>>1511192Helmet is all you really need for general riding as far as protective gear, but it's a good idea to wear bright colors and use good lights. Though if you do want more protective gear, the one other good thing is gloves. Hands tend to get scraped up in a fall, and it's no fun having to deal with pain every time you wash your hands for a weak straight due to skin peeling/hanging off your hand. I would recommend the Giro Bravo, which comes in full finger and half finger versions. Don't get the leather shit gloves, get some synthetic/polyester.
If you're mountain biking, knee pads are good to have (and potentially other pieces of armor depending on what type of mtb you are doing, terrain, speed, etc) but for riding on pavement, helmet+gloves and visibility gear (bright clothes and lights) is all you need. I am someone who cares a lot about safety btw, if that makes my perspective any more valuable to you.
Go to a local bike shop and try on helmets in person. In my opinion, if you want cheap yet safe and not shit, your best bet is the Giro Isode Mips. $55 which is pretty cheap for a decent helmet. I expect to spend around $100 any time I need a new helmet.
Generally more expensive helmets will offer similar level of protection but be more comfortable, better ventilated etc. Obviously helmets that offer more coverage (which you can tell just by looking at it, i.e. mountain helmets usually come lower in the back of the head than road helmets) will offer more protection.
But again read topnigger, lots of great info there
Topnigger (link in OP) has good safety info too.
