Of course we get asked this question a lot. We've seen almost every helmet on the market, and ridden or tested 90% of those. You would think this would be an easy answer. It is, for each of us here at the store. It sounds evasive, but it's simply the truth.
Taking for granted that we "all" want our helmet to be comfortable, I'll leave this point alone. There are two things that I focus on when looking for my next "full-time" helmet. It must vent very well, and it needs to be lightweight. Rarely does a single helmet come out on top, in each of those categories, to be a clear winner.
Right now I'm wearing a Shoei X-Eleven. No other helmets vents as well. However, it's not the lightest helmet out there. Coming in at around 3lbs - 7oz's it's not the lightest by a long shot. If you look at our weight list (HERE) you'll see it comes in at #10, but because venting, at that time, was more important, I made my choice.
Like anything else, my decisions are never set in concrete. I will soon be switching to the Shark RSR2. Why? Well, I now want a lighter helmet, and nothing comes close to the RSR2 in this category. Am I giving up a ton of venting? Well, a little, but it just so happens that the RSR2 vents very well too. While the X-Eleven is the king of venting, the RSR2 is very close. The RSR2 weighs only 3lbs - .8oz's, which makes it a clear lightweight winner. By the way, they both fit me great.
The bottom line here is that everyone has a different idea of what is the best, because we all have different expectations and requirements. Some of these requirements change throughout the year. Some of our customers have a super lightweight race helmet, but find another helmet works better while they are on their day rides.
Here's my suggestion. Make a list of the top 3 requirements, then put them in order. As you shop, refer back to your list. You need a crystal clear understanding of what you personally require before you can truly find what you need.
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