Bell is one of the most popular helmet brands that you can rely on when it comes to good quality and physically attractive options. This brand carries lots of amazing models for almost any cyclist such as the Bell Nomad Vs Spark that are ideal for those who prefer a more challenging terrain like mountain biking. If you are considering which of them will be the better option, see below about what they can offer and which helmet will fit your preference the most.
In this article, we are going to give you information about:
- What to Look for in an MTB Helmet
- What are Bell Nomad and Spark
- How are the Design of Bell Nomad and Spark
- How are the Built Quality of Bell Nomad and Spark
- How are the Fitting System in Bell Nomad and Spark
- Are Bell Nomad and Spark Comfortable
- Bell Nomad Vs Spark
Mountain Bike Helmet
Cycling is fun and people are doing it for various reasons such as for sport, recreation or as a transportation alternative that they can opt instead of using their own vehicle. They are also fairly safe depending on the type of terrain yet it doesn’t mean there is zero chance or risk of accident while using the bike. Chances are we may suffer from bruises or scratches when falling off the bike and in more serious cases even broken bones when the impact is stronger.
Riding safely is always best whether you choose to ride on the road or off-road and for safety reasons, a bike helmet is necessary. The type of helmet for road and off-road is different so it is wise to choose the one that matches with your discipline. If you are here then we assume mountain biking or off-road riding is most interesting. Mountain biking requires more protection due to the nature of the activity and here is a factor you may want to consider first when looking for one.
The goal of wearing a helmet is to protect the head and while they may look cool on our head, the most important point is their safety quality. In general all bike helmets including for road application such as Bell Zephyr Vs Z20 are made of expanded polystyrene foam while the outer side is protected with a polycarbonate shell that is more rigid. Besides for protection, this thin layer of plastic is also meant to spread the impact to the foam in order to minimize concentrated impact.
They also need to stay firm on the head which is why we have to secure the chin strap when wearing one and adjust the fitting system to prevent them from moving around too much because they will not work properly when not covering the head as the impact happens. A fairly new technology called MIPS is often incorporated in many helmets as well and this feature provides a low-friction slip cage in order to reduce rotational forces when there is an impact.
| Bell Nomad | Bell Spark | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 15 x 10 x 8 inches | 15 x 11 x 8 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 1.55 pounds | 12.8 ounces |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
It can be confusing when facing so many options since most of them look similar to each other and if you are not able to shop directly in a shop or try some, safety wise as long as the bike helmets meet safety standards in your country, they are already very reliable. Additionally, they need to stay firm on the head so we need to consider sizing too and in some options, helmets may come only in one universal type while most are available in a range of sizes.
About Bell Nomad and Spark
Now when you already have an image about what and how the helmet should be, it is time to see what the market has to offer. If you are still not sure about which helmets to go for, we suggest to see what the other cyclists are choosing since they are most likely working reliably. These popular options are either affordable or have a higher performance and liked for their quality so it is convenient to see which of them will seem to match your taste the most.
We can also stick with a brand that you think is reliable or easier to afford and found since most bike helmet brands carry a whole range of options for both road and off-road disciplines. One of them is Bell and this US brand is a great choice for your convenience with tons of options and models to choose from. They are also known for the price point since you can find both entry-level and high-end helmets from this brand to match with what you want to achieve.
For the more extreme cyclists, the Bell Nomad and Spark are two ideal options that won’t ask you to spend much either since the two are offered at such an attractive price point below $100. Considering the price point, the two are not going to be the most fascinating MTB helmets you can find in the market but they are still protective and if you can’t or don’t want to spend more, we do think these two will be just as good and ideal for many people.
The model we are talking about here is their adult variant and both Bell Nomad and Spark are also available in Junior sizes if you plan to give the kid their proper cycling helmet. What’s confusing is these models are very similar to each other and also different. They are not exactly the same design wise and in comparison the Spark does look better in a glance while also offering more compared to Nomad.
Bell Nomad and Spark Design
As you can see on the sample picture above, these MTB helmets are very sporty and they look good on most people with a rigid appearance and simpler color or shade options. The prominent difference between these two is on their design because the Spark is sportier with a sharp angle and details all over the polystyrene lid while the Nomad is milder. The overall shape is the same however and they are more on the round side with a slight oval shape to conform to our head’s shape.
The second difference is on their sizing option since Nomad is only available in one universal option and thus this helmet may not fit best for those with larger heads or oppositely smaller. The UA size of Bell is listed to fit head circumference of 20 7/8 to 23 5/8 inches. On the other hand, the Spark has two options at universal adult and universal XL in which the first is the same to Nomad and the XL is for 22 7/8 to 24 7/8 head sizes. As for the weight, Nomad is lighter for about 30 grams at 333 grams than Spark.
Bell Nomad and Spark Built Quality
Moving to the most important part, let’s see what Bell Nomad and Spark can offer and as you can expect, these two are already meeting the standard for the ideal construction and to be safely marketed. By weighing more, we also see Spark has more polystyrene material to it that cover especially the part near the helmet’s vents unlike the Nomad that leave quite a lot of foam in this area. The vent design is also different so the exposed foam is not at the same amount.
Even as an MTB helmet, these two are not fully covering the back of the head and in most people the lower part of the helmet can only extend to around the middle part of the ear when measured with a straight line. There is plenty of room for breeze to get into the helmet and there is also enough room above the ears. These models are both featured with MIPS but for the durability concern, there are lots of exposed foam on the outer rim of these models.
Bell Nomad and Spark Fitting
Moving to the fitting, they are paired with the same Ergo Fit from Bell which is similar to what you can find in most cycling helmets. There is a retention system that we can adjust on the back of the helmet and this will tighten the inner fit to conform into the shape of the head. The mechanism is very simple and while the adjustment is pretty close to the helmet, there is enough room for our hand/finger to reach and tweak this knob.
Bell Nomad and Spark Comfort
On the comfort both Bell Nomad and Spark are pretty breezy for a non-lightweight helmet and they do feel able to capture lots of air when you ride faster. The large vents help a lot when there is strong wind while you climb. The visor can be helpful as well but sadly none of these two are adjustable in case you want to store the goggles. For riding uphill, there is still plenty room for your vision however so they will not get in your way.
Bell Nomad Vs Spark
Both Bell Nomad and Spark are good options for anyone who are going to ride their bike on difficult terrain or off-road. They are also still good for road application in case you also commute with the bike. The prominent difference between Bell Nomad and Spark is on the construction quality as the Spark uses more material to cover the foam hence it is heavier. It also looks sportier and has larger vents but the two still use the same fitting system and non-adjustable visor.
Conclusion
You can go amazing with any of them as they are equally good options but for longevity, we will recommend choosing the Spark and personally we also like the styling of this helmet better than Nomad while price wise it is still very affordable.
