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Old 10-09-12, 06:17 PM
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Fenway
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SNELL & CPSC.

Though those standards are primarily evaluating the helmet's ability to absorb impact from a fall or lower speeds. The hard shell multi-sport helmets (skiing & skating), such as Berns, are evaluated by other criteria for impacts at speed. The trade-off usually being more protection for less ventilation and increased weight. Heavier helmets can also contribute to more neck trauma in a crash, the trade-off being less risk of skull fracture.

Be mindful that any collision is going to put a lot of stress on a person's neck. Helmets are only good for slight deceleration on impact and help keep one's skull intact. That buys the ER docs time and makes it easier to treat injuries when one's insides remain inside, though the level of trauma from gravitation forces is going to remain constant. Helmets will reduce the severity of injury, and may buy one time for medical treatment, but even the best ones aren't going to be a silver bullet to fully protect oneself from every type injury. The shell and padding material can only overcome physics to a certain degree, though anything is usually better than nothing.
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