It seems that everything in the biking world for kids is backwards. The bikes weigh a ton. Their geometry is all off, making it next to impossible for a kid to get a decent pedaling position on the bike while at the same time be able to reach the ground. Many kid's bikes now come with cheap suspension which is totally unnecessary and counter-productive; especially for those just starting out. Even helmets for kids are just plain crap!
Which brings me to the point of this post...
My seven year old son Jack outgrew his youth sized helmet and it was time to get him a new one. We went off to the local bike shop where they had a whole section of kids helmets. There were helmets with teddy bears and flames. There were pink barbie helmets and ones with American flags. The thing is they all suck!
Most of the helmets had only four to six air vents. Now I don't know about your kids, but most of the kids I know never stop and sweat profusely when they are going at full tilt with their friends. So why would children need any fewer vents then adults?
Another peculiar thing about kids helmets is that they never seem to fit properly. The systems to size the helmet around the circumference of the head are difficult to use and slide all over the place. If ever there was a need for a decent fit system it is on a kids helmet. After all their heads are still growing, therefore it will be necessary to re-size the helmet regularly.
I decided we would check out the adult helmets to see if any would fit. I looked at lower-end helmets from Bell and Giro and found that the adult small and even some "universal fit" helmets had enough range in their fit systems to wrap snugly around my seven year old's head. We settled on the Giro Indicator. It has twenty well placed vents and a universal fit system that will allow for Jack's growth. The Indicator has an MSRP of about $35 dollars and is only slightly more than the cheapy kids helmets which ranged from $20 - $35.
The bottom line - for about the same price as a kids helmet I was able to get a decent helmet that lets Jack's head breathe, fits well, and has no goofy shit painted on it!
