Helmets - advice needed!

[arryb]

Having had a bit of a scare blasting down a hill at about 45mph, I've decided it's time to invest in a helmet so I can keep up my regular cycling and also to keep my mum from worrying

I've been around a few cycle shops in town and have tried on the Met Inferno ultimalite, most of the giro range and a few Bells. The Bells weren't a great fit and the giro's, despite being a good, wellmade helmet, just didn't really fit my head shape. Now comes my dilemna, I tried on the Inferno Ultimalite and like this helmet, it's a good fit and I like the shape and size. These are selling online for £90 (£125 in a shop) but I can't decide whether to go for this or the next one down in the range, the Estro which I haven't been able to find so haven't been able to try on but have been told is the same size (£40 online, £75 in a shop). I believe the difference isn't safety, but just weight and cooling. I only cycle about twice/three times/week for an hour, maybe 2 at speeds of about 20mph average and am unsure whether the weight difference and cooling will really affect me.

So my question is, how much difference does it really make, is it noticable and is it worth spending the extra £50 and getting the inferno ultimalite? Any help/advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Arry

ETA: As an outside choice: the met stradivarius 199 '07 helmet is online here: http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/id34993.html at £75....what's the difference between this and the '08 model?

Edited by arryb on Saturday 13th September 18:33

[Fortitude]

Try and look at this store;

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/road-bike-helmets-18...

[Marcellus]

arryb...don't buy a helmet unless you've tried it on....i made this mistake and it was awful, pinched in all the wrong places despite assurances of "it's only the model one down"......it's half the price for a reason.....

[arryb]

Marcellus said:

arryb...don't buy a helmet unless you've tried it on....i made this mistake and it was awful, pinched in all the wrong places despite assurances of "it's only the model one down"......it's half the price for a reason.....

The shop has said to me, they'd only get it in for me, so I could select colour, they'd order it and if I didn't like then it would just be put on the shelf, but I'd feel a bit guilty knowing that I the only reason I didn't buy it there is because it's a LOT cheaper online when they've gone to all that hassle for me......! I've tried all the shops in the area so not sure where to go now?

[Marcellus]

If it were me I'd get the shop to get it in and if I liked it buy it from them.

They've got to make a living and we all need our local bike shop.....might be worth mentioning that you knwo what price you can get it for on the net and see if they'll come some way to meet it!!