coferj wrote:I'll do the usual...would definitely recommend that you buy a new one rather than ebay...it's a lottery on ebay, may be good, may not...but you know if you buy a new one, your dad's coconut is safe....
Which is why I said new OR used when I mentioned eBay. I consider eBay items from the cautious "buyer be aware" angle, rather than a simply dismissive "buyer beware!"
I have often seen brand new Ecrin Roc helmets go on eBay for about $50, which leaves you an extra $30 to spend on a backup light or some other gadget.
I have an Ecrin Roc (part of the Petzl Explorer carbide setup) as a backup helmet, which was bought lightly USED off a nice gentleman at OTR for considerably cheaper than it would cost new. I bought it to be used anyway (if only occasionally), so it didn't bother me at all that someone had already worn it. My current primary caving helmet is a nice HB model, which cost me about $50 at full in-store retail price about 5 years ago. Eastern Mountain Sports then put them on clearance a couple of years later for about $20 each, and I scooped up a couple of spares for me and a bunch for the grotto.
For those who have the time and inclination, I advocate the "shop around" approach - that's all. Good luck! 8)