In my 35 years of selling Motorcycle parts to dealers, I've sold 10's of thousands of helmets, starting with Bell helmets in 1974.
And of course many other brands. Greg you are right your buddy no doubt has a carbon imprinted poly helmet, I know I've sold them.
I wonder the knock-off carbon helmet was a G-Force, they advertise it's carbon fiber, but maybe they mean carbon fiber look.
With G-Force top of the line CF retailing at $399.99, and Simpson Top of the line CF retailing at $2,000, and Bell top of the line CF retailing at $3,500, makes my wonder.
Look carbon fiber helmets are sexy but really, wouldn't it be better to buy a non CF helmet and spend that extra money on making the car lighter, instead of your head ?
I always told anyone looking for a helmet that fit is a real big deal. If the helmet is too loose, it will not give you the protection you bought the helmet for. The problem with shopping for SA helmets is finding a store that has styles and more important sizes in stock for you to try on. Helmets need to fit snug, matter-a-fact, I tell helmet shoppers to keep trying on smaller and smaller helmets until it hurts, then go back one. You see after you cinch it down about 10 times the liner crushes to the shape of your head, ever notice your helmet gets looser after you 1'st put it on ? Also a good point don't use a used helmet, it has crushed to the shape of the old owner.
The problem of buying a helmet "on-line" is of course you can't try it on, unless they will let you keep returning/ exchanging the helmet until you find one that fits snug. The problem with the on-line sales people is the sharper ones will have you measure your head 1" above your eye brows which will tell them your helmet size. Except that's not a true fit, because you could have a bowling ball shape head or an oval, same size but not the same fit. You oval shaped head guys can very often have "Hot Spots" on your for-head, and yes I have customized helmets to fit better.
My partner has used Simpson for his last two helmets, and our current driver has a Bell, not carbon. The last Simpson Bud bought was not the Drarth Vader helmet like his last helmet because he wanted a larger eye port so putting on his eyeglasses better. Another reason to find a place where you can try on multiple helmets. We have an advantage because we live in SoCal, and just drive about an hour to Simpson. i think there is a SoCal M/C shop that he says he has SA Snell Bell helmets in stock.
Call the manufactures that make SA approved helmets to see if they are going to any car/truck/Motorcycle shows near you so you can get a good fitting helmet, or at least find the style and size that will fit.
Well, that's my 2 cents on helmets. Shop smart, it's only your life.
Jon Hansen