New Helmet for a Large(ish) Head

rieko

I'm in the market for a new high end lid. The problem is finding one suits my quite large head.

My head size is 58cm which pretty much sits right at the top end of most medium helmets and at the bottom end of large. However even though medium lids apparently fit 58cm heads, the helmets I've tried out locally feel tight and unwearable so I don't think I have an option other than to go for a large. But since my head is at the bottom end of large, every 'size L' helmet I wear gives me horrendous mushroom head (especially the Spesh Prevail!)

Does anyone have any recommendations on a sleek looking lid in Large that I should sought out and try? Or alternatively a medium sized helmet that I would comfortably squeeze into? There must be someone else who's had the same predicament as me. Honestly not bothered about cost. It could be Aero, Ventilated, not bothered. As long as it does the job and looks as good as a helmet can look and also comes in matt black :oops:

Thanks in advance.

mrb123

Have you tried a Kask Protone? Pretty un-mushroom like as far as these things go.

rieko

Thanks @MrB123, I actually haven't tried the Protone yet, mainly since I can't find a local stockist. It's certainly one I've been eyeing up though, but I'll probably have to order online.

pinchez

Same as you 58cm head and in the market for a new helmet that fits well and looks good! I have the Kask Protone, Giro Synthe and Bantraga Ballista on my shortlist but heck these helmets are expensive!

izza

pinchez wrote:

Same as you 58cm head and in the market for a new helmet that fits well and looks good! I have the Kask Protone, Giro Synthe and Bantraga Ballista on my shortlist but heck these helmets are expensive!

I have (at different time) owned all of these. My head is large 58cm.

I have ended up with 3 helmets. Ballista, Velocis and Scott Cadence.

Protone was supposed to be best of both worlds but when climbing on annual Alps trip was very hot. Maybe my fault for climbng at about 1/3 of the pace as the Froome/Sky test riders. Ballista is my current favourite at the moment for most rides in the UK. The aero qualities make no difference to my Strava times but they do help reduce noise so I can hear conversations and comments when group riding. Probably will switch to Bontrager Velocis - which is very similar to Synthe and cheaper - for this year’s Alps trip. Cadence I only use when weather goes below 4 degrees centigrade as I block up the vents on the front. Its a bit too large and bulbous to make me want to grab it for summer riding.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Last spring, as my Bell Alchera was three years old, I looked for a replacement ~61cm helmet for my "oval" shaped head via the internet rather than trying and buying in person for the first time... Which didn't go so well.

Met Rivale (centre of helmet was at least 1cm above the centre of my skull, sent back)
Kask Rapido (as above)
Giro Savant (after trying a mate's large, perfect)

The extra bonus was that the Giro was the cheapest of the three, ~£41 for the fluro yellow edition).

3wheeler

You just need to try lots of different ones. Each brand will have its own idea of what shape a head is, so some will fit you better than others.

ayjaycee

I wear a latest generation Prevail but it's a medium (and IMHO only slightly more mushroomy than usual). The big plus point is that it is the best ventilated that I have ever found which outweighs any mushroom effect. I actually bought it to replace an earlier model Prevail which was badly damaged in a crash and the Specialised shop in Bristol gave me 50% discount off a new one under the crash replacement scheme which I thought was a bargain. The fact that the helmet was badly damaged but not my head was another influencing factor. I also have a Specialised Airnet which is less mushroomy than the Prevail and not quite as well ventilated but still pretty good - the RRP is also half of that of the Prevail.

IMHO you should not fall into the trap of thinking that there is any such thing as a really good looking helmet out there. They are all bad but some are not quite as bad as others. Protection and ventilation are the major plus points for me and if it looks reasonably OK as well then all is good.

on-yer-bike

I have a POC Octal and a Giro Synthe. Both are medium and I'm 58.5. The medium on both those helmets goes to 59. I recently tried a Met Trenta medium and it was just too tight. The large felt too big.

alan_sherman

I went for a large Specialised 2D to a medium Giro Foray. Go and try on a few Bells and Giros, including different models. The foray seemed to fit better than the savant on my head and was nearly half the price!

Korhag

I have a large head and the KASK Protone is very roomy in my experience.

I would suggest you go and try one (or a few) on just to be safe.

rieko

Thanks for the replies.

@Izza I tried the ballista and it didn't suit me at al. In fact it was the lid I really wanted until I tried it on.
I think I'll check out Giro. We have a Leisure Lakes about 30 mins away, and I'm pretty sure they stock the Synthe so I'll see if I can squeeze into a medium.

Failing that, I'll order a Protone online. Thanks everyone.

pinchez

Good look with leasure lakes, if it’s anything like ours it’ll be 90% MTB!

mamil314

Another +1 for Protone, i have 57cm noggin and wear Medium with a cap underneath and room to tighten the straps a bit. No mushroom effect and well quiet at speed.

pinchez

From my limited research the medium Protone seems to be a pretty safe bet if you have to buy online without trying for a 58cm head.

ajlowin1983

I had the same issue, head measuring 58cm. Tried on numerous different brands including Kask, Giro, Met and Spesh. Went for a POC Octal as a medium is 54-60cm. I can fit a skull cap underneath no issues.

https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/poc-octa ... ck-54-60cm

rieko

ajlowin1983 wrote:

I had the same issue, head measuring 58cm. Tried on numerous different brands including Kask, Giro, Met and Spesh. Went for a POC Octal as a medium is 54-60cm. I can fit a skull cap underneath no issues.

https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/poc-octa ... ck-54-60cm

Im not sure if I love the look of the Octal or hate it. Would have to be Navy instead of black though.

jif1969

I’ve got about the same size head and have found for most brands I’m at the bottom end of large with medium not fitting.

Just had to replace my helmet and really wanted to get a protone but it just didn’t suit my headshape, this was the same for quite few helmets as they all looked too bulbous.

After trying quite a lot I found the Met Manta and Rivale were best fit for me so gone for a Manta. Helmets are the one thing I definitely wouldn’t buy online without trying first.

pilot_pete

MrB123 wrote:

Have you tried a Kask Protone? Pretty un-mushroom like as far as these things go.

This. I’ve got one and also got a wide/ large head and it fits spot on and doesn’t look naff like many other mushroom like brands big helmets do.

PP

rieko

Just to update, I ended up going for the Abus GameChanger in Large. It came down to the Protone, the Oakley Aro5 and the Gamechanger. Tried them all, including many many others and the Protone and Gamechanger both looked and felt the comfiest on my head.

Decided on the GameChanger because I was able to get it for £40 less than the Protone and if I'm honest it was probably a little better looking (in my opinion).

Thanks to everybody for their input.