New Helmets-How Tight is Too Tight?

[blackarrow]

I'm in the market for a new full face helmet. According to HJC charts I'm at the bottom of the XL range, at 61cm (7&5/8 hat size). XL feels way to tight at the top (probably headache inducing after awhile). The XXL feels like I think a new helmet should feel, which is to say just uncomfortably tight with expectation the padding will compress and become better in time.

Thus the quandry. Without the charts for guidance I'd go with XXL, but can the chart be THAT far off? Perhaps it's my elongated head shape, but I've never had this trouble before when buying open face helmets. How much do liners tend to compress over time these days?

I'm thinking about HJC-CLSP or Scorpion EXO-700 because they seem to represent a good value for the money. I wear glasses, so that's a factor as well. Any good/bad experience with these helmets as well as the CL-15 and EXO-400 would be welcome. Suggestions of other helmets, including flip-ups would welcome as well.

 

[Ignacio]

Snug enough so that when you shake your head side to side....the helmet doesn't move substantially to your head. I found an HJC Symax XL to be every-so-slightly tight in the forehead, but the XXL was too large.

I rolled back the lining and lightly sanded away a bit of polystyrene (less than 1/32") in the hotspot and all is now good.

 

[vectervp1]

If your eyeballs are bugging out and you sinus cavity is caving in due to stress, then its probably to tight. mg:

 

[C&C]

Circumference measurements are just guidelines. You hit it correctly when you mentioned the shape of your head as a factor. With your head strapped in, the fit should be snug and if you grab the helment by the chin bar, your head should not be able to easily slid inside of the inner shell/liner.

 

[blackarrow]

Circumference measurements are just guidelines. You hit it correctly when you mentioned the shape of your head as a factor. With your head strapped in, the fit should be snug and if you grab the helment by the chin bar, your head should not be able to easily slid inside of the inner shell/liner.

Thanks for the feedback. That's what I thought, but it threw me that I was at the bottom of the XL chart and felt the XXL was a better fit. My current lid is a KBC open face, 10 years old, and it has become a bit too loose over that time. If memory serves correct it fit just fine for a number of years, but it left me wondering how much and how quickly the padding compresses on new helmets. It's my assumption a new helmet should be moderately too tight verging on discomfort with the idea it will break in over a period of weeks to months. I'm just having a difficult time judging between "break-in tight" and "it will never be comfortable tight".

Thanks again.

 

[Silent]

Circumference measurements are just guidelines. You hit it correctly when you mentioned the shape of your head as a factor. With your head strapped in, the fit should be snug and if you grab the helment by the chin bar, your head should not be able to easily slid inside of the inner shell/liner.

Thanks for the feedback. That's what I thought, but it threw me that I was at the bottom of the XL chart and felt the XXL was a better fit. My current lid is a KBC open face, 10 years old, and it has become a bit too loose over that time. If memory serves correct it fit just fine for a number of years, but it left me wondering how much and how quickly the padding compresses on new helmets. It's my assumption a new helmet should be moderately too tight verging on discomfort with the idea it will break in over a period of weeks to months. I'm just having a difficult time judging between "break-in tight" and "it will never be comfortable tight".

Thanks again.

Wear the helmet around the store for 15 min. if you get a headache, it's to damn tight. It should be snug, but not uncomfortable. If you're buying from an internet vendor, go to a store that sells that make/model and wear it around the store to make sure first.

 

[K-2]

I have the HJC CL-SP and really like it. I too have an elongated head and did find that I had to sand out quite a bit of polystyrene from the upper/top forehead area to make the helmet tolerable. Even with that area tight, the sides are way too loose. I might try packing the sides...overall great helmet, bad for long narrow heads.

 

[wfooshee]

An elongated head is obviously a sign of brilliance. My old Shoei RF-200 (that's right, just a 200) from 1988 fits perfectly, except for the red spot about 2 inches across that it puts on my forehead. It's an XXL. I finally broke down and decided a 20-year old Snell rating (not to mention 20-year-old lid) wasn't good enough for my noggin and ordered current lids today, still XXL.

A helmet that good is just too hard to put away, y'know?

BTW, got HJC AC-12 from motodepot. Take them up on their "email us for best price" as I got about 40 bucks off the web page price. The Shoei RF-1000 was under 300 bucks with that code they send back!

 

[ELP_JC]

Welcome to the frustrating task of finding the right helmet, especially for egg-shaped heads like mine.

First of all, FORGET about measurements. Yes, the perimeter of your head is an approximate indication of size, but it's not the same to have a round head with 62cm of perimeter than an elongated one that measures the same. And NO stupid helmet manufacturer can tell us what kind of head their lids fit. After losing quite a few buckaroos gambling with cheaper lids (EXO700, etc.), got tired of it and bought what I know fits: Shoei X11 and Arai Profile.

And yes, I know buying these ultra expensive helmets is not buying me any more protection, but didn't have a choice. And also the RF200 fit me perfectly back in the day. I feel bad going to a store, trying on their helmets, and buying somewhere else, but most importantly, trying it at the store is not enough. You need to at least ride an hour, and most stores don't allow 'test rides'. I usually buy from internet stores that allow you to ride with the helmet, and give you full credit for another one if it didn't fit, like helmethouse.com. With the mega savings compared to a dealer, you can afford to sent it back even twice and still come well ahead in price.

Oh, and if you find out another helmet that fits 'long-oval' heads, please let me know. I'm tired of spending $600 on a helmet that protects me the same as a $300 one. In this instance, more money just buys you more features and comfort, and not all the time. Take care.

JC

 

[HYCLE]

I use foam tape between the liner and the helmet to customize the fit. You can also get a fit kit for a bicycle helmet that has assorted cloth covered foam pads with adhesive on the other side.

Or you could mount a rumble strip on your head to cut the mental turbulance when not on the bike. :yahoo: