When you buy a helmet price shouldn't be a major factor and probably shouldn't factor at all.
My criteria, in order, are:
- Type Modular, Full face or open face
- Comfort
- Sharp Approval rating
- Spectacles
- Anti-scratch & Sun visor
- BlueTooth
- Governmental approval ratings (DOT, CE etc.)
- Price
Type Modular, Full face or open face
What suits your riding requirements best
Comfort
You're going to be wearing the helmet for a long time in all types of weathers from 100 degree heat, to frog stranglers, to snow and ice et al. If it isn't comfortable, waterproof etc., it's a waste of money.
Sharp Approval rating
How well does it perform in crash testing? I won't go under a 3 star rating and will think twice before buying a 3 star.
Spectacles
Are they spectacle friendly when taking it on or off? Can you remove and replace your glasses with the helmet on? Does the helmet interfere with the glasses in normal use? etc.
Anti-scratch & Sun visor
Nice to have but not essential. I lived with Scratchable visors for a long time before anti-scratch was invented. I can always wear sun glasses if necessary (though on my current commute I go through a series of tunnels so a retractable sun visor became an essential requirement for me).
BlueTooth
How easily can BlueTooth be added to the helmet? It's nice to have GPS instructions piped through to your helmet when in traffic and you can't take your eyes off the idiots around you! Some may want tunes and the dreaded mobile phone as well
Government Approval rating
Is it legal for your country. This has very little, if nothing, to do with the crash testing. For example the
Fusion Tranz gets only a 1 star rating but is UN ECE REG 22.05 Approved.
Price
If it's way too expensive then I'll go for a 2nd choice but very rarely and only if comfort isn't compromised.
One of the cheaper helmets available in Europe is the
Caberg Trip. It has a 5 Star Sharps Approval Rating, a UN ECE REG 22.05 (CE approval rating) and is only ?90 (about $120). So you don't have to buy expensive to get the best protection but is it comfortable for you?
Finally, it's your head, you choose.