Any type of cycling can be very expensive, and the costs aren’t limited to the latest bikes and components. Even a fancy helmet can set you back several hundred dollars. It’s hard to put a price tag on head protection, however, but thankfully, many brands make budget-friendly models that perform nearly as well as their more expensive counterparts. They may be slightly heavier, not as well-ventilated, and perhaps not as stylish, but even a less expensive helmet will protect your head much better than none at all. And, even less expensive models must pass the same certification tests as the high-end models, and many of them perform better in Virginia Tech testing. So, just because a helmet doesn’t cost as much doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice head protection in most cases.