies with any testing and impact certification from a reliable government or test facility. Many helmets found in stores carry certain stickers that certify them as crash worthy and can withstand to a certain amount of compressive force. But if your location doesn't support any crash test certification, make sure to thoroughly check the item before committing to it. A good way to check for the helmet's quality is the EPS or the expanded polystyrene. This looks like a high density Styrofoam that is placed between the outer shell and the soft foam pads. This material absorbs the opposing impact or pressure between your skull and the outer shell when a crash occurs.

Fit

The helmet's fit is as crucial as the materials used on the helmet. After narrowing down to a couple of helmets, try on the helmet side by side as well as front and back to check on whether it is loose or not. Fit the helmet for about 15 to 20 minutes and check if it is comfortable enough. Check also the foam pads if it covers the surrounding of the ear and not the ear itself. It is known to riders that helmets keep you focused on your ride because it filters out the surrounding noise especially the blaring horns.

To finally check on the helmet that you will be buying, tighten the chin strap until you can feel the pressure on your chin. Suddenly pull the lower back portion or pull it on a rolling motion towards the front. If the helmet falls off, then you would need a smaller size. A helmet that falls off on the initial impact is as good as not wearing any at all.

Features

Helmets now come in all sizes, shapes, colors and weight. Technology has evolved the protective gear industry by utilizing high break yield but light weight materials such as graphite and carbon fiber. Some brands make break-resistant face shields with UV film protector as a series standard. Full face helmets are usually aerodynamic in design to prevent drag and have adjustable vents for the cool air to pass through.