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Following a recent unexpected off of bike experience, I’m in need of a new lid
Coming from a Giro Montaro which I REALLY like(d)
Looking at non-mushroom head helmets for my thin, oval (front to back) as opposed to a round head shape in the £100-ish price bracket
I’ve found some POC Tectal, Fox Speedframe and Kali Maya (among many others) lids for decent prices online but am getting a little overwhelmed with choice given that I’m not very well versed with helmets
what’s out there?! What’s worth looking at?!
Recommendations / experience greatly appreciated
I've got a Speedframe Pro and it fits the brief of long and narrow (I think POC are a bit more mushroom). It also has adjustment to alter how low or high it sits on your head. It's comfy (to me), but the padding is quite thin if that's an issue for you.
It doesn't pair well with goggles though if the new thing of goggles and half shell is up your street
I was wearing a Giro Chronicle for about 5 years and fancied a change - got a POC Tectal Spin a few months ago. First 5 rides it felt like it was giving me a headache (no idea why) but it seems to have settled down now and I’m liking it.
I can switch between chronicle and Tectal with no issue now - I’ve got all my helmet light mounts on the chronicle so using that for night rides, and the Tectal for longer day rides.
i came from a Montaro to a Tectal Spin. I also have one of those long shaped heads and find the Tectal a great fit.
Doesnt look like im about to be shot from a cannon. All day comfort.
Mine has a dent in it where i met the floor at some point, so should replace it really!
Thanks all, looks like the POC could be a fair contender
Padding is always a bonus as I’m one of those baldy types so need all the help I can get
Not a goggles wearer so I’m not overly concerned with goggle or glasses compatibility
No sooner had I posted this than I thought I’d see what giros crash replacement policy (if any) is, apparently they will offer a discount on a new lid so would be interested to see what they can offer
I nabbed a Speedframe Pro off SportPursuit when they were cheap - mainly because I read a test thing (group test, that's it 😛 ) where they said it was the best vented lid. It has a vent underneath the visor, which makes it very cool. And it's v comfy. (They have the light blue in L left on SportPursuit)
I've recently swapped to a Tectal... found it sits lower on the head than the Giros I've used in the past... presumably that means better protection (definitely looks better) but it took a bit of getting used to. I'd buy another.
Careful with POC, I tried a Tecal in store and found the M too small (narrow) and the L too big (right at the limit of adjustment). As someone has said, they're a long/thin fit, so try them on or buy a couple of sizes and return if you don't like.
I found the Speedframes a more usual fit when I tried them.
For reference, I find TLD A1/A2 almost perfect.
Troy Lee are selling off all their A1/A2 helmets cheap right now btw, as they're being replaced.
nabbed a Speedframe Pro off SportPursuit when they were cheap
Me too. And it's my favourite lid now. Love it.
I went from a montaro to a Bell Sixer. It’s a similar fit for me.
I have a tectal, like it a lot however it interferes with all but one set of my Oakleys, worth trying on before buying if you can
Thanks all, hadn’t thought of the TLD helmets to be honest and at the price they’re being sold for currently I have added them to the potential new lid list
Waiting to see what giro come back with but may try and find somewhere that stocks the POC ones in the meantime, after the advice here so far, probably best to try one on first, I quite like the idea of @kelvin point that it sits lower on the head
Still searching for something decent I might have missed, so if anyone has any recommendations, I’d be glad to hear them
TLD A3 is also below £100. Offers great coverage.
Best thing is to visit a shop and try some on. The Speedframe didn’t fit me well, Giro stuff did more.
Why not just stick with Giro if you know their size/shape works for you?
Truth be told, I probably will, was more thinking that if I’m in the market for a new lid, why not see what else is about and if there is anything a bit better for the same money
was out on a ride a few years ago and between five of us we were all wearing TLD A1. from the big giant meekon head to the petite i'm not sure what shape my head really but mine's a small to a couple of us somewhere in the middle we were all happy. FWIW.
I've got a new Speedframe Pro (50% off Fox crash replacement!) to replace the one I smashed recently.
It's the most comfortable helmet i've ever worn, and indeed when I collided with a large rock in the old one it was like hitting a soft pillow. Really impressed.
My riding conditions are very hot so ventilation will never be good enough on any helmet. But the thin pads are great in hot conditions because they don't act as a sweat sponge.
Fidlock strap is great. Adjustable visor is handy.
It's miles better than my old TLD A1 from a fit, comfort, bulk perspective. YMMV.
Just toying with thoughts, Quite liking the idea of a helmet sitting lower on the head, or does that just mean more coverage
Is this something the speed frame offers? Are there any that I should be looking at with this “feature”
Is this something the speed frame offers? Are there any that I should be looking at with this “feature”
Mentioned it in my previous post, but yeah, 4 settings from really low, to fairly high
Love my Tectal Race, comfiest helmet I've ever had! Will likely pick up an a1 soon with the big reductions on them as they're super comfy, but very warm!
I found the Tectal to size up pretty big. I usually have to get a l/xl but I'm a M for the Tectal.
Apologies @TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR must’ve missed that part of your comment, I think a speedframe pro has just been bumped up the list a little, and it comes in camo, which helps
Can currently pick up speedframe pro’s for around the £90 mark so will see what giro comes back with and weigh up the cost(s) of each
Apologies @TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR must’ve missed that part of your comment, I think a speedframe pro has just been bumped up the list a little, and it comes in camo, which helps
No probs at all 🙂
Yeah, bought the black cheap, but like the look of the camo. Black still looks good though - a mix of gloss and matt
Stif currently have Fox Speedframe on sale:
https://www.stifmtb.com/search?q=speedframe
I just received mine and tried it on feels very comfy and on par with my Kask helmet which is currently the comfiest helmet I’ve owned.
I'd suggest the Kask Rex, it was recommended on here and was a seriously nice helmet. Trouble was I also ordered a Bell Super 3 which I'd had previously, and fit me 'slightly' better & reached slightly lower down at the back (this is my 3rd if not fourth Bell Super) & was half the price of the Rex. I still think the Rex was a nice helmet and would have been happy to own it. I did get to try a Giro Montano, and the fit was great, but it looked so wrong on my head.
It's always suggested to test a helmet for fit before buying but I found it to be a frustrating exercise, trying to locate shops with stock to test (& buy). Ended up having to order the two helmet from CRC, and sending the loser back.
I had a Rex before my Speedframe - it was a great fit, but the build quality wasn't that good - the straps go through some plastic parts fixed with stickers and the came loose pretty quickly. I don't think they come in MIPS version either, if that matters. Although the way the MIPS frame squeaks on the Speedframe is slightly annoying.