A helmet for big heads - with safety testing

Equipment
1

I’m on the hunt for a new road helmet and looking for recommendations.
My head measures 61cm, this means I’m either near or above the upper limit of a typical size large. The safety credentials of the helmet are important to me and the only independent testing I am aware of is by Virginia Tech

I like the test protocol and the fact they aren’t confined to only Mips or wavecell etc.

I recently bought online (and returned) a Sweet Protection Falconer 2vi size large/XL because my head only touched some of the head cushions. This made it less comfortable. I believe Mips relies on friction between the head and the cushion to work.

I currently have a Bontrager Circuit Mips that I bought 4 years ago for £60 that has a few dents and some missing cushions so it’s overdue an upgrade.

I had a look on the TR forum and saw there wasn’t a recent post on this, more helmets have been released since.

Cheers!

2

Not sure what to tell you except to keep trying helmets.

Nobody can recommend you a helmet because you have your own unique head shape, what works for me won’t work for you. You have the safety data, so keep grinding through that list until you find one that meets your desired comfort/safety/price ratio.

3

So everything you buy will be a safety upgrade to what you have currently therefor buy whichever helmet pleases you. I just bought the van Rijsel FCR and RCR mips, 2 helmets for the price of 1 but without safety data. If that is important I would try the Giro Eclipse Spherical which scores highly in both windtunnel tests and VT tests, so if it fits…

4

Don’t worry - The helmet will flex enough to accommodate your head and the crash will provide all the friction MIPS needs to work.

The soft cushions you touch in a helmet don’t do anything with regards to impact cushioning. It flattens out instantly. They’re just there for comfort. In the case of MIPS Air / Poc Spin, they’re also the MIPS liner, but you don’t need to be in perfect contact with them. The crash protection foam is the hard stuff and only the hard stuff. In general, anything softer than the foam in your cars dashboard won’t help you in a wreck.

You rarely “lawn dart” into the ground, so the helmet always moves a bit to meet the head. Just focus on everyday comfort.

2 Likes
5

I see your point on head shape differences but I don’t get the impression that helmets are quite as variable as shoes in that regard where one size from a manufacturer could fit and 2 sizes different could also fit.

The issue with buying several and sending those back is that it quite often costs money to return the unwanted helmets.

I think if people with large heads had recommendations for things that worked it might help me narrow down the search.

6

It will be a safety upgrade! :smile: I don’t buy helmets often so i’d prefer to aim for something as reasonably well tested as I can.

I haven’t had a look at van rysel yet, i’ll have a look. I had a giro helmet in the past so that might be an option as it might be more likely to fit.

7

Try a Giro Syntax in XL. My head has a similar circumference and that helmet fits me well.

1 Like
8

Although offering no reduction in force from a crash, I was under the impression that the friction between the helmet cushions and a person’s head help to keep the mips liner stationary and allow mips to activate in a crash. If that is incorrect, let me know.

As you point out, the helmet will deform when hit hard enough, so it’s hard to say if a only a couple of the helmet cushions touch will really matter.

9

I’m at 60, wear a POC Ventral MIPS and a POC Tectal, and still have a few clicks left.

1 Like
10

I’ve got a big noggin, and have a Circuit Mips L in the helmet rotation.

Other brands that usually work for me in their size L are Kask (Valero and Protone), POC (Octal or Ventral), Giro (Aether), Lazer (G1)

I’ve had several other Giro’s and a Bell but none of those are still in production.

I included the models I’ve actually worn recently from those brands. Any brand I didn’t list is just because I haven’t ever tried it.

2 Likes
11

KAV, safety tested AND custom printed for your head.

1 Like
12

Know a lad with a big head that uses an S-Works Evade (5 stars by Virginia Tech). I’d try it in person though if possible.

1 Like
13

I have a Giro Syntax MIPS XL helmet and have the same head circumference as you. I can easily wear a winter cap as well, so there is plenty of room.

1 Like
14

POC Ventral Air in L and Specialized helmets in L fits my giant head well. Worth trying out! Both has MIPS :slight_smile:

1 Like
15

Thanks for the suggestions so far i thought I’d make poll to help see people’s opinions.

Helmets that fit your chunky dome
  • Not listed (comment below)
  • Giro Aether
  • Giro Eclipse
  • Giro Syntax
  • Kask Protone
  • Kask Valero
  • KAV
  • Lazer G1
  • POC Octal
  • POC Tectal
  • POC Ventral
  • S-Works Evade
0 voters
16

Just wanted to add another vote for the Evade! @BenniBikes I think I’m around 61cm like you, and the Evade II fits great. I still have to tighten a few clicks.

I have had good luck with Specialized Large sized helmets for my large noggin :rofl:

4 Likes
17

The MIPS (and similar) liner allows the helmet to slide/rotate under high load. It doesn’t matter if the liner is moving against your head, giving you a rug burn, or the sliding internally in the helmet. The goal is to prevent the helmet from becoming a lever in any direction and landing squarely as it collides with something. It kinda acts like an oversized helmet does (or like a bald guy with grease on his head) on your head, only under high loads.