Well, I busted my old helmet and needed a replacement. Went over to the sport store to scope the choices and saw the Kryptonics helmet. I figured, hey, $30.00, makes it a little less than the more widely used brands, but it appears to be about the same dimensions and style.

Going to say straight out here, that as a helmet itself the rating is going to be high. Even without other pads; a helmet, or reconstructive brain surgery and permanent mental damage, which costs more for you? Then again, you might get the hookz-up on your brain surgery.

First three things to look at in a helmet, both the inner foam and Styrofoam padding and the outer shell materials.

The inner padding for the helmet is a nice type with enough thickness and density to keep light impacts from being felt to readily. Good inner padding lining the helmet is needed so that the Styrofoam shell does not come in contact with the head too abruptly. A more dense foam padding will often smooth a transition between your head going against the harder Styrofoam. The Styrofoam can not be rock hard, or you'll have no 'give' as you collide with it. It can not be too soft, or it dents in or cracks, taking away protection from larger impacts.

The last of the three, being the outer shell, must not be too hard or too soft of a composite. If the shell is so hard that it has no flex, it will shatter on hard impacts and the Styrofoam underneath will break apart with little protection. If the shell is too soft, it will dent in and crack the Styrofoam beneath it. The outer shell on this helmet is a little harder than some, but still has enough give so it will not shatter too readily. So far, this helmet passed the first three fields. The protection and padding are in good check.

What's next for a good helmet? Well, it needs to be a good protection, and also allow good breathability with minimal structural weakness to the shell materials. A good ventilation will allow for heat to escape, and often in the summer months, make the ride a little more enjoyable. You don't ever want to over heat and stress out on dehydration. If there is too much ventilation, the helmet may be structurally weak, if there is not enough, you may over heat and get less out of a ride session.

The Kryptonics helmet seems to offer quite good protection, but just a little less ventilation. This helmet will keep your head a little warmer in the cooler days or riding, but may not be ventilated enough for the really hot and humid ones.

It has enough ventilation to keep your head cool, and has a simple and somewhat appealing design. Having already taken a few hits to it, it's holding its own pretty well.

This is a good helmet, definitely get a helmet if you're going to be riding any way you cut it. There really is nothing more or less special about this helmet from the next, with the mild exception the interior is quite comfortable.

High points and low points summary:

High points: Comfortable inner pads, rigid structure, good material composites.

Low points: A little less breathable than other more expensive brands, but then again for cooler climates it may be a plus.

Rating: 0 = bad, 5 = best. Overall take in relation to other helmets is a 4. It's a good helmet, good design, and only $30.00. What could be changed? Maybe a little more ventilation for summer models. Since it is a helmet, I would suggest that maybe the rider just has two helmets: one for summer, one for spring and autumn.

With the helmet being only $30.00, get one. The Kryptonic helmet is a good deal, and has already saved my head from some heavy hits. I may not remember how to spell my name, but at least I know what it is.

tinU-