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Cost
You can get a good Snell- or ASTM-rated bike helmet for about $30. Hard shells cost a little more than soft. More costly helmets usually aren’t much safer, but have better ventilation, weigh less, and look cool. If you order a helmet from a catalog, first find someone who has it so you can try it on.
Ventilation
A helmet’s ventilation depends on front-to-back air flow. Good air flow comes from long, wide air vents, and air passages (or troughs) between the vents. (Bald, light-skinned cyclists beware: big vents can cause weird tan lines!)
Weight
Cheaper helmets usually aren’t much heavier than expensive ones—and most cyclists notice no difference. If you think you need an ultra-light helmet, test-ride a regular one to make sure.
Look
You can pay lots for style. But even a low-cost helmet can look cool with an elastic helmet cover. And don’t be fooled: No matter how aerodynamic a helmet looks, it won’t help you go faster unless you’re moving at warp speed.