I MUST have a very round head...because my Troxel helmet (and my trainer's Troxel helmet which I borrowed for my first lesson before I got my own of the same make/model) EACH fit like a glove, and her's is a small, while I purchased a medium--only then utilized the pads to make it fit absolutely well, rather than just ultra-snug, as her's had the week before...
It is completely comfy, WELL ventilated, obviously meets the safety guidelines and standards set by such committees, and would not think of riding without one/it. I wear the chin strap (duh, as w/o it, what is the point?) and it actually kept me cooler despite that, since it kept the direct sunlight from beating right onto my head, and then, with all of the ventilation ports, really let the "steam" out, to the point that running a brush through my hair after made it look "passable", i.e. not completely horrid, so I musn't have sweat TOO much!
Come to think of it, I REALLY MUST have a very round head, because you know the old-style velvet (essentially) non-protective helmets of 20+ years ago? Mine NEVER fit correctly! It WAS OVAL shaped (!) from front to back, which always make it feel that the helmet was squishing my head at the sides, even if I rode with a larger size on (as in, one too big to be worth a darn)...& would feel huge and gappy in the front and back and then squeez-y on the sides! I guess my head has always been super rounded....huh, never thought of that.
Regardless of the brand or style, as long as it meets the safety standards required to make it a RIDING HELMET, if it fits correctly and is comfortable, it is the one for you! My advice, regardless of the type: ALWAYS WEAR ONE. Not because I disagree with the "it's a personal choice" thing, and not because I really care WHAT anyone whom I do not love and care about does with their brain, but for a few very simple and realistic, unemotional reasons.
>>>WARNING--MAJOR RANT COMING, STOP READING IF YOU WILL GET ****** PERSONALLY AT ME FOR SUCH...I CAN'T BEAR TO KEEP IT IN ANY LONGER--REMEMBER--YOU WERE WARNED.<<<
Over my 15+ years as an RN, working in the ER/ICU/OR/sub-acute/med-surg and yes, even psychiatric, (because those who survive traumatic brain injury have incredibly high levels of psychiatric diagnosis/sequelae) I have taken care of enough brain injured kids/adults living with trachs and on ventilators (at worst), and eventually simply bearing the scars of such (at best)...to tell you this:
1) A BED FOR LIFE WITH A BREATHING MACHINE HOOKED TO YOU TO KEEP YOUR BODY ALIVE, DESPITE BEING BRAIN DEAD OR NEARLY SO, IS A HELL OF A LOT MORE "CONFINING" THAN ANY RIDING HELMET IS...AND IT IS GENERALLY PERMANENT.
2) IF YOU CHOOSE (your choice--I know!!!) TO BE CARELESS WITH YOUR BRAIN AND ITS PROTECTION, I HAVE A SUPER HARD TIME ALLOWING YOU TO UTILIZE MY TAX DOLLARS AT A RATE OF A MINIMUM (at best, once you have BEGUN TO stabilize!) OF ABOUT $5,000/DAY TO KEEP YOU ALIVE; BECAUSE YOUR INSURANCE WILL RUN OUT WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS--EVEN WITH THE MOST INCREDIBLE COVERAGE AVAILABLE--FOLLOWING YOUR BRAIN INJURY.
3) AND YAH, I GET IT, YOU WANNA "DIE DOING WHAT YOU LOVE" AND ALL...WELL, GUESS WHAT? MOST HEAD INJURED PEOPLE DON'T DIE, AT LEAST NOT RIGHT AWAY. MOST PUT THEIR PARENTS, HUSBANDS/WIVES/CHILDREN THROUGH THE AGONIZING DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO DISCONTINUE LIFE SUPPORT (OFTEN DUE TO THE ABOVE ISSUE WITH FINANCES). OR, IF YOU CAN GET PUBLIC AID (AFTER THE MEDICAL FACILITIES/SURGEONS/ETC...HAVE GONE THROUGH EVERY DIME YOU/YOUR WHOLE FAMILY HAS, ONCE YOUR INSURANCE RUNS OUT--"IF" YOU HAVE INSURANCE, THAT IS(!!) IN ORDER TO KEEP YOU ALIVE.
FINALLY, WHEN YOU DO PASS, IT WILL BE FROM ONE OF TWO THINGS...A) YOUR FAMILY WILL HAVE TO DISCONTINUE LIFE SUPPORT (wonderful to do to them, eh?) OR, B) YOU WILL, UNDOUBTEDLY, EVEN WITH THE BEST CARE, EVENTUALLY SUCCUMB TO INFECTED BED SORES LARGE ENOUGH FOR A MAN TO FIT BOTH FISTS INSIDE OF AND WHICH ALLOW ME AS YOUR RN, AS I CHANGE YOUR DRESSINGS MULTIPLE TIMES EACH DAY, TO COMPLETELY VISUALIZE YOUR COCCYX BONES, YOUR HIP BONES, AND OTHER REALLY LOVELY INNER-PORTIONS OF YOU...
4) IF, GOD FORBID, YOU ARE SO VAIN AS TO NOT WEAR A HELMET FOR "FASHION REASONS" --"I LOOK UGLY WITH IT ON!" OR SO EGOTISTICAL AS TO FEEL, "I'M A BAD-*** RIDER AND THUS I DON'T NEED A HELMET", "I AM NOT SOME BEGINNER", ETC... THEN YOU ARE FAAAAR TOO CONCERNED WITH WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD THINKS OF YOU/HOW THEY PERCEIVE YOU AND SHOULD BE A BIT MORE CONCERNED WITH ENSURING THAT YOUR HARD DRIVE (BRAIN) REMAINS INTACT, 'CAUSE BRAIN DEAD FOLKS DO NOT LOOK PRETTY--EVER--, CANNOT "COWBOY UP" AND CLIMB BACK ON THEIR HORSE TO SHOW HOW BAD ASSED THEY ARE...
HOW MANY OF YOU OUT THERE WHO ARE "TOO COOL/TOO HASSLED/TOO HOT/TOO ANNOYED BY HAVING ANYTHING ON YOUR HEAD" TO WEAR A HELMET?
THINK ABOUT HOW UTTERLY UN-COOL, HOW MUCH OF A HASSLE (NOT TO MENTION EXCRUCIATINGLY PAINFUL), HOT/SWEATY YOU WILL GET AND ANNOYED EVERY SECOND OF YOUR FUTURE LIFE AS A PARTIALLY DISABLED PERSON--IF YOU ARE LUCKY AND BLESSED ENOUGH TO GET THE CHANCE TO REHABILITATE FOLLOWING A BRAIN INJURY--AT HAVING TO BE HELPED TO EAT/DRINK/TALK/WALK/PEE/POOP/ETC...FOR UP TO 10 YEARS or MORE!
I sincerely apologize if anyone feels I am being cruel, especially if others have family (as I do!) who have gone through all of the above things, or perhaps have gone through some aspect of such yourself! I simply have read SO MANY DARNED threads with people saying "It's his/her own choice to wear/not wear a helmet (IT IS!! I AGREE!)...but I cannot sit quietly and not at LEAST bring up the least serious (YES, LEAST!) of what I have seen following TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)...people, you go ahead and make your decision, rebel against whatever, don't wear that "STUPID HELMET!" but please please please...KNOW EXACTLY what you are getting yourself, and your WHOLE FAMILY INTO first, (not to mention that horse you love so much, that same horse who likely will NOT BE GETTING A LICK of attention as the family cares for your brain dead/brain injured body for months to years...seen it too many times to count).
*****Sorry to the OP...just please realize why your mom wants that helmet on you...she loves you. Riding is SO DANGEROUS, and SO MUCH of that danger cannot be prevented...but read some of the stories under "Your Worst Fall" and the like on this forum, and see HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE SAVED because they had helmets on!!! Also, this is the ONE INJURY/PART of the body that CAN BASICALLY BE PROTECTED while riding! Why not DO IT????