I really want to get a half-helmet for when I ride around here locally. Does anyone have any recommendations on some good fitting helmets? I tried a couple on, but they sit high on my head and make me look like a mushroom.

I was wondering if there was something out there that had a lower, more fitted look....

 

Most DOT approved half helmets are gonna give you the "mushroom" head. There are many "novelty" helmets that look much better. IMO It's all up to you...

 

EricInNCa is right, if you're looking for something real low profile, there are a lot of options that do not provide much protection that you are free to use. If you choose to wear a DOT approved half-shell, however, it's probably going to be thicker, more crashworthy, and likely imbued with the visual characteristics of fungi. My beef with helmets is that they're too hot. If you're looking for something that vents well, consider the HJC FS-2. It breathes better than most half-shells, and instead of looking like a mushroom cap, it makes you look like an X-wing fighter pilot from Star Wars. Sweeeeet.

 

Half helmets are noisy, look like hell, don't fit, choke you, move off your head at highway speeds...they suck

 

The smallest DOT helmet that i've found is made by ACC. If you do a search on the forum or on google for 'ACC Helmet' you'll find lots of info. I've had 2 of them and I just can't seem to find a good comfortable fit in them. Lots of others like them though.

Like the 1st poster mentioned, 'novelty' helmets are an option.

 

I've got a Z1R Nomad. Tried quite a few on and found the Nomad was comfortable and was the least mushroom-like of those I tried.

 

you are correct on all points

 

I haven't heard any noises coming out of mine and mine looks smokin'

Mine fit fine, even rode it for 900 miles in one day and never had any issues with choking, gagging, loss of ability to breath, talk or anything else. Although it did want to move off my head and into one of the bags on the back of my bike I was able to convince it to stay on my head (thought I did have to introduce it to Mr. Chin-Strap). Didn't realize they could suck so may have to check that out later.

ACC went out of business. The DOT found that their helmets didn't pass the puncture test. The DOT told them they had to track down all the people that bought the DOT helmets from them, recall them and reimburse the purchaser. They did for a few people and then just closed down and disappeared. As for half helmets just have to keep checking them out, but I had heard that Daytona 1/2 helmets were pretty good.

 

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Advanced Carbon Composites (ACC) went out of business around May of 2010. Their ACC carbon fiber/kevlar helmet (I had one) was de-certified by the NHTSA. They were ordered by NHTSA to refund the purchase price to everyone that had bought one of their helmets. I filed for my refund in June of 2010 and they returned my helmet saying they could not afford any more refunds. They are out of business.

 

Daytona seems to make the smallest and lightest (esp. fiber) 1/2 shell on the market. But if you want a DOT thats not a mushroom, go get a 3/4 helmet like a Bell 500.