I remember to have written this set of bike safety tips. One item listed there is to wear the proper protective gear. Perhaps the most important protective gear is the helmet. One head injury can cause you your whole lifetime. And a helmet is your insurance against that. Some countries have even made it a federal/national laws for bike riders to wear helmets. Here’s a guide on choosing one for you.

• Buy only helmets that approved by the appropriate authorities. For the US, it’s the American National Standards Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation.
• Choose one that fits your head snugly. A loose helmet’s no good protection at all. It should touch your crown, sides, front and back of your head. While helmets have defined sizes, they usually come with sizing pads for fit adjustment.
• Check for gaps and movement by pushing the helmet from side to side and front to back. If it moves freely, add pads or choose a smaller size.
• Never forget to buckle on the straps. Adjust them to fit and avoid any slack. The helmet should be level across the forehead.
• If your helmet gets any damage, even as small as a crack, you’re better of buying a new one. Fissures and cracks compromise the protection a helmet provides.