Bike Helmet Survey

[survey]

Hi

I am doing a project on the design of a bike helmet, and I am conducting a quick survey on the customer requirements of bike helmets. I would like to know the level of importance that potential buyers of bike helmets place on certain characteristics of a helmet.

Thank you for your time.

---------------------

Please indicated what level of importance you attach to the following aspects of a bike helmet.

1 = low importance, 5 = high importance

1 Cost
2 Brand name
3 Durability
4 Strength
5 Safety
6 Easy to clean
7 Environmentally friendly
8 Colour
9 Easy to put on/take off
10 Comfort
11 Streamlined look
12 Lightweight
13 Waterproof

Do you have any other comments or suggestions on other aspects that you think are important for a bike helmet?

[OregonBound]

Waterproof? What, are you considering rice paper helmets?

Easy to put on and take off. Do -you- have much trouble putting a hat on -your- head and taking it off again?

Surveys like this are pointless wastes of time. The questions show a lack of understanding of your subject matter and to present it in this manner will yield a statistically skewed response.

Paul

[JoeTown244GL]

1 Cost 2
2 Brand name 1
3 Durability 4
4 Strength 4
5 Safety 5
6 Easy to clean 2
7 Environmentally friendly 1
8 Colour 1
9 Easy to put on/take off 1
10 Comfort 4
11 Streamlined look 2
12 Lightweight 4
13 Waterproof 2

I hope this helps. Good luck with your research and let us know how it turns out.

[Cyclepath]

Do we get paid for our time?:->

[allgoo19]

First off, I want you to know I hate wearing helmets, specially so called bicycle helmets. You know the ones that are peanuts shell shaped?

1 Cost: 4
2 Brand name: 2
3 Durability: 4
4 Strength: 4
5 Safety: 3 (I wear it only when it is required, otherwise I don't wear it. I always wear it when I ride on motorcycle for safety.)
6 Easy to clean: 5
7 Environmentally friendly: 3
8 Color: 3
9 Easy to put on/take off: 4
10 Comfort: 5 (No bicycle helmet ever fit good on my head. They just sit on my head move around all the time. Too much room front to back.)
11 Streamlined: 1(Is this talking about aero dynamics? If so, that's the biggest reason I don't like about bicycle helmets. It looks silly. Isn't the comfort more important at 30 MPH than aero dynamics? I have never seen a motorcycle helmet aero dynamically shaped and they are designed for 125 MPH. If aero dynamics so important at 30 MPH, it blows your head off at 125 MPH.)
12 Light weight: 5
13 Water proof: 2 (I don't know about this. Do they have to be water proof?)
14 Influence of professional riders: 1 (You forgot this one. People don't pay $150.- for a piece of Styrofoam, if this isn't the reason.)


All and all, I always find bicycle helmets very uncomfortable. I'd rather wear skate board helmets like Pro-Tec. It's not well vented but it still fits my head snugly and doesn't move around. I also like to see helmets designed specifically being used with helmet liner. When it comes to sweat management, it's hard to beat helmet liner that keeps the sweat from dripping down on the face. There is a reason why so many pro foot ball players wear them under their helmets. Material of inner pads or shape of foam material could be little different if people use it with the liner instead of bare head. So far, I found my old Skid-Lid helmet comfortable to use with the liner than peanuts shell shaped bicycle helmet.

My opinion probably doesn't speak for the majority of people out there.

[Chris L]

Originally posted by survey
1 Cost
6 Easy to clean
7 Environmentally friendly
13 Waterproof
9 Easy to put on/take off


Is there a "0" rating? Cost is no object as I believe my head is priceless. I don't recall ever actually cleaning a helmet I ever owned. I didn't even realise there was a difference between the environmental impacts of making one helmet vs another. Normally this would get a higher rating, but I don't think a choice of helmets will make a difference here.

As someone who enjoys riding in rain, and has ridden in some good downpours over the years, I don't believe "waterproof" exists - nor that it is a particularly worthy cause. I've yet to see a helmet that took more than five seconds to put on.

Originally posted by survey
11 Streamlined look
8 Colour

These are in the 1-2 range. I'll look at these after I've taken up the more important factors, but only then.

Originally posted by survey
12 Lightweight

It's a "3" here. I prefer things to be as light as possible, but never at the expense of functionality.

Originally posted by survey

2 Brand name
3 Durability
4 Strength
5 Safety
10 Comfort


I believe a proper fit is the most important thing in buying a helmet, so if this is what you mean by "comfort", it gets a five from me. Durability, Strength and Safety are all the same sort of thing as far as I'm concerned, so they are all in the four-five range.

P.S. In future, can you please refrain from cross-posting across different forums? Things like this only need to be posted once to get a response.

[Juha]

5 = these are the things I consider
4 = these would be nice
3 = (not used)
2 = if all 5s are equal, these come under consideration
1 = I don't think about these at all

Cost - 2
Brand name - 1 (0, if there was such a choice)
Durability - 2
Strength - 5 (complies with the relevant standards)
Safety - 5 (also "good fit")
Easy to clean - 4
Environmentally friendly - 2
Colour - 5 (the brighter the better)
Easy to put on/take off - 1
Comfort - 4 (ventilation)
Streamlined look - 1
Lightweight - 5
Waterproof - 1 (whadda?)

I usually do not have trouble finding a standard-complying, well-fitting, relatively light, brightly coloured helmet within reasonable price range. So far I have been fortunate enough to change helmets only because the old one gets too stinky. I have not had much luck with my efforts in trying to clean them from the inside.

And what's with the waterproofing? I cannot find a jacket (gore-tex or other) that would be waterproof AND breathe enough for normal riding in summer rain. I can only imagine how a waterproof helmet would feel like. :eek:

--J

[fujibike]

1 Cost 4
2 Brand name 2
3 Durability 3
4 Strength 4
5 Safety 5
6 Easy to clean 3
7 Environmentally friendly 2
8 Colour 4
9 Easy to put on/take off 4
10 Comfort 5
11 Streamlined look 4
12 Lightweight 4
13 Waterproof 1

[survey]

Thanks to all those that replied.

You can probably see that my survey wasn't the best but anyway..

About the waterproofing.. ideally, a helmet wouldn't let in water and get your hair all soaked. However, to do this you would practically have to seal the top of the helmet, which of couse, would cause extreme discomfort to the cyclist due to heat. Anway, it probably wasn't the best thing to include in the survey.

I just wanted to ask a few more questions which should have been a part of the original post, but I forgot to include it.

How often do you use a helmet? (Once a week, every day, etc)
Would you be willing to pay more to buy a helmet if improvements were made on the factors you rated 4 or 5? (e.g. if you said colour was important, would you be willing to pay more if the helmet came in a larger range of colours?) How much more would you be willing to pay for such improvements?

The question on how much more you would be willing to pay is probably too vague, but do the best you can please.

And if you have any other comments on helmets and features, please feel free to discuss. Thank you once again.

[RonH]

Originally posted by survey
About the waterproofing.. ideally, a helmet wouldn't let in water and get your hair all soaked.
You should see my hair when I get home from a ride. It's as wet as it would be if I had been caught in an afternoon shower. :rolleyes:


Cost = 4
Brand name = 4
Durability = 5
Strength = 5
Safety = 5
Easy to clean = 1
Environmentally friendly = 1
Color = 4
Easy to put on/take off = 3
Comfort = 4
Streamlined look = 3
Lightweight = 1
Waterproof = ? :lol:


How often do you use a helmet? (Once a week, every day, etc)
EVERY TIME I GET ON MY BIKE!!!!

[nathank]

1 = low importance, 5 = high importance

1 Cost 4
2 Brand name 2
3 Durability 4
4 Strength 4
5 Safety 4
6 Easy to clean 2
7 Environmentally friendly 3
8 Colour 2
9 Easy to put on/take off 5
10 Comfort 5
11 Streamlined look 2
12 Lightweight 4
13 Waterproof 1 (see comments below)

Cost: in general not over $100
(although my last helmet cost $150)

potential optional features:
* closable wind vents for rain/winter like many motorcycle helmets
* strap-in "hat" or neckwarmer for winter (like many snowboard or motorcycle helmets)
* snap-on chin-guard for downhill (i just bought the Casco Viper w/ removable chin-guard - awesome!)
* kind of fits under comfort, but i would say a whole category for: VENTILATION
* mount for headlamp!
* built-in REFLECTORS!! and/or reflective paint!

[Buzzbomb]

I have a helmet that suits my needs pretty well, but the one thing that would get me to open my wallet is this helmet.

http://www.reevu.com/product_design.htm

[Richard D]

Originally posted by Buzzbomb
I have a helmet that suits my needs pretty well, but the one thing that would get me to open my wallet is this helmet.

http://www.reevu.com/product_design.htm

Buzzbomb - it's an interesting idea but do try one on - the fit is quite distinctive (riding high at the rear but too low at the front for my head). I find Specialized helmets too long and narrow though, so it might just be my head :)

[Pman]

1 Cost - 3
2 Brand name - 1
3 Durability - 5
4 Strength - 5
5 Safety - 5
6 Easy to clean - 3
7 Environmentally friendly -1
8 Colour - 3
9 Easy to put on/take off - 4
10 Comfort - 4
11 Streamlined look - 3
12 Lightweight - 4
13 Waterproof - 4

Hope this helps you out!

[survey]

Originally posted by RonH
[B]

{Quote}
How often do you use a helmet? (Once a week, every day, etc)

EVERY TIME I GET ON MY BIKE!!!!

But how often is that?

[Chris L]

Originally posted by survey
But how often is that?

For me everyday. For the other questions - I guess I'd be prepared to pay more for those features, but I really don't know how much more, I guess it would depend on the degree of the improvement.

As far as "waterproofness" goes, is that really a notable goal? Around here at least, even in the heaviest rain, you're going to get more sweat than water simply due to the temperature.

[Juha]

Originally posted by survey
How often do you use a helmet? (Once a week, every day, etc)


About 320 days each year.

--J

[Hunter]

1 = low importance, 5 = high importance

1 Cost 1
2 Brand name 1
3 Durability 5
4 Strength 5
5 Safety 5
6 Easy to clean 3
7 Environmentally friendly 1
8 Colour 3
9 Easy to put on/take off 4
10 Comfort 4
11 Streamlined look 3
12 Lightweight 3
13 Waterproof 2

[Ritalin]

1 Cost 2
2 Brand name 4
3 Durability 5
4 Strength 4
5 Safety 5
6 Easy to clean 5
7 Environmentally friendly 1
8 Colour 3
9 Easy to put on/take off 5
10 Comfort 5
11 Streamlined look 1
12 Lightweight 4
13 Waterproof 3

[Richard D]

1 Cost 3
2 Brand name 4
3 Durability 5
4 Strength 5
5 Safety 5
6 Easy to clean 4
7 Environmentally friendly 2
8 Colour 3
9 Easy to put on/take off 5
10 Comfort 5
11 Streamlined look 2
12 Lightweight 4
13 Waterproof 1

[PaulH]

1 Cost 1
2 Brand name 1
3 Durability 5
4 Strength 5
5 Safety 5
6 Easy to clean 1
7 Environmentally friendly 1
8 Colour 1
9 Easy to put on/take off 5
10 Comfort 5
11 Streamlined look 1
12 Lightweight 1
13 Waterproof 1

[allgoo19]

What I look for in bicycle helmets.

1 Compactness: This disqualifies just about all bicycle helmets on the market today.
2 Light weight
3 Comfort: Mostly how it fits. You won't find motorcycle helmets just as uncomfortable as bicycle helmets.
4 Good ventilation

What I want to see.

Revival of the old "Hair net" with better updated material, likes of Cordura, Kevlar etc. You can stick it in your back pocket when you don't want to wear like climbing the hills with a fewer traffic. They fit all different shapes of head comfortably and are compact.

[Ajay213]

Cost

0 - Not an issue. As somebody else mentioned this is one area where I won't skimp or try and save. I'll buy the best helmet money can buy, seems silly to spend hundreds/thousands of dollars on a bike, but pick up a discount helmet.

Brand name

3/4 - Medium importance. I want to buy from a company that knows something about building a good helmet, has the ability to test, has a good R&D dept.

Durability

3/4 - Medium. I'll replace my helmet every few years anyways, so general "bang around" durability is important, but I don't need it to last 20 years either.

Strength

5 - Highest importance. If it's not strong enough then what is the point of it?

Safety

5 - Highest importance. See above, if it's not "safe" why wear it?

Easy to clean

2/3 - I'm not really that concerned with how it looks in terms of dirt and such, a quick rub down is just fine.

Environmentally friendly

3 - Important, but quite frankly if the choice of helmets was an eco-friendly version with questionable protection and an un-eco-friendly model that was very safe there is no choice.

Colour

3 - Again I don't care much about it as long as it's fairly neutral, but I also won't buy one that is purple/hot-pink/blue with glitter stars on it either.

Easy to put on/take off

2 - Don't make it to complicated, but I "have" to wear one so I'll endure (but I'm accustomed to wear a full face helmet in the car at the track so a bike helmet is a cake-walk).

Comfort

5 - Maybe not so much for me, but if it isn't comfortable people won't wear it or won't ride as much.

Streamlined look

If I'm doing a timed event (TT or Tri/etc) then I'd like to have an aero helmet otherwise I don't care.

Lightweight

5 - Doesn't this fall under comfort? I remember helmets from the mid/late 80's so today's helmets are nothing, if it weren't for the straps I'd probably forget I'm wearing it.

Waterproof

1 - The rest of me is getting wet.

Andrew

[Michel Gagnon]

Originally posted by survey
Hi

Please indicated what level of importance you attach to the following aspects of a bike helmet.

1 = low importance, 5 = high importance




1. COST : -2-

I wear it long enough so it doesn't cost too many pennies per kilometre. Still, why should I pay for brand-name appeal when a basic $20 helmet offers the same protection?


2. BRAND NAME : -1-

I know that nowadays many Bell helmets fit me well while Louis-Garneau helmets that fit me cost 2-3 times more. I'm not any more interested to brand name than that, and if I could find a no-name one (i.e. without any apparent branding), I would buy it... if it fits.

3. DURABILITY : -5-

Is there any real difference? Still, I had a Louis-Garneau that is now used my my daughter when she skates at school. The rearview mirror didn't stick on the plastic.

Likewise, my youngest daughter had one where the foam pads didn't stay put for more than 2 weeks. Frustrating to have to find a $0,10 solution at the hardware store.


4-5. STRENGTH ... or SAFETY : -5-

Not sure the difference you make here. I want it strong, but right now, I'm not aware of any helmet that is, say, twice stronger than the minimum CPSC requirement.


6. EASY TO CLEAN : - 4-

Important. With the materials presently used, I have thrown the pads in the washing machine a few times and the entire helmet in the sink with lukewarm water.

7. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY : -2-

Any options?

8. COLOUR : -3-

My preference is for a light colour, and especially a light colour when seen from behind. My current helmet is not too bad but not great either because it has black foam and a white shell... but the foam is very apparent from behind.
In the same vein, professionnally applied reflective strips or dots would be fine. Still, with such a high "target", the colour and presence of reflective material is mostly important when riding in low-light situations rather than in total darkness because by then, car lights are not likely to light the head.


9. EASY TO PUT ON AND TAKE OFF : -3- .. but -5- for children

Putting the helmet on a 3 year old child is sometimes challenging. For myself, I don't see any problem here. Wheter it takes 10 seconds or 30, I don't really care.

One thing I would like, however, is to have straps that are easily adjustable, yet that don't disadjust by themselves. The current buckle and rubber band used on my Bell helmet tends to loosen and I have to readjust it every 1 or 2 weeks.

Yet, when I want to loosen it on purpose (when wearing winter gear, for example), I loose a few minutes. My daughter's helmet is almost impossible to readjust. P.S. There are about 2-3 months per year where I may ride either with or without a headband depending on weather, as it may be +5 C one day and -15 C the next day.


10. COMFORT : - 5-

Obviously important. I hate the "one size fits all" philosophy. My current helmet is one of the few I could find without a headband. It has 2 foam pads that sit on the forehead, but air goes through freely in the centre (between pads). With the headband, air doesn't flow and I get too warm.

Winter/Summer adjustability is important as I prefer to have only one helmet for all seasons. Cheaper, more comfortable, and the mirror is always in the same place.


11. STREAMLINED LOOK : -1-

Who cares? Not me.


12. LIGHTWEIGHT : -4-

A good should almost feel unnoticeable.


13. WATERPROOF : -?-

If you mean I don't need to protect it from the elements, then give it a -5-.
If you mean it will protect me from rain, I don't care. I have no objection to cycling with a wet hair (wet from rain or snow, I mean), and if it's really raining cats and dogs, I'll probably wear my hood under my helmet.


14. OTHER ASPECTS

a.) It should be well vented. But having ridden through 2 hailstorms with 2 different helmets, I think it's important that the vents are profiled to funnel the air through, yet protect the head from direct hail impact. We get on average 1-2 hail storms per year and they are so sudden and unpredictable that it is usually impossible to find shelter.

b.) I like the visor. Keeps hard rain and some snow off.

c.) There should be enough plastic so that a rearview mirror sticks well onto it. Many current Louis-Garneau helmets are bad on that because they either have:
- not enough plastic (apparent foam -- Bikini design) to stick a mirror);
- lots of ridges so that the mirror doesn't stick.
- a plastic that doesn't stick well.

[greywolf]

Good ventilation #1

[greywolf]

But beware of wasps & bee's :crash: :crash:

[sakarias]

Of the things you listed, Ventillation is the most important to me. But, you missed FIT. The helmet has to fit. That can be a real problem for some of us with fat heads ... well, wider than average anyway.

I tried 7 helmets. Had to mail order them because the closest LBS is hundreds of miles away from where I live in Alaska. Costly. Of course the only helmet that fit was the most expensive. Fortunately, Bike Nashbar has a consumer friendly return policy, so I shiped back what did not work.