{"id":12908,"date":"2025-12-30T13:21:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T13:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/?p=12908"},"modified":"2026-01-30T13:22:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T13:22:08","slug":"does-a-more-expensive-helmet-make-for-a-safer-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/does-a-more-expensive-helmet-make-for-a-safer-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Does a more expensive helmet make for a safer one?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When shopping for a helmet, it’s easy to assume that the safest option is the one with the highest price tag. With sleeker designs, premium materials and bold safety claims, in your head spending more money means better protection. But does a more expensive helmet actually make for a safer one?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Are you paying for comfort and branding, rather than real-world impact protection? In this blog we’ll delve beyond the price labels and explore the real differences to look out for when buying your next helmet. What expensive helmets may do differently and how to choose the right one that will keep you safe without falling into the higher cost equals better safety myth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes a helmet safe?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So what actually makes a helmet be classed as safe? There are various different factors in which a helmet can be branded as safe. The most crucial element is that the helmet is certified by a recognized body (EN 1078, ASTM). This ensures that it has passed minimum requirements in testing, and if your a downhill mountain biker it’s important that you look out for a helmet being ASTM F1952 <\/strong>DH certified. If you want to understand more about helmet certification Read Here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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A certified helmet is only effective for use if it’s the right fit. It needs to have a snug fit that’s secure. It should fit level and not move back and fourth when shaking your head. Rotational force protections such as MIPS, uses a low-friction layer that allows the head to move slightly inside the helmet during an angled impact. This is to help reduce the rotational forces that can cause brain injuries. If you want to read more on helmet technology and safety Read Here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are more expensive helmets safer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So does a bigger price tag mean for a safer helmet? Not necessarily. Virginia Tech have developed a method to test helmets for their ability to reduce concussions (STAR). Helmets are ranked out of 5 stars, with the lowest scores representing the safest options. Results show a variety of priced helmets scoring high and low with some expensive helmets scoring less stars than cheaper options. <\/p>\n\n\n

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The results put together clearly show that some 5 star and 4 star rated helmets are significantly cheaper in price. The Specialized Mode helmet that’s retail price is \u00a332.00 is ranked 5 stars, where as the Troy Lee Designs A1 Drone helmet with a retail price of \u00a3129.99 has ranked at 1 star. This Virginia Tech evidence clearly shows that there is no real connection between price and safety. Just because a helmet is more expensive, it does not automatically mean that it’s safer. Checking independent testing results is a good way to make sure you don’t unnecessarily overspend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where more expensive helmets may add extra safety?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whilst all certified helmets must meet the same minimum safety standards, more expensive helmets can add extra layers of protection. Higher-end helmets often include systems designed to reduce rotational forces. They tend to include advanced technologies such as MIPS. Helmets that contain MIPS safety features typically cost a bit more, due to manufacturers paying for the technology to be integrated. However, MIPS isn’t an exclusive feature for premium helmets and now many affordable helmets include it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More expensive helmets may also use Multi-density foam liners to manage low and high-speed impacts and also reinforced composite shells that help distribute impact forces. A helmet only works if it stays in place. Higher-end models often include more precise adjustment systems and better internal shaping and padding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does price really matter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So does a more expensive helmet really make it the safest option? Evidence suggests no. Now MIPS is being integrated into more affordable helmets, they are gaining extra safety features, but remaining at a low price. With independent testing companies such as Virginia Tech awarding more affordable helmets with excellent safety scores, more expensive may no longer be the outlook to have. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When shopping for a helmet, it’s easy to assume that the safest option is the one with the highest price tag. With sleeker designs, premium materials and bold safety claims, in your head spending more money means better protection. But does a more expensive helmet actually make for a safer one? Are you paying for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":252,"featured_media":12934,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[507,982,978,433,567],"class_list":{"0":"post-12908","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-buyers-guides","8":"tag-fox-helmets","9":"tag-helmet-cost","10":"tag-helmet-safety","11":"tag-mtb-helmets","12":"tag-troy-lee-designs-helmet"},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2025\/12\/IMG_4195-scaled-e1765974861462.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"abbie","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/author\/abbie\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/252"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12908"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12982,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12908\/revisions\/12982"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12934"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/llke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}