Helmet sizes. Too tight, or too loose?

[Zeuky]

Evening boys n girls!

I've come to the conclusion that my head is either the small measurement between M and L or just oddly shaped.
I've recently been given a Spada helmet (Cost bugger all ) that's in Large. Fits quite well, but feels quite loose too. So not quite snug enough, and blooming heavy as well!
I recently tried on my old helmet, a Caberg (Also very cheap ) in a Medium, and it feels light and lovely round me cranium, but squishes my cheeks and leaves marks on my forehead where it's too tight. However it doesn't move when I push it, the Spada one does.

My question boys n' girls is it just these helmets i've got have annoying sizes based on the brands, or do I just need to track down a helmet suited to fit the chap imaged below as my forehead is deformed?

https://cdn2.maxim.com/maxim/files/2007/12/20/aliens-that-look-like-genitalia/alienGenitalia_conehead_l1.jpg

Ta!
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[Slacker24seve...]

Try different makes. I really liked Shark lids but unfortunately their small is made for midgets and their medium doesn't fit me at all. I obviously have the wrong shape head. My Shoei small is spot on. Was tight initially but is now fine after a few thousand miles.

Go to a decent shop and try every makes' medium and large. Find one that fits. Buy it (or shop online and get it cheaper). Don't base it on just two manufacturers - though it sounds like the Caberg is the 'better' fit out of the two of them but not ideal.
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Try more different makes. They can usually alter padding to make the fit better in certain areas.
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[Wilson12345]

I'd go for smaller before bigger

Had a slightly loose helmet on a low speed off and it felt like I'd been whacked in the head with a baseball bat, was dazed for a good 10 mins, had headache for days and had a shiner for about a month. Then I fell off at a stupid speed with a helmet that fitted and even though I was unconscious for a good 20 mins I didn't have any head pain at all the next day, well may be because of the other pain I had but smaller=less movement when your head hits the floor which is always good
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[Kamikaze Bob]

Haven't got a lid myself, but a mate of mine joined me for a visit to our local J&S, and I tried on about 20 lids in M, L and XL, trying to find one that fits right.

As said above, every manufacturer has their idea of the shape of the average head, so one must be close to yours.
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[DrDonnyBrago]

Have you tried an AGV lid? Judging from the strange sizing on the GP TECH and the funny angle it sits on your loaf they have a rather unusual idea of the average head shape.

[T.C]

Research has shown that the effectiveness of motorcycle helmets has reduced the risk of fatal head injuries by around 50%.  It has been suggested that the extra weight of a helmet actually increases the risk of neck injury, but the research has found no evidence to support this.  Full face helmets are generally regarded to offer greater protection against facial and chin injuries than open faced helmets, but this may slightly increase the risk of injury to other parts of the head.  In the case of a hinged style of helmet which many manufacturers now offer, there is evidence that the protection offered against chin impacts is inadequate, but more worryingly, riders who suffer chin injuries frequently suffer fractures to the base of the skull – the most threatening head injury.
 
Still with me?  Then read on!
 
Many experienced riders (and often, dealers are also to blame) will say that only the most expensive helmets will afford the rider the highest levels of protection, and on this basis they will suggest that to get the maximum protection it will cost them several hundreds of pounds, well I am sorry to disappoint, but the key to maximum protection is the fit of the helmet regardless of price.  Whether a rider spends £500 on a crash helmet of £50, it matters not as they all have to offer the same levels of protection.  What is important is getting a helmet that fits correctly and fits the shape of the riders head, and as the saying goes, a £50 helmet that fits correctly will be far more protective than a £500 helmet that fits badly and it is unfortunate that many riders are using their machines with very poorly fitting helmets and in many cases helmets that are also in very poor condition.
 
Every manufacturer has their own idea of what is a standard head shape.  It is therefore important that a variety of crash helmets are tried before a purchase is made simply because if the helmet does not fit correctly it can:
 
Cause rotation upon impact which can lead to a broken neck.
 
Come off in the event of an impact.
 
Cause excessive wind noise.
 
Lift at speed causing the rider to lose sight of the road ahead as he/she attempts to look through the chin bar rather than the visor aperture.
 
A crash helmet when new should be a tight fit even to the point where with a full face style helmet, you are just about biting the inside of your cheek, and there should not be excessive pressure on the forehead.  A helmet will mould to the contours of your head and will “Give” by about half a size over the first few weeks, therefore what started off as a tightly fitting helmet will soon become a comfortable snug fit, whereas if it is a comfortable fit at the start, it will soon become loose, noisy increase the chance of it becoming detached from your head in a collision and therefore offer far less protection.
 
As a general rule, and wherever possible a few basic rules should be applied when looking to purchase a new helmet:
 
Decide the maximum budget that you can afford.

Generally speaking, you get what you pay for, but the level of protection remains constant regardless of price.

A dearer helmet although offering no better protection, will afford better levels of comfort, afford less wind noise (providing it fits correctly), have better fittings and have a better overall build quality.

Try on a variety of sizes and makes until you find the helmet that best fits your size and shape of head.

If you find a helmet off the shelf that fits, ask if you can try the same size that is still in its box. 

It is more than likely that the helmet on the shelf has been tried on by many people and the interior may have become misshapen. 

A fresh helmet straight out of its box will provide you with a more accurate fitment guide.
 
Once you have found the helmet that best suits your requirements, without securing the straps, try and lift the helmet off your head by asserting pressure to the chin bar and to the rear of the shell.  Also twist the helmet from side to side.  If the helmet fits correctly it should remain on your head and only be capable of being removed with a degree of force.  If the helmet can be tilted easily, then it may be because you have the wrong style or make of helmet, it may be the wrong size or even the wrong shape in which case you will need to try another make or size.
 
Once you have found the correct size and shape of helmet and with it securely fastened, make sure that you can easily turn your head from side to side.  Many riders find that their head movements are restricted for all sorts of reasons, not least of which is because the style of helmet they are considering or have purchased is wrong for the type of bike they ride or any one of a combination of reasons mentioned previously.
 
I mentioned earlier about the securing straps, and this is an area that can and does cause problems.  Shoei were one of the first if not the first to introduce the seat belt type fastener, and this found favour with many riders as they found that their helmet could be secured with a gloved hand.  Over time, many other manufacturers followed suit, but what often is not realized is that over time these straps will stretch and so they cease to be properly secured to the head. 

If you do have this type of safety catch, then make sure that you check the tightness of the strap on a regular basis, the last thing you want to do is put a loose strap to the test.  With a double D fastener of course, the strap is tightened every time the helmet is put on, and personally I prefer this peace of mind even though it may not be as convenient as the safety belt type fastener.
 
Once you have made your purchase, there are a few general rules that will ensure that you maintain the maximum levels of protection and comfort from your new hat: 
 
Firstly, never loan your helmet to anyone.  We are all different in terms of shape and size, and having spent time bedding a new helmet in and getting it to mould to your shape, someone else wearing your helmet could spoil that as they can push it out of shape.
 
Secondly, never leave it on the saddle or handlebars of your bike.  If it falls off, there is no telling what damage you may have caused, and even though it may appear to be perfectly OK from the outside, you may have compromised the shock absorbency of the liner, and the only way this can be checked is either to send it to a specialist helmet technician or send it back to the factory as they are the only people who will be able to return it back to its original accredited CE state in the event that it is OK.
 
If you do drop it, or you are involved in an accident, I would also advise that it be changed regardless of whether any damage is apparent.  Unknown to you, the polystyrene liner may have been bruised or damaged on impact and the shock absorbency of the liner may have been compromised, is it worth taking the risk?
 
A good well maintained helmet should dependant on use, last about 5 years, however this rule is dependant on a number of factors.  If you are a high mileage user, or you perspire a lot, then you may need to consider changing it more regularly, say every 2 – 3 years as the degradation of the liner will be accelerated.  It is worth checking to see whether your riding kit (particularly your helmet) can be covered under your house contents insurance.  If it becomes damaged, you can arrange a new helmet quickly and without any financial outlay and thereby ensure that maximum protection is maintained.
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[JP7]

This is exactly my view as well. When I wanted a new helmet I went into the shop and tried loads on until I found the best one that fitted, without paying too much attention to price, brand or style. The best fitting for me was an Arai Viper GT (long oval shape), and I was thrilled with it. I did spend a bit more than I hoped, but then, I think my head is worth it. My local HG store had a discontinued style at a discount price, but it had been tried on a few times because it was looser than one they'd just put out. So the assistant swapped the linings for me!

Even now it still fits nice and tightly without any movement, so I know I made the right choice.

[Zeuky]

Cheers for the replies guys! (Especially that long 1. Cleared up some blank spots in the brain )

I'm getting paid in a week so I've tracked down this decent store that's got sh*t-loads of gear to sell, so I'll spend some time in there trying on various helmets. After you saying how snug they should be, it makes me feel like the Large helmet I recently got as a gift, is about as protective as a Flatcap

I'm not really a rider who's out to get the most expensive, fancy looking gear on the market, so hopefully I won't be going widely over budget. This'll be my 3rd helmet so hopefully this one will actually fit well enough

I do remember my Caberg in Medium fitting beautifully, but apparently my head has grown since then

I was hopefully looking for a flipup style helmet as I wear glasses, which makes it easier to get on and off. If you say the chin protection is inadequate, then I think I'll avoid getting one of them. I'd rather just have to take my glasses off and on every time I put on or take off the helmet, as apposed to running the risk of breaking bones in my noggin
____________________
"S'cuse me mate but you left something under your car... think they call it a 'KEEP CLEAR' sign... No no, i don't need to go down that road to get to where I LIVE. Proposterous!"
https://www.CrunchySlipper.co.uk/

[G]

While I would agree that a £50 lid that fits is certainly better than a £500 one that doesn't, I would question all lids being the same protection wise because they meet the same standards.

It's like saying if you buy any car, it will be exactly the same as far as 'safety' goes because it meets the same base standards.

I'm not however say there's any good ways to measure this, that sharp tests are accurate, etc.

Just questioning those that claim they definitely will be the same safety wise.

[T.C]