Need new helmet...
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fightnut
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« on: June 25, 2008, 12:10:22 AM »
Ok, so I took a pretty good spill and cracked my helmet in two places and need to shop for a new one now.

I've been kinda giving some thought to the skate style lids. The main reason being that they appear to cover more of your head. I've never actually tried one on though and was looking to get some feedback from those that have tried them at one time or another.

Anyone?

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fishnchips
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« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2008, 01:28:53 AM »
Check out Helmets.org; they've got a blurb on this: http://www.helmets.org/skate.htm

Basically they like that skate helmets tend to cover well and are smoother which means they snag less in crashes. But they are not always made to the same standard and in some cases to no standard at all. It seems you looking for something that is CPSC certified.

They also have some commentary in the "new for 2008" section where they say the trend in bike helmets is to go with a smoother rounder more compact shape. There's a lot more info here: http://www.helmets.org/helmet08.htm    Interesting that they mention a $7 Walmat CPSC certified helmet meets the same standard as any other. 

Personally I find a heavy helmet aches after a while, and having the vents, though not necessarily better for impact, do help cool your head. I generally wear protection pads all the time as an XC rider, but I also feel the pads heat me up faster, slightly stifle mobility and add a bit of weight. Problems are not significant in themselves, but over a 2hr XC ride it does become significant. I even think they can help to cause an accident when I'm fatigued.

I feel the same with a helmet. I want a light weight helmet that offers some cooling and adjustment features. The next helmet I get will definitely have an adjustable visor that i can flip up in the deep woods for even more visibility. But other than that feature I think  a decent sub $70 helmet will do just fine.
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Kelly
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« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2008, 06:16:48 AM »
Yesterday  I saw a guy with a full faced Lacross helmet on the golf course side, face mask and all, riding with a group.

Rob Cheesy
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Lust4singletrack
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« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2008, 07:18:05 AM »
Quote
Yesterday  I saw a guy with a full faced Lacross helmet on the golf course side, face mask and all, riding with a group.

I saw him! I said "nice helmet" he goes "I'm a hard core beginner whooo". It's was pretty funny.

I have been using the Giro Xen for awhile and find it to be a damn good helmet. I've used skate style helmets and they look good and offer more protection for the back of your head but they're way too hot. Your brain will melt. The Xen goes as far down your head as a skate helmet so it offers the same protection but with vents so you don't overheat. Also the Hex made by Giro is sweet and a little bit less expensive.
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Tom Coyle
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« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2008, 10:06:02 AM »
I have broken 3 Helmets in the past year, one a little over a month ago, my Helmet if choice is the Bell "Delerium" it has a small wheel that turns on the back so you can just push it with your finger while riding and it tightens to fit comfortably, plus it offers a good amount of coverage specific for the needs of most Mt. Bikers. (I am currently in the market for a full faced helmet)
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jpearce
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« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2008, 12:55:08 PM »
Quote from: Kman on June 25, 2008, 10:06:02 AM
I have broken 3 Helmets in the past year

Geez - with no damage to the underlying head?  That might explain a few slightly incomprehensible website postings...
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Lust4singletrack
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« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2008, 02:26:27 PM »
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I have broken 3 Helmets in the past year

I had the honor of witnessing the last break. In Kman's defense, he was trying something that 99% of riders would have just walked. Quite a sight.
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fightnut
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« Reply #7 on: June 26, 2008, 12:26:17 AM »
Quote from: Kman on June 25, 2008, 10:06:02 AM
I have broken 3 Helmets in the past year,

Well that brings up another point. Fuller coverage MTB helmets like the Giro Xen & Hex and the Fox Flux run near $100, and have to be tossed once they take a hit that craks them. Some of the skate style helmets are labeled as "multi hit".
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fishnchips
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« Reply #8 on: June 26, 2008, 01:20:28 AM »
I have yet to hit the helmet hard though I've had a number of falls. I still try to replace them every year or so. But the fact that they do fall apart on a head crash means they take the impact rather than your skull. "multi hit" sounds great but it also sounds like some of that impact is going to be transfered to your skull. If you really crash hard $100 is a small price.

But also I don't think you can go wrong with a much cheaper vented MTB helmet. They all protect the brain housing. Just make sure they that least have that CPSC cert.

My dad did a triathlon about 10 years back and hit some gravel and went down. He smashed the helmet, broke ribs, punctured a lung, etc, but his head was fine.

In the early days of the web I remember seeing an accident report database of cycling injuries and the top causes of serious injury were people crashing without wearing a helmet, and people failing to check that their quick release wheel as on firmly.

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Kelly
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« Reply #9 on: June 26, 2008, 07:23:08 AM »
Quote from: fightnut on June 26, 2008, 12:26:17 AM
Quote from: Kman on June 25, 2008, 10:06:02 AM
I have broken 3 Helmets in the past year,

Well that brings up another point. Fuller coverage MTB helmets like the Giro Xen & Hex and the Fox Flux run near $100, and have to be tossed once they take a hit that craks them. Some of the skate style helmets are labeled as "multi hit".



You can find the leftover 2007 and 2006 models on the internet for close to half the normal price.  Just know your size and do a search on pricepoint, nashbar, jensonusa, etc.
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Lust4singletrack
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« Reply #10 on: June 26, 2008, 08:31:59 AM »
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Well that brings up another point. Fuller coverage MTB helmets like the Giro Xen & Hex and the Fox Flux run near $100, and have to be tossed once they take a hit that craks them. Some of the skate style helmets are labeled as "multi hit".

Valid point. Skaters and dirt jumpers fall down a lot, so I can see were multi hit would be desireable. For trail riding though you are better off with a mtb specific helmet. We need to stay within our budgets though, obviously, so shop around. I think $100 is a small price to pay for protecting the grey matter in the cranium. If you plan on dirt jumping as well as trail riding a lot maybe try to get both, if you can swing the cash flow. Possibly get both for a $100? There are cheaper helmets than the Flux and Xen, I am partial to Giro in case you could not tell; because they fit my head well. The havoc is a sweet helmet as well. I had one of those before I got the Xen that I have now. I broke that one in a lawn dart impression off a drop (I was going to slow). My brain survived.
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Tom Coyle
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« Reply #11 on: June 26, 2008, 10:04:37 AM »
Quote from: Lust4singletrack on June 25, 2008, 02:26:27 PM
Quote
I have broken 3 Helmets in the past year

I had the honor of witnessing the last break. In Kman's defense, he was trying something that 99% of riders would have just walked. Quite a sight.

I'll be honest my neck does creak a lot , I have to streatch my
neck quite often, head feels fine, most of the typoes are from this F&$@kin iPhone
that has a shity word speller and pissed the hell out of me, it took me 12 minutes to type this
post! F iPhone!
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fightnut
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« Reply #12 on: June 26, 2008, 08:48:53 PM »
Thanks for all the input guys. It looks like after all, I'm going to just get another Bell Slant. I crashed twice with mine, tapped head on the first crash, no cracks in helmet, head's fine.
REALLY tapped head on the second crash, helmet cracked, head's fine.

So it did what it was suppose to do, and it's comfortable, light and well ventilated.

I guess I was just thinking I wanted something to cover more of my head, but like I said above, the Bell Slant worked both times. Plus you can get leftover '07's for about $30.

Thanks again guys (espec, Fishnchips for that link, good stuff).
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Kman
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« Reply #13 on: June 29, 2008, 10:47:02 AM »
Excellent!  Cheesy
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