Why you should not buy helmets online

How many horror stories have you heard about online dating? A person can be anyone they want online but once you meet them in person, the reality often does not meet expectation and you realize you just wasted time communicating with a person who is completely wrong for you. Shopping for helmets online is kind of like online dating – the helmet is that guy or that chick that puts up a photoshopped photo of themselves on their dating profile along with meaningless stats about themselves and you have no idea if there is a true connection.

Sure, you can read a million articles about how a certain helmet fits, how to measure your head, how to tell what shape your head is , blah blah blah but without physically trying a helmet on, I promise you’ll never get the right fit. Here are just a few things that make it impossible to buy the right helmet online:

1. Expert Advice: Not all helmets are created equal. Assuming you walk into a store with descent customer service, the reps will be able to make a helmet recommendation based on your specific needs. What kind of bike you ride, what kind of riding you do, what features you’re looking for – these are just some of the variables that should be taken into consideration when picking a helmet.
2. Point of reference: The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but what if it is? When you buy a helmet online and finally try it on and it seems to fit ok – how do you know there isn’t a helmet out there that fits much better? Once you walk into a store and try on a helmet, you now have a point of reference for every other helmet you try on. You are making a long term investment and spending a good amount of money so wouldn’t you want to try several options before making your decision?
3. Custom fit: Let’s face it, none of us are perfect and some of our heads are shaped in a very unique way. We can’t all conform to the oval or round shapes offered by helmet manufacturers so what now? Well what you won’t find out online is that there are ways to customize off the rack helmets to work for your head. Whether it’s thicker cheek pads, or thinner crown liner – a helmet can be made to work for you.
4. Overall fit: This is not based on statistical information but it is based on our personal experience – 90% of people who buy a helmet without professional help, buy the wrong size. A size chart is merely a reference but it does not guarantee proper fit. How a helmet fits is crucial to maximizing comfort and safety so don’t guesstimate based on a generic reference chart.
5. Looks can be deceiving: This point isn’t as critical but helmets always look very different in person. Photographs don’t always properly translate the color and especially if you are paying extra for a detailed graphic, wouldn’t you want to see what that graphic looks like in person?

So if you own a helmet you love and it was lost or stolen, by all means feel free to buy a replacement online. But if you are buying your first helmet or a new model, do yourself a favor and buy one at your local shop. Everyone sells helmets for the same price, you are not getting any benefit from buying it online.

Also in Beach Moto Blog