Helmet Comparison Articles ??

What is a 'high quality helmet'? How is helmet quality measured?

"Churchill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
| Hello,
|
| Do you know where there are any good Helmet reviews for high quality
helmets
| ?
|
| Perhaps, a comparison ?!
|
| Thank you
|
|

"Churchill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

Do you know where there are any good Helmet reviews for high quality

helmets

Quoted message said:

?

Perhaps, a comparison ?!

The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their potential
effectiveness in protecting your head. Whether this is worth anything or not
is a matter of opinion, but it has little bearing on helmet choice, since in
this regard they're all the same.

Which leaves fit, style, and comfort. Factors that don't stand up to
objective comparisons.

That's why the helmet market is all about image and subjectivity, and why
price and "quality" have no relationship.

If you want a helmet, you go try on a bunch until you find one that fits
your head and has a retention system that will keep it in place without
discomfort, and that you like the looks of. If you care about your place in
the fashion pantheon, you buy one with lots of big holes that costs more
than $100. If you don't, you buy one with lots of medium sized holes that
costs $30.

RichC

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

"Churchill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

Do you know where there are any good Helmet reviews for high quality

helmets

Quoted message said:

?

Perhaps, a comparison ?!

The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their potential

Mostly, but not completely true: several of Specialized's helmet models
meet the Snell standards in addition to the CPSC and ANSI standards.
Most others do not.

.....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

Rich Clark said:

The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their potential
effectiveness in protecting your head. Whether this is worth anything or not
is a matter of opinion, but it has little bearing on helmet choice, since in
this regard they're all the same.

Which leaves fit, style, and comfort. Factors that don't stand up to
objective comparisons.

That's why the helmet market is all about image and subjectivity, and why
price and "quality" have no relationship.

If you want a helmet, you go try on a bunch until you find one that fits
your head and has a retention system that will keep it in place without
discomfort, and that you like the looks of. If you care about your place in
the fashion pantheon, you buy one with lots of big holes that costs more
than $100. If you don't, you buy one with lots of medium sized holes that
costs $30.

What Rich says is basically true, but he's omitted one thing:

While all helmets in the USA have to pass the same standard, the
expensive helmets - those with maximum ventilation, minimum weight,
up-to-the-minute styling - tend to pass the impact standard with lower
margins of safety. IOW, when you buy a $20 *-Mart helmet, you get more
crash protection than when you spend $140 to look just like your racing
hero.

Consumer reports occasionally tests helmets, and I believe the current
issue has such a test.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

What is a 'high quality helmet'? How is helmet quality measured?

By the amount of money they take from your wallet. 🙂 Seriously ask
any helmet maker if their super expensive model protects your head any
better than their bargain basement model and see what they say.
--------------
Alex

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What is a 'high quality helmet'? How is helmet quality measured?

By the amount of money they take from your wallet. 🙂 Seriously ask
any helmet maker if their super expensive model protects your head any
better than their bargain basement model and see what they say.

They'll say they don't! They'll be perfectly willing to admit that their
top-line helmets are no safer than their less-expensive models. Once you
get to the level of helmet where fit issues have been addressed (which
occurs around $40), you don't buy a safer helmet when you go up the ladder.
What you do (hopefully) get are-

#1: Better ventilation. High-end helmets are often subject to wind-tunnel
tests in a quest to improve aerodynamics and measure cooling.

#2: Better graphics & appearance. Higher-end helmets are screened better,
and the expanded polystyrene material is molded directly into the plastic
shell, rather than being glued & taped to it.

#3: Lighter weight. It takes a lot of work to get helmet weight down,
while retaining the same crash protection.

What you generally won't see is a manufacturer saying that one of their
helmets is safer than another, as the admission that something isn't as safe
as it could be is an invitation to lawsuits. However, it's entirely
possible (perhaps even likely) that a less-expensive model may offer greater
crash protection than a high-end one. Why? Because the manufacturer is
going to work at shaving as much weight as possible from a high-end helmet
until it can just pass the standards (tests) they're looking for. A
lower-end helmet, on the other hand, isn't going to go through such
scrutiny. If it passes the standard test, they're not going to go to the
time & expense of finding out how much tougher a test it will pass, nor will
they find out what they can remove or redesign and still have it pass.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Quoted message said:

While all helmets in the USA have to pass the same standard, the
expensive helmets - those with maximum ventilation, minimum weight,
up-to-the-minute styling - tend to pass the impact standard with lower
margins of safety. IOW, when you buy a $20 *-Mart helmet, you get more
crash protection than when you spend $140 to look just like your racing
hero.

Not quite- the very cheapest helmets tend not to fit very well, and if the
helmet's moving around on your head or incorrectly fastened, it's not likely
to protect as well. The sweet spot- the place where you get the superior
fit/retension systems- is around $40.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

On Wed, 7 Jul 2004 10:09:58 -0400, David Kerber
<ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their potential

Quoted message said:

Mostly, but not completely true: several of Specialized's helmet models
meet the Snell standards in addition to the CPSC and ANSI standards.
Most others do not.

Endorsed. I was told by the guy who tests helemts to standards in the
UK that Specialized is the only major brand he will recommend.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

Frank Krygowski said:

While all helmets in the USA have to pass the same standard, the
expensive helmets - those with maximum ventilation, minimum weight,
up-to-the-minute styling - tend to pass the impact standard with lower
margins of safety. IOW, when you buy a $20 *-Mart helmet, you get more
crash protection than when you spend $140 to look just like your racing
hero.

There may well be a lot of truth in this. Look at the list of
manufacturers certified to Snell standards:

AGV SpA
Arai Helmet, Ltd.
Hong Kong Sports Helmet Mfg., Ltd.
Limar
Mien Yow Industry Co., Ltd.
OGK Hanbai Co., Ltd.
ProRider, Inc.
Qranc
Specialized Bicycle Components
Strategic Sports Ltd.
Tong Ho Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
Tung Kuang I Light Industry Co., Ltd.
Zhu Hai Safety Helmet Manufacture Co. Ltd
Zhuhai Golex Helmet-Making Co., Ltd.
Zhuhai Star Safety Helmets Co., Ltd.

I don't think I've missed any out.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

Frank Krygowski said:

Rich Clark said:

The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their potential
effectiveness in protecting your head. Whether this is worth anything or not
is a matter of opinion, but it has little bearing on helmet choice, since in
this regard they're all the same.

Which leaves fit, style, and comfort. Factors that don't stand up to
objective comparisons.

That's why the helmet market is all about image and subjectivity, and why
price and "quality" have no relationship.

If you want a helmet, you go try on a bunch until you find one that fits
your head and has a retention system that will keep it in place without
discomfort, and that you like the looks of. If you care about your place in
the fashion pantheon, you buy one with lots of big holes that costs more
than $100. If you don't, you buy one with lots of medium sized holes that
costs $30.

What Rich says is basically true, but he's omitted one thing:

While all helmets in the USA have to pass the same standard, the
expensive helmets - those with maximum ventilation, minimum weight,
up-to-the-minute styling - tend to pass the impact standard with lower
margins of safety. IOW, when you buy a $20 *-Mart helmet, you get more
crash protection than when you spend $140 to look just like your racing
hero.

Consumer reports occasionally tests helmets, and I believe the current
issue has such a test.

Dear Frank,

Yes, the July 2004 Consumer Reports tests helmets with the
ratings on page 45.

None of 15 adult helmets were rated excellent for impact.
Two were rated unacceptable because their straps didn't hold
them on.

A $45 Louis Garneau leads the pack in impact, followed by a
$60 Trek, with both rated very good.

A $140 Giro and a pair of $100 Bell helmets are rated only
good on impact.

The only adult helmet rated with a black half circle (fair)
for impact was a $25 Bell.

The variety is bewildering.The Nashbar catalogue that just
arrived lists 37 helmet models, plus another 18 on
close-out.

Carl Fogel

Churchill said:

Hello,

Do you know where there are any good Helmet reviews for high quality helmets
?

If you accept that none of them are really likely to work in a serious
accident, you might as well buy the one you like the look of. I wear
one when I am made to do so (e.g. by velodrome owners). I don't expect
it to save me: it's just there so I am allowed to ride.

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 7 Jul 2004 10:09:58 -0400, David Kerber
<ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their

potential

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Mostly, but not completely true: several of Specialized's helmet models
meet the Snell standards in addition to the CPSC and ANSI standards.
Most others do not.

Endorsed. I was told by the guy who tests helemts to standards in the
UK that Specialized is the only major brand he will recommend.

Not that I think it matters, but note that Specialized helmets are certified
only to the Snell B-90 standard, which is no more demanding than the CPSC
standard. That Snell did the certification tests and that Specialized paid
for them (and the additional cost per helmet for the Snell sticker) may or
may not mean anything to you, beyond the higher price.

Me, I'm willing to accept that companies like Giro/Bell or Trek are capable
of making sure their helmets meet the standards. If a Specialized helmet was
a better fit at a given price point, that's what I'd buy. Everything else is
highly theoretical and pretty much improvable.

RichC

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Frank Krygowski said:

While all helmets in the USA have to pass the same standard, the
expensive helmets - those with maximum ventilation, minimum weight,
up-to-the-minute styling - tend to pass the impact standard with lower
margins of safety. IOW, when you buy a $20 *-Mart helmet, you get more
crash protection than when you spend $140 to look just like your racing
hero.

There may well be a lot of truth in this. Look at the list of
manufacturers certified to Snell standards:

AGV SpA
Arai Helmet, Ltd.
Hong Kong Sports Helmet Mfg., Ltd.
Limar
Mien Yow Industry Co., Ltd.
OGK Hanbai Co., Ltd.
ProRider, Inc.
Qranc
Specialized Bicycle Components
Strategic Sports Ltd.
Tong Ho Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
Tung Kuang I Light Industry Co., Ltd.
Zhu Hai Safety Helmet Manufacture Co. Ltd
Zhuhai Golex Helmet-Making Co., Ltd.
Zhuhai Star Safety Helmets Co., Ltd.

I don't think I've missed any out.

Guy

Interesting, around the shops in Ottawa, ON., Canada the big sellers are
Giro, Bell and Louis Garneau and not one is on the list -🙂

Good thing I asked !!

"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:40ec55fb.0@entanet...

Quoted message said:

Churchill said:

Hello,

Do you know where there are any good Helmet reviews for high quality

helmets

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

?

If you accept that none of them are really likely to work in a serious
accident, you might as well buy the one you like the look of. I wear
one when I am made to do so (e.g. by velodrome owners). I don't expect
it to save me: it's just there so I am allowed to ride.

I disagree, depending on the impact the rider has a barrier could save a
head injury. However, there are limits !

On Wed, 7 Jul 2004 16:25:13 -0400, "Rich Clark"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Me, I'm willing to accept that companies like Giro/Bell or Trek are capable
of making sure their helmets meet the standards. If a Specialized helmet was
a better fit at a given price point, that's what I'd buy. Everything else is
highly theoretical and pretty much improvable.

But the guy who tests them disagrees. He has had a lot of helmets
fail the tests, even though they are notionally certified (CPSC has no
independent testing, we're told). The only major brand he'll
recommend, based on having hit and broken rather a lot of lids over
the years, is Specialized. You can take that as you will.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

On Wed, 7 Jul 2004 16:29:29 -0400, "Churchill" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Interesting, around the shops in Ottawa, ON., Canada the big sellers are
Giro, Bell and Louis Garneau and not one is on the list -🙂

Maybe Bell is spending so much on funding dodgy "research" that they
can't afford the certification programme any more ;-)

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

"Badger_South" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

http://cf.consumerreports.org/tv/index.cfm?storydate=2004-6&storynumber=1&station=wisn

Quoted message said:

Here's an interesting CU report on helmets for those helmet fans:

http://www.consumersearch.com/www/sports_and_leisure/bicycle_helmets/fullstory.html

Thanks, that is what I was looking for 🙂

hit a curb with my helmet on, at 20 mph, while wearing Giro Pneumo. I was
not overly impressed with the results. I was knocked out for about 1
minute. Took about 2 hours for my thinking to return to normal. There was
some cracking and broken Styrofoam, but not as much as I expected. Most of
the torn styro was where the straps connect to the helmet. I feel if more
of the helmet would have disintegrated, I wouldn't have ended up with such a
headache.

"Callistus Valerius" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

hit a curb with my helmet on, at 20 mph, while wearing Giro Pneumo. I was
not overly impressed with the results. I was knocked out for about 1
minute. Took about 2 hours for my thinking to return to normal. There

was

Quoted message said:

some cracking and broken Styrofoam, but not as much as I expected. Most

of

Quoted message said:

the torn styro was where the straps connect to the helmet. I feel if more
of the helmet would have disintegrated, I wouldn't have ended up with such

a

Quoted message said:

headache.

Sorry, there's nothing in any of the standards about protecting the wearer
in a 20mph impact. If you have an embarrassing clipping-out incident at a
stop light, however, you can probably rely on it to keep your head from
denting the SUV waiting next to you.

RichC