[AKA]

I think with the sheer amount of factors, real world comparisons aren't going to come along very often.

You may hear a story of a helmet splitting or something, but the accident could have done it to any helmet.

SImpley because every accident is different

But to be honest, I don't hear stories saying, thank god I wasn't wearing a helmet.

To me, they have to comply with regulations (at least down here), so even you cheaper ones are going to be better than nothing.

I know one of the main reason people swear by the big brands (other than plain old snobbery), is the higher the price, a lot of the time the better then fit and feel.


Just one last point, I'm sure someone, a magazine, would have tested brands against each other in some sort of study in years gone by, surely someone has thought of comparing the cheap to the elite.

 

[AKA]

Oops, that was a point I was leading up to when I mentioned regulations, but my mind forget to finish it off.

The government in their infinite wisdom have created certain standards, and generally when it comes to safety equipment the standards are quite good and therefore the product do exactly what they are meant to.

So the lower stuff will be good.

I'm not 100% sure they will be just as good as other brands, in the end, the best construction may make the difference between life and death.

Whilst I want to be the devils advocate and say "people who swear by big brands are just deluding themselves", wouldn't you rather have a helmet that goes far beyond the standards set down than one that simply meets them?

But with that said, money does not equal quality

 

[AKA]

This is why we need real testing, comparing brands.

Until then, the unwashed masses with equate $ to quality

 

[AKA]

I can never get over how the graphics make the helmet cost so much more.

And people still pay happily.

It's not like it is a one of a kind either