Simply put.. the more you pay as a general rule the more you get. There is a bare minimum standard that all helmets for sale in this country must meet. pay more and you tend to get vents that work. a decent.. often removable and washable (or easy clean) lining. light weight. improved materials built to last. Wind tunnel tested and the list goes on. its often the case that people start with a budget helmet due to the overal cost of passing the test, buying a bike and gear. and theres nothing wrong with that... but as time goes by and your spending returns to some kind of normal then you might consider upgrading as and when you can afford to. We're not all made of money and cannot all afford the best at the very start,