Helmet Comparison Articles ?? - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

07-07-2004, 04:53 AM

"Churchill" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:icJGc.33952$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. ..
> Hello,
>
> Do you know where there are any good Helmet reviews for high quality
helmets
> ?
>
> Perhaps, a comparison ?!

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.

RichC

07-07-2004, 06:09 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> "Churchill" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:icJGc.33952$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. ..
> > Hello,
> >
> > Do you know where there are any good Helmet reviews for high quality
> helmets
> > ?
> >
> > Perhaps, a comparison ?!
>
> The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
> certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their potential

Mostly, but not completely true: several of Specialized's helmet models
meet the Snell standards in addition to the CPSC and ANSI standards.
Most others do not.

.....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

07-07-2004, 06:09 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> "Churchill" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:icJGc.33952$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. ..
> > Hello,
> >
> > Do you know where there are any good Helmet reviews for high quality
> helmets
> > ?
> >
> > Perhaps, a comparison ?!
>
> The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
> certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their potential

Mostly, but not completely true: several of Specialized's helmet models
meet the Snell standards in addition to the CPSC and ANSI standards.
Most others do not.

.....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

07-07-2004, 06:09 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> "Churchill" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:icJGc.33952$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. ..
> > Hello,
> >
> > Do you know where there are any good Helmet reviews for high quality
> helmets
> > ?
> >
> > Perhaps, a comparison ?!
>
> The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
> certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their potential

Mostly, but not completely true: several of Specialized's helmet models
meet the Snell standards in addition to the CPSC and ANSI standards.
Most others do not.

.....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

07-07-2004, 06:09 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> "Churchill" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:icJGc.33952$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. ..
> > Hello,
> >
> > Do you know where there are any good Helmet reviews for high quality
> helmets
> > ?
> >
> > Perhaps, a comparison ?!
>
> The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
> certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their potential

Mostly, but not completely true: several of Specialized's helmet models
meet the Snell standards in addition to the CPSC and ANSI standards.
Most others do not.

.....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

07-07-2004, 06:09 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> "Churchill" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:icJGc.33952$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. ..
> > Hello,
> >
> > Do you know where there are any good Helmet reviews for high quality
> helmets
> > ?
> >
> > Perhaps, a comparison ?!
>
> The helmets marketed by the major manufacturers all have the same
> certifications, which is the only guidance you'll find as to their potential

Mostly, but not completely true: several of Specialized's helmet models
meet the Snell standards in addition to the CPSC and ANSI standards.
Most others do not.

.....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

07-07-2004, 06:17 AM

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.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

07-07-2004, 06:17 AM

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.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

07-07-2004, 06:17 AM

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.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

07-07-2004, 06:17 AM

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.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]