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Five Best Bicycle Helmets

Apr 29, 2012 | By Joshua Duvauchelle

In 2009, 630 bicyclists lost their lives, reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. When it comes to cycling safety, a helmet works as one of the most crucial factors, helping to prevent your head and neck from impacts should you fall or crash. You' will find hundreds of bicycle helmets on the market. If you're feeling overwhelmed by your options, third-party critics have highlighted the best helmets from 2010 and 2011.

Giro Prolight

The editors of "Bicycling" magazine deemed Giro's option as 2010's best, handing it an editors' choice award in the road helmet category. The magazine reports that this is one of the lightest helmets in the world, which may appeal most to high-performance race cyclists. Additional features include well-placed air vents that help keep your head feeling breezy on a sultry ride.

661 Recon Helmet

As of February 2011, 661's bicycle helmet was the best-rated helmet on BikeRadar.com, winning 3.5 stars out of five from the site's editors. The reviewing editor, from "Mountain Biking" magazine, said it was "packed full of features for a competitive price." Intended for mountain bikers, it includes a shorter rear end for more mobility, and a plastic shell designed in a mold to help improve its durability.

POC Cortex Flow

Full-face helmets attract riders who need advanced head protection, such as off-trail mountain bikers and those who like taking the leaps and risks of cyclocross ramps. The full-face helmet from POC was ranked as one of the best by "Bicycling" magazine, which gave it a "Gear of the Day" award. The magazine loved that it weighed the same as some of its competitors while having more cooling vents, as well as a fog-minimizing faceplate and adjustable padding options that ensure the best fit possible.

Lazer Helmets Genesis RD Helmet

Of all the standard bike helmets that came out during 2010, Lazer's was one of the highest rated on BikeRadar.com, garnering an impressive 4.5 stars out of five. The reviewing editors noted its "superb fit," thanks to an adjustable wheel that you simply spin to fine-tune its internal cradle fitting system. The system works by bringing together the two shells of the helmet, so you can make it bigger or smaller as needed.

Troy Lee Designs D3 Helmet

The D3 helmet was the highest-rated 2010 helmet in the full-face category on BikeRadar.com. The reviewing editor, from "Mountain Biking" magazine, summarized it as a "class leader" and a "premium piece." Features include titanium hardware, which gives extra durability to the design, plus internal vent channels that work like an exhaust to help channel your breath and heat out through the back of the helmet.

References

Article reviewed by Allen Cone Last updated on: Apr 29, 2012

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