Are expensive helmets worth it?
04-18-17 | 01:40 PM
#101
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,973
Likes: 145
From: Tampa, Florida
I primarily ride off road and intentionally chose a helmet with fewer ventilation to holes to help keep sticks of whatever from penetrating my skull in crash. But it still provides adequate cooling.
No helmet costs more than a few bucks to manufacture so it's kind of a scam.
No helmet costs more than a few bucks to manufacture so it's kind of a scam.
04-23-17 | 07:58 AM
#102
Erik the Inveigler
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 4
From: The California Alps
Necro!
Supposedly helmets expire. And helmets are supposed to be one time use. Helmet I had slammed into back of a Taxi in the city of the worst drivers in USA 10 years running, Boston, the only city you'll find drivers proud for driving like a moron.
I ended up getting a Giro Foray MiPS. I decided MiPS may be a fad, but if there is a chance it does increase safety, worth it. For a one time use equipment that expires, I can't spend more than $130 on a helmet, just can't do it. Foray luckily cost $75. Bontrager/Specialized all fit oval heads, my round head, the helmets felt like vice. If your head is round, AVOID Specialized/Bont like the plague, head crushers. Catlike, just overall very uncomfortable. Lazer Blade MiPS, I wanted it to fit me like a glove, but my temples hurt. Giro it is. For some reason in my area, not one shop sells Bell helmets, found that peculiar.
Unsurprising, the Giro Foray fits exactly like my previous Bell. Hilariously, Giro YT vids on testing and design of their helmets mention Bell laboratory more than a few times.
Supposedly helmets expire. And helmets are supposed to be one time use. Helmet I had slammed into back of a Taxi in the city of the worst drivers in USA 10 years running, Boston, the only city you'll find drivers proud for driving like a moron.
I ended up getting a Giro Foray MiPS. I decided MiPS may be a fad, but if there is a chance it does increase safety, worth it. For a one time use equipment that expires, I can't spend more than $130 on a helmet, just can't do it. Foray luckily cost $75. Bontrager/Specialized all fit oval heads, my round head, the helmets felt like vice. If your head is round, AVOID Specialized/Bont like the plague, head crushers. Catlike, just overall very uncomfortable. Lazer Blade MiPS, I wanted it to fit me like a glove, but my temples hurt. Giro it is. For some reason in my area, not one shop sells Bell helmets, found that peculiar.
Unsurprising, the Giro Foray fits exactly like my previous Bell. Hilariously, Giro YT vids on testing and design of their helmets mention Bell laboratory more than a few times.
04-23-17 | 09:15 AM
#103
Not actually Tmonk
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 17,314
Likes: 6,101
From: San Diego, CA
Bikes: road, track, mtb
I have three helemts:
1) Specialized S3 - lightweight, very cool/vented, very comfortable. Doesn't leave my apt - only gets used on rides to and from home. My favorite.
2) Specialized sworks Evade - "aero" - for racing and fast group rides exclusively. Not the biggest fan of how it looks or feels, but supposedly it's fast so hey I'll take it.
3) Giro Savant in high-vis neon yellow. Use this for early or late rides when light is low, for mountain biking, casual rides and any ride that I drive to that isn't a race. Probably gets the most use although 1) is close.
1) Specialized S3 - lightweight, very cool/vented, very comfortable. Doesn't leave my apt - only gets used on rides to and from home. My favorite.
2) Specialized sworks Evade - "aero" - for racing and fast group rides exclusively. Not the biggest fan of how it looks or feels, but supposedly it's fast so hey I'll take it.
3) Giro Savant in high-vis neon yellow. Use this for early or late rides when light is low, for mountain biking, casual rides and any ride that I drive to that isn't a race. Probably gets the most use although 1) is close.
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
04-23-17 | 10:55 AM
#104
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Bikes: 1998 Trek 8000SL, 2013 Madone 3.1, 2016 Trek Fuel EX8 27.5
I was told it's about 5 years, depending on how much you ride. The biggest factor (if not the ONLY factor) is how much exposure to the sun's rays it gets. I've never changed it after only 5 years, but I did change it after 7-8 years.
04-24-17 | 06:21 AM
#107
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,239
Likes: 8
From: Bay Area, Calif.
There was a study published in the Journal of Biomech. Engr. that gathered almost 700 old worn helmets up to 26 years old (but not previously crashed) and subjected them to the standard certification crush tests used for new helmets. All but two passed and the conclusion was that there is only very minimal deterioration over time.
04-24-17 | 06:45 AM
#108
Erik the Inveigler
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 4
From: The California Alps
There was a study published in the Journal of Biomech. Engr. that gathered almost 700 old worn helmets up to 26 years old (but not previously crashed) and subjected them to the standard certification crush tests used for new helmets. All but two passed and the conclusion was that there is only very minimal deterioration over time.
Thank you.
04-24-17 | 07:43 AM
#110
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 13
From: Sacramento, CA
Bikes: Curtis Inglis Road, 80's Sekai touring fixie
There was a study published in the Journal of Biomech. Engr. that gathered almost 700 old worn helmets up to 26 years old (but not previously crashed) and subjected them to the standard certification crush tests used for new helmets. All but two passed and the conclusion was that there is only very minimal deterioration over time.
The companies figure that after 5 years you have abused it, even if unintentionally, enough to potentially compromise it.
So they are washing their hands of liability by putting a 5 year "life" on them.
04-24-17 | 07:51 AM
#111
Erik the Inveigler
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 4
From: The California Alps
This is a tough question to settle in one's mind, isn't it? My motorcycle helmet is getting old too. The thing is, even though I value my head, I'm not automatically assured that spending money on a brand new one would necessarily serve to protect me any better than my old one. Yet, there is that nagging question . . . .
04-24-17 | 08:05 AM
#112
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 13
From: Sacramento, CA
Bikes: Curtis Inglis Road, 80's Sekai touring fixie
This is a tough question to settle in one's mind, isn't it? My motorcycle helmet is getting old too. The thing is, even though I value my head, I'm not automatically assured that spending money on a brand new one would necessarily serve to protect me any better than my old one. Yet, there is that nagging question . . . .
The replacement Neotec is like $700, or about what I paid for my first motorcycle!
04-24-17 | 08:11 AM
#113
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Westerville, Ohio
Bikes: 2016 Specialized Sirrus Carbon Comp, 2006 Bianchi Veloce
I worked in product safety for 32 years. If you know the UL in a circle label, I was one of those guys.
Once, my boss told me I had to replace my hardhat because it was 5 years old because it had "expired".
I read the label and warnings on hardhats with the reference to the NIST test reference, then went to the NIST catalog of standards, then found and read the test method itself. (Yeah, I'm a total loser.).
There is no shelf life testing conducted. It is entirely anecdotal. A figure that was agreed upon by helmet manufacturers to sell more helmets.
That said, examine your helmet closely. If there are any chunks missing, or cracks in the plastic, etc. buy a new one.
OR, if you have had an accident where the helmet took a hit, replace it. There is impact testing conducted, it's only conducted one time, and THAT'S the critical one.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
errantaaron
General Cycling Discussion
7
09-01-10 08:11 AM
