Good helmet does not need to cost an arm and a leg

On the store shelf sit three helmets. One is $40. Another is $80. The third is $145. They look identical -- same brand, same box, same color and shape. Only a small tag above the price differentiates them by name.

So why the price difference?

You're not the only person asking this question, and it may seem that "you get what you pay for." So why not buy the best?

But slow down.

There are a few things to consider before forking over the cash for a long-term purchase such as a helmet. Unless you crash, a helmet should last five years, so be sure the money is spent well.

Randy Swart, director of the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute in Arlington, Va., said the bottom line is this: All helmets on today's market are made to specified safety guidelines outlined by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

That means they're all safe. That applies to the $7.14 Bell-brand cartoon-covered helmets available at Wal-Mart and to the $189 Giro-brand Atmos, made popular by cycling superstar Lance Armstrong.
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