View Poll Results: What Are Your Helmet Wearing Habits?
I've never worn a bike helmet
52
10.40%
I used to wear a helmet, but have stopped
24
4.80%
I've always worn a helmet
208
41.60%
I didn't wear a helmet, but now do
126
25.20%
I sometimes wear a helmet depending on the conditions
90
18.00%
Voters: 500. You may not vote on this poll
The Helmet Thread 2
#2476
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After years of cycling and buying gear, I pretty much have a sense of what brands fit, and in what sizes.
#2477
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And no, I can't predict when or how I'll crash, but considering I have never crashed in a manner that I hit my head, whereas I can take a couple decent hits in a game in hockey, I'd expect if this type of system truly provided value I'd have seen it become more commonplace there or in other sports involving frequent impacts.
I'm not saying it doesn't work, just that I have never seen independent proof that it holds any benefit, and even a search here seemingly puts most people in the "if it may work, and it is only a bit more, why not?" category.
#2478
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No guarantees though. My wife much prefers her cheap $30 Bell to a somewhat more expensive Limar (at least retail) I bought her last season.
Last edited by MRT2; 12-01-16 at 01:08 PM.
#2479
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However, the improved availability doesn't really make a statement about the efficacy.
#2480
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This is true. Cheapest can be hit or miss with one size fits most. Better helmets come in 2, or even 3 sizes and with better retention systems. I never actually hated any helmet but if you can get a good fit with a lighter helmet, iyou almost forget it is there.
No guarantees though. My wife much prefers her cheap $30 Bell to a somewhat more expensive Limar (at least retail) I bought her last season.
No guarantees though. My wife much prefers her cheap $30 Bell to a somewhat more expensive Limar (at least retail) I bought her last season.
For mountain biking I have a Specialized Tatic II. That is a great fitting helmet. They are not the most expensive helmets out there, but the fit and finish is outstanding.
#2482
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It is hard to say how bad a fake is, but I'd go with a certified Bell branded helmet over a no-name fake any day.
Reputable sources (Nashbar, Ribble, etc) should be fine, but you won't be able to try the helmet on first.
#2483
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One of the features I like in my helmets are taillights. I presume they'll be changing a bit over the next few years. My current helmet has little disposable button battery lights.
I'm not convinced there are light specific tests, and would worry a bit about aftermarket lights that might be designed more like small bullets than soft foam protection.
I'm not convinced there are light specific tests, and would worry a bit about aftermarket lights that might be designed more like small bullets than soft foam protection.
#2484
Senior Member
Expanded polystyrene foam (aka "Styrofoam") is expanded polystyrene foam. I manufacture foams. There wouldn't be a performance difference in the material itself because it's all polystyrene foam. The more expensive ones for more venting actually have less foam, thus less energy absorbtion than the cheap helmets with less venting thus more foam.
#2485
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Be careful with online purchases, especially when buying from E-Bay or overseas sources. There are many fake helmets out there.
It is hard to say how bad a fake is, but I'd go with a certified Bell branded helmet over a no-name fake any day.
Reputable sources (Nashbar, Ribble, etc) should be fine, but you won't be able to try the helmet on first.
It is hard to say how bad a fake is, but I'd go with a certified Bell branded helmet over a no-name fake any day.
Reputable sources (Nashbar, Ribble, etc) should be fine, but you won't be able to try the helmet on first.
#2486
Senior Member
Ever think that maybe buying the better helmet only gets you a more comfortable fitting product and just might be the low safety standard rather than the department store helmet?
Expanded polystyrene foam (aka "Styrofoam") is expanded polystyrene foam. I manufacture foams. There wouldn't be a performance difference in the material itself because it's all polystyrene foam. The more expensive ones for more venting actually have less foam, thus less energy absorbtion than the cheap helmets with less venting thus more foam.
Expanded polystyrene foam (aka "Styrofoam") is expanded polystyrene foam. I manufacture foams. There wouldn't be a performance difference in the material itself because it's all polystyrene foam. The more expensive ones for more venting actually have less foam, thus less energy absorbtion than the cheap helmets with less venting thus more foam.
#2487
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Ever think that maybe buying the better helmet only gets you a more comfortable fitting product and just might be the low safety standard rather than the department store helmet?
Expanded polystyrene foam (aka "Styrofoam") is expanded polystyrene foam. I manufacture foams. There wouldn't be a performance difference in the material itself because it's all polystyrene foam. The more expensive ones for more venting actually have less foam, thus less energy absorbtion than the cheap helmets with less venting thus more foam.
Expanded polystyrene foam (aka "Styrofoam") is expanded polystyrene foam. I manufacture foams. There wouldn't be a performance difference in the material itself because it's all polystyrene foam. The more expensive ones for more venting actually have less foam, thus less energy absorbtion than the cheap helmets with less venting thus more foam.
#2488
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I wanted to know if I could buy an adult bike helmet from Walmart when it comes time to replace mine.
They fit really well and cost up to 60$ less than a specialized or a Giro thing and they seem fairly thick and durable enough, but of course nobody would know until you crash and you are dead in the head or not.
I just wanted to know if this was safe and if I could save the cash and still get the safety I would get out of a 50 or 80 or 100$ helmet?.
They fit really well and cost up to 60$ less than a specialized or a Giro thing and they seem fairly thick and durable enough, but of course nobody would know until you crash and you are dead in the head or not.
I just wanted to know if this was safe and if I could save the cash and still get the safety I would get out of a 50 or 80 or 100$ helmet?.
When it comes to comfort, my observation of the low-end helmet I bought at Wal-mart once when I left mine behind and needed a helmet at 6 am on a Sunday morning was that the straps and the interior framework weren't as comfortable as those on my more expensive, bike-shop helmets, but were certainly acceptable - and a couple of minutes of creative padding would easily fix those issues (although I never did that).
Last edited by DaveQ24; 12-02-16 at 01:53 PM.
#2489
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Are you sure about that? Doesn't sound as the way helmets are designed to provide protection from injury. I thought that a cracked or broken helmet after impact is evidence of helmet failure to protect as designed.
#2490
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I'd doubt that. Helmets are one time use items, they are designed to absorb the force of the impact. Cracking is just one way they do that, and should be of no concern unless they crack with such little force that they allow the head outside of them before the impact is over.
#2493
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I don't hit my head anywhere near enough cycling to worry about some technology like that. I'd buy into the belief for hockey, where I am taking a few whacks a game, but unless I am racing where I expect to crash often, I just don't see a benefit in MIPS for cycling. In any case, I have enough hair that any impact is going to move the helmet minimally on impact, not unlike a MIPS system.
I've had my cheapo department store helmet for a couple years now. Fits MY head extremely well, ventilated enough that I am not uncomfortable, and really see no reason to spend more than the $15 or so it cost me. If I do wreck and whack it good, it was cheap enough I'll have no problem tossing it and buying a new one.
I've had my cheapo department store helmet for a couple years now. Fits MY head extremely well, ventilated enough that I am not uncomfortable, and really see no reason to spend more than the $15 or so it cost me. If I do wreck and whack it good, it was cheap enough I'll have no problem tossing it and buying a new one.
I have had many concussions (NFL-style loose brain syndrome) and often from crashes where mny head did not hit hard. Last crash I hit good and hard, No concussion. Difference? My chin strap was loose. I almost lost my opposite ear from the straps and had cuts around my eye from my eyeglasses, but got up thinking completely clearly. Got quizzed by the cyclist who watched the crash and who knew concussion protocol and passed nicely. Read about MIPS two weeks later and thought "they're on to something!" Got a MIPS as soon as I could get my hands on one the fit in a visible color.
Ben
#2494
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I didn't vote in the poll because an honest answer would be skew the intent. I didn't always wear a helmet. Helmets worth wearing before 1975 didn't exist. I raced wearing the leather hairnet in '76. The standard joke was that we wore them so we could have an open casket funeral. Bought my Bell in '77 and have always worn a good helmet since.
Ben
Ben
#2495
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Welcome to page 100 of this rendition of the helmet thread. Glad y'all could join us!
#2497
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What about a slap shot or a shoulder to the head? Lots of non-movement happening there.
#2498
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Apart from one bike accident when I was 14yrs.-old(1981). Every bike accident after that(1997, 2003, 2010. 2013, 2014), I have had a helmet and very thankful I did.
#2499
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He's not sure about that. As I stated, I work in research and development for a plastics foam molding manufacturer. The individual foam beads are filled with tiny cells with pockets of air. Upon impact, the cell walls inside the foam beads compress and the compression of the foam is what absorbs the energy. The individual beads are steam molded together to form the helmet structure. If your molded foam helmet actually cracks upon impact, it is either a very hard impact, or your helmet has a manufacturing defect in the molding process in the event of a lesser impact.
#2500
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He's not sure about that. As I stated, I work in research and development for a plastics foam molding manufacturer. The individual foam beads are filled with tiny cells with pockets of air. Upon impact, the cell walls inside the foam beads compress and the compression of the foam is what absorbs the energy. The individual beads are steam molded together to form the helmet structure. If your molded foam helmet actually cracks upon impact, it is either a very hard impact, or your helmet has a manufacturing defect in the molding process in the event of a lesser impact.