First off.. this is a personal preference question so the responses might be all over the place.
I've taken a few shots with a carbon / kevlar helmet and give the materials a ton of credit. I am a materials engineer so I won't get into the technical stuff too much, but there are many reasons why I chose a carbon / kevlar helmet. After deciding on what I feel are the best materials, I chose my helmet based on the coverage around the brow. And although there is no Snell rating for Whitewate helmets, Head Trips is also sold as a motorcycle helmet. I think the biggest piece of information you can get here is.....choose a helmet that makes you feel safe. I currently have 5 helmets... because I kept trying different ones until I found one I liked. This is a very personal item, and I need to feel that it's going to protect me.
One example is my WRSI helmet. I liked the safety and fit, but I felt exposed in the temple and brow. My kevlar Shred Ready also fits well, but it feels flimsy compared the Head Trips. I've tested all types of materials at work, and as soon as I put my current helmet in my hands, I could feel how sturdy it was. Again.. this is a personal thing.
Money aside, Carbon / kevlar wins in my book.
**I just looked... they are not DOT approved, but are used for motorcycles. I use the daffy.
Edited by KBfree - 12 Jul 2012 at 5:45pm