Breaking in a new helmet

[StevRS]

As a newbie to biking I have bought myself a new helmet, as you'd expect. Upon buying it I was told it should feel quite tight when brand new, bordering on uncomfortable. It's the same manufacturer and size as the one I did my CBT in (which was quite well used) and that felt like it fitted quite well. I've worn it for perhaps 15 hours now and it still feels quite tight and my forehead feels quite painful after a long session riding (on my little rented 125 ), it also presses my ears in, though this doesn't hurt like it did when I wore it for a long time last week.

Will the helmet bed in and get more comfortable over time or is it simply the wrong size & in need of replacement? It only becomes uncomfortable after several hours...

Thanks guys.

[Dakkon]

Some helmets fit your head, some don't.

I bought a Shark helmet to learn to ride and do trackdays in, doing trackdays I never wore it long enough for it to hurt, but when I started learning to ride properly and having three hour lessons it pressed down on my forehead.

I have an Arai now and it fits perfectly.

[Aubrey]

I tried a few helmets, before I bought my Arai and all were rubbish. Arai fitted like a glove, and I wouldn't have anything else now.

[steven182]

sounds like it doesn't fit to me buddy.

mine is still pretty new and feels so snug and comfy I almost don't want to take it off.

[xspencex]

Sounds like it's a bit too tight. Try and fit the end of your little finger between your foreheadand the helmet. If that doesn't fit the helmet's too small.

I tried on about 6 different helmets before I bought an Arai. Fits perfect, no movement and no pain.

[black-k1]

I’ve had new helmets that have taken a few weeks of use to ‘break in’. My current Schuberth took about three weeks of daily use (over 100 miles per day) to become fully comfortable but now, after almost a year, it fits superbly.

Likewise, the Lazer that I had a few years ago fitted well at first but after about 6 months of use it had become so loose that I stopped using in and bought another helmet.

[RabD]

Aubrey said:

Arai fitted like a glove, and I wouldn't have anything else now.

Same here. It's like a wraparound pillow. I can't see myself buying anything else.

[Riknos]

I spent hours trying to find a helmet that fitted perfectly, Schuberth, shoei, HGV, in the end I went for an Arai as it was the best shape for my head.

Sounds like a lot of people have similar shaped heads to me?

[Hyperion]

My Arai took nearly 6 months to bed in nicely - that's with wearing it for over an hour each weekday.
The problem for me was that the next size up felt loose. It now fits perfectly.

[StevRS]

Also, I find my earplugs quite uncomfortable after a couple of hours (doing well In my defense I really enjoy actually RIDING the bike, it's just everything else I whinge about - first DAS lesson on a 500 last weekend - loved it! ) - my DAS instructor had some that looked moulded to his ears - any recommendations on this front?

[RemaL]

I got a arai shape head too but found mu murshin carbon to fit very well too

[GRynners]

Funnily enough, had been thinking about putting up a similar thread myself.

I eventually bought an XR1000 after trying the most comfortable lids for at least 20 or 30 minutes whilst in the shops. The Shoei seemed to be the best fit at the time, and was snug but still comfortable after a good 20 odd minutes in store.

But 3,500 miles and over 18 months later (appreciate not alot of miles in 18 months, but our firstborn came along!), after about an hour I have to take the lid off as it becomes painful on one side of my forehead to the point of being a distraction. Now to be fair, to look at me you'd pehaps think the folks dropped me when I was a nipper, but it is bloody annoying when out for a couple of hours or in wet weather especially. When I first got it, 45 minutes was painful, so perhaps breaking in - but 3,500 miles????

Read somewhere that you can 'massage' the foam shell to help it age a little with something like the back of a spoon, but obviously don't want to squash alot incase it's been compressed too much to offer proper protection if I ever need it to keep my noggin in one piece some day. Did try this, but didn't seem to make a difference.

Anyone else have any suggestions?