I’ve been shopping for a new bicycle helmet and I’ve learned that price is not a good indicator of the protection that the helmet provides. Regardless of whether a helmet is the least or most expensive, they must all meet the mandatory safety standard issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in Title 16 CFR Part 1203 – SAFETY STANDARD FOR BICYCLE HELMETS.
Yet, shouldn’t a more expensive helmet provide more protection? I would think so, but that is simply not the case. You don’t have to take my word for it, check out the recent report by NBC News about a joint project at Virginia Tech with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety which found that not all bicycle helmets protect the brain well and that price is not a good guide for buying a helmet.
So what helmet did I buy? The five star Bell Stratus MIPS Helmet. I want all the protection I can get.
Also see Virginia Tech Bicycle Helmet Ratings
Ken Whittaker