Topic starter
I've come to realise that I have a head like Casper The Friendly Ghost, that is, lightbulb shaped. Not necessarily large, but round.
I had a bad off a couple of weeks back, and needed to replace my helmet. I ended up with a medium Fox Speedframe, which I like and appreciate the high safety score, but on riding with it a couple of times it squeezes my head above the temples/ears. It felt OK in the shop, but I got a headache after a couple of hours. My previous helmet, a TLD A2, had a similar squeeze but up near the crown of my head, my previous A1 didn't have this issue.
When I've tried POC helmets in the past, I find I'm right on the edge of 2 sizes: the smaller being too narrow, the larger not having enough adjustment to cinch down tight.
Part of me thinks that this issue is related to MIPS lining, as all my previous non-MIPS helmets of various brands haven't posed an issue. Maybe the additional thickness hasn't been allowed for in the shell?
Any of my fatheaded friends have any recommendations for decent round-fit helmets?
Posted : 14/04/2025 7:20 pm
Fairly big and round head here (I can't get on with Fox for example and in the same way you described).
Currently on a Leatt, which has been really comfy.
I had both a Met and a Specialized before this one I think.
I don't think mine is a MIPS one.
Posted : 14/04/2025 10:30 pm
andeh reacted
If you have previously got on with a TLD A1, then I find the A3 fits really well. I can’t get on with the A2 at all.
Posted : 15/04/2025 6:24 am
Giro here, every time - see my username for reference 😉
Posted : 15/04/2025 11:01 am
In my experience, if the straps attach to the bottom of the shell, then your head needs to match the shape of the helmet, but if the straps attach higher up to the inside of the shell, then they conform to the shape of the head and are better for those of us who are not constrained by being average.
Posted : 15/04/2025 11:22 am
Giro / Bell +1
They do two ranges though, one is considerably roomier than the other despite only being 1cm bigger on paper.
For sizing context I tried one of those cool looking URGE helmets on with the round vents back ion the day when they were cool and it fit me like a Fez 😂,
Posted : 15/04/2025 11:42 am
Part of me thinks that this issue is related to MIPS lining, as all my previous non-MIPS helmets of various brands haven't posed an issue. Maybe the additional thickness hasn't been allowed for in the shell?
That has made enough difference to stop some helmets fitting me
Got a Kask Rex and Met Roam at present, both non MIPS. Plus a older Bell Super with MIPS, which comes out for alps type stuff. Bell really messed their sizing up on subsequent helmets, and were getting quite heavy anyway. Prior to that I only had Bell. Have noticed from briefly trying them, Lazer and Bolle fit nicely, but never owned one.
Had the same issue with POC. Really liked the A1 but A2 fit was awful. Giro never fit me, way too narrow. Same with Bontrager. Specialized Ambush seemed to fit but when riding it moved around like it was wobbling even when tight. I think it was actually too big and moving independently of the single cheese wire running around inside, which was cutting circulation and giving me a funny feeling head by the end of rides.
Posted : 15/04/2025 3:33 pm
Plus a older Bell Super with MIPS, which comes out for alps type stuff. Bell really messed their sizing up on subsequent helmets, and were getting quite heavy anyway. Prior to that I only had Bell. ..........................
..................Giro never fit me, way too narrow.
Try a few, Giro and Bell are the same company and I'm sure they just do two different head models. It's even more blatant in the full face helmets, one model I could actually drop a size, the other I couldn't even get my head into the opening of the largest size!
I just checked and my roadie Giro lid is labled as 59-63 and my bell 4forty is 58-62 but fit identically so I suspect they've adjusted the sizing down for MIPS.
Posted : 15/04/2025 3:51 pm
Topic starter
Cheers all. I find that bands like Met, Giro, Bell are under-represented here and quite hard to get hands/scalp on in the flesh. It's all Fox, Smith, TLD in shops.
I have seen that Specialized, and possibly a few others do a "Round" fit on some of their helmets. I've also tried on some Smith ones with some success in the past.
Posted : 15/04/2025 4:32 pm
