| Re: Helmet Comparison Articles ??
Rich Clark wrote:
>
> The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
> certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their potential
> effectiveness in protecting your head. Whether this is worth anything or not
> is a matter of opinion, but it has little bearing on helmet choice, since in
> this regard they're all the same.
>
> Which leaves fit, style, and comfort. Factors that don't stand up to
> objective comparisons.
>
> That's why the helmet market is all about image and subjectivity, and why
> price and "quality" have no relationship.
>
> If you want a helmet, you go try on a bunch until you find one that fits
> your head and has a retention system that will keep it in place without
> discomfort, and that you like the looks of. If you care about your place in
> the fashion pantheon, you buy one with lots of big holes that costs more
> than $100. If you don't, you buy one with lots of medium sized holes that
> costs $30.
What Rich says is basically true, but he's omitted one thing:
While all helmets in the USA have to pass the same standard, the
expensive helmets - those with maximum ventilation, minimum weight,
up-to-the-minute styling - tend to pass the impact standard with lower
margins of safety. IOW, when you buy a $20 *-Mart helmet, you get more
crash protection than when you spend $140 to look just like your racing
hero.
Consumer reports occasionally tests helmets, and I believe the current
issue has such a test.
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Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]
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