Buying helmets

Most mandatory helmet laws only apply to minors. The age can vary from 12 to 16, depending on the state. I don't know of any state that currently makes them mandatory for adults, but some local municipalities have enacted mandatory helmet laws.

By law, every helmet sold in the US (at least those sold by legitimate retailers) must contain a warning label that reads, in so many words, "This helmet meets or exceeds one or more of the following certifications": The one to look for in the US is the CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commission) endorsement. That is the one that's legally required. Some other helmets may also carry the Snell certification. I don't know whether there really is much additional protection offered by a helmet that meets the least stringent Snell standard, the B90A. But, it can't hurt. The most widely available helmets that carry the Snell B90A certification are Specialized.

The bottom line is, an inexpensive helmet that meets CPCS standards will probably protect a head as well as a more expensive one. Probably. There is that little "meets or exceeds....." part of the label that makes me wonder, though.

For kids, the most important aspect of any helmet is that it fits their head well enough to protect it, and that they learn how to wear it correctly. Things like weight, ventilation, and so on generally don't matter that much to them. Let them pick out something that makes them want to wear it, make sure it fits their head, and make sure that they know how to wear it the right way---and that they always wear it.

You can save money by getting the cheapest helmets you can find. All bike helmets sold in the US need to be compliant with CPSC standards - which means that a $25 helmet from Walmart protects as well as the $300 helmet from the bike shop. The difference between a $25 helmet and a $300 helmet is comfort, build quality, and features, not protection.

They're just as important for adults. Never ride without a helmet.

Here's a list of state helmet laws:
http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/helmet_laws.html

I wear a helmet, but it is interesting to note that helmets seem to be rare in other parts of the world. It's not unheard of but most Asians and Europeans ride bicycles without helmets.

That's not surprising. These helmet laws are relatively recent. And the U.S. has more laws for everything than most other countries in the world. Or maybe they are just more strictly adhered to or enforced. I don't know.

That's a real relief, since every bike enthusiast insists one should pay 3 times as much for a bike from a bike store than a department store. I'm not convinced that makes the most sense, by the way. But at least we get a brake on the helmet deal!

Great and thorough, helpful answer.Thanks!

What's the deal with the fit of the helmet? Isn't it obvious? Doesn't it just have to fit over their head comfortably and cover all sides, then get fastened so it's secure? Is there more than that?

Most modern helmets, even really cheap ones, have a size adjuster nob in the rear to custom fit the helmet. They're sold in gross size ranges, then you can use the nob to get the right fit. Just get one that fits their head comfortably with the nob somewhere in the middle of it's adjustment range. Don't get one without a nob.

As far as wearing it, fit does matter. This is the most common mistake people make:

[IMG]cyclingforums.com1000Open ↗[/IMG]

Better helmets allow for length adjustment of the individual straps that split around the ear, so you can adjust them to now allow it to fall back like the picture on the right. It also needs to be tight enough around the chin to not slide around on the head or, even worse, fall off in a collision. Too many kids leave their chin straps extremely loose because it's more comfortable. It needs to be snugged up under the jaw. If you can easily slide it back like the guy on the right or down over their foreheard, it's much too loose.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by bikerbiker
What's the deal with the fit of the helmet? Isn't it obvious? Doesn't it just have to fit over their head comfortably and cover all sides, then get fastened so it's secure? Is there more than that?

Well, yes, there is a bit more to it. The helmet needs to be comfortable, but also snug enough and properly strapped down to stay on your head in the correct position prior to and during the impact. A loose-fitting helmet won't offer adequate protection, particularly if it can be easily tilted back off your forehead. The helmet makers (eg, Bell) provide instructions explaining the fit requirements and process.

The Bell helmets I use come with a couple of different sets of pads, different thicknesses, which can be used to customize the fit somewhat.

You don't need to spend a lot to get protection, but the right size and fit is important.

BTW, it's the foam liner of the helmet that protects you in a crash, by distributing the force of impact. The hard plastic shell is mainly for looks, and offers no added protection. It also keeps the foam from getting pitted by road debris, or chipped if you drop it, and so on.

Never trust a helmet beyond one hard impact. Many times, the inner liner will crack during a crash. Then it's obvious that your helmet has become damaged and won't protect you. But, even if the inner liner doesn't crack, there's a good chance that its protection has been compromised. Toss it and get a new one.

Kids helmets need to fit right and be easy to put on. I've seen kids wearing helmets that they couldn't figure out how to put it on and half of the top of their head was uncovered but their back of their necks were covered! If you buy a helmet too big thinking they'll grow into think again and quite being so cheap. Supposedly according to Consumer Reports the best child helmet was the Bontrager Solstice Youth helmet, it retails for $40 but you could probably find it cheaper. Here is website that did the study that Consumer Reports quotes; see: http://www.twowheelingtots.com/child-helmets-comparison-guide/

We ended up buying Schwinn helmets from Walmart but there's nothing written inside them about safety standard approval from any organization. Where would that info be?

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by bikerbiker
We ended up buying Schwinn helmets from Walmart but there's nothing written inside them about safety standard approval from any organization. Where would that info be?

I don't know, it's been a long time since I've bought cycling gear at Wal-Mart. There should have been an owner's manual in the box, with instructions on how to use it and the certification notice from the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by bikerbiker
We ended up buying Schwinn helmets from Walmart but there's nothing written inside them about safety standard approval from any organization. Where would that info be?

If you bought it from a legit retailer like Walmart, it probably has been CPSC certified. It would be illegal for them to sell it otherwise. Even though Schwinn isn't the Schwinn we knew growing up, their parent company wouldn't risk putting the brand name on a helmet that was illegal to sell in the US. The sticker inside may have fallen off.