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I know, I know, few things are more unexciting than safety, but having suffered my fair share of concussions, I've become a lot more critical in selecting MTB helmets of late.
Despite a slew of acronyms proclaiming the latest in helmet safety tech, few, if any, manufacturers actually offer any verifiable comparison in safety performance against their peers. Magazine reviews just cloud the picture further (please don't take offence Singletrack), generally assigning stars for everything other than a helmet's no. 1 purpose: to protect your noggin. The only independent and thorough helmet safety assessment that I came across is the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings. Their methodology and results do raise some questions however, so I tend to think of them as a helpful reference rather that the final word in helmet safety.
Generally, I base my helmet selection process on these pretty unscientific criteria: 1) fit, 2) coverage, 3) MIPS or equivalent technology (although I'm beginning to have doubts about its effectiveness for non-baldies), 4) build quality. On the last point, I've generally got on well with the fit of Giro helmets, but when I look at them alongside the likes of POC, the difference in finish is stark (to me at least).
So, have any of you managed to cut through the marketing crap and magazine reviews? Perhaps it's a bit of a long shot, but it'd be especially especially interesting to hear from anyone who works/has worked in the helmet industry. Perhaps there are things we could also learn from helmets for other applications, like motorsport?
Its marketing guff, there's nothing behind it.
Your methodology sounds good to me tho.
I agree your approach seems good. Fit above all else imo.
Fit and one that covers a lot of your head is basically going to be safest.
They are all made of the same stuff, so I suspect if you take fit and coverage away, the rest is marketing word salad.
Fit is the critical thing - and not by taking slack up with a cradle. You should only be able to get a fingertip between the shell and head at any point. A smooth shell without aero projections at the back. Less venting means more EPS to absorb shock
there are higher standards -IIRC - snell?
Rather than looking at PPE in the first instance have you considered how best to avoid landing on your head? I'm not suggesting not wearing a helmet but some people appear to be better at falling than others. I personally tend to hit my knees and have thankfully only once hit my head.
Thanks for your comments and I'm glad that you generally agree with my approach.
Just to throw another spanner in the works, I'm curious to hear what you think of this new MIPS Spherical technology.
As I mentioned earlier, I have my doubts about the effectiveness of standard MIPS. It would seem to me that 0.5"+ of hair would be as effective in providing as a slip plane for the helmet as the thin plastic MIPS liner.
The Spherical technology appears to take a different approach altogether. What's more, it allows for the use of two different densities of EPS, which seems to be the right way forward.
The problem with Snell is it doesn’t (or at least didn’t) take into account how much energy is absorbed and not transferred to your brain. It favoured a harder helmet when newer thinking (and evidence) would suggest that in actual fact a softer helmet that absorbs the impact/energy better would be more beneficial to your head/brain.
Fit, then features for me. I know people want different features in a helmet but I am happy with bell chin bar equipped dh because of the extra protection but only for when you need it, rest of the time just a normal helmet
Rather than looking at PPE in the first instance have you considered how best to avoid landing on your head? I’m not suggesting not wearing a helmet but some people appear to be better at falling than others. I personally tend to hit my knees and have thankfully only once hit my head.
I've definitely had this discussion before. I would certainly agree that you should always rely on good judgement first and PPE second. However, (and with all due respect) you are kidding yourself if you think that you can master crashing an MTB in a manner that always protects your head. We're talking infinite scenarios happening in split seconds. Just watch this World Cup DH crash compilation and my point will become abundantly clear. Saying that, I would say that most MTB crashes I've had, or seen, didn't involve a head impact. However, just because you haven't hit your head, doesn't mean you never will.
The problem with Snell is it doesn’t (or at least didn’t) take into account how much energy is absorbed and not transferred to your brain. It favoured a harder helmet when newer thinking (and evidence) would suggest that in actual fact a softer helmet that absorbs the impact/energy better would be more beneficial to your head/brain.
Thanks, that's really interesting. Inevitably, one of the key difficulties in MTB helmet design (and testing) are the infinite impact scenarios. If we always fell in exactly the same way, at exactly the same speed and onto exactly the same surface, the engineers' job would be much more straight forward. A harder helmet may be suitable for one scenario, whereas a softer helmet may be more suitable for another. In the end, it's all a compromise. As Mr Gump once famously said, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
I have a Giro with the mips spherical after I landed on my head in my Giro montaro, and it was all they had for crash replacement.
Haven’t crashed in it yet so no idea how well it holds up safety wise. It’s a pita for a helmet mounted light though as you can’t mount it on the top (otherwise the two bits won’t slide).
I’ve had two Giro Montaros save me from holes in the head so I’ll probably be sticking with that brand.
good info zerocool. ta
I have a Giro with the mips spherical after I landed on my head in my Giro montaro, and it was all they had for crash replacement.
Haven’t crashed in it yet so no idea how well it holds up safety wise. It’s a pita for a helmet mounted light though as you can’t mount it on the top (otherwise the two bits won’t slide).
I’ve had two Giro Montaros save me from holes in the head so I’ll probably be sticking with that brand.
I also had a Montaro with MIPS. Crashed while wearing it 4 months ago and still have post-concussion symptoms. Haven't been back on the bike since. I certainly have no reason to blame the helmet for not doing its job properly (one of its spines cracked, as it should have done to dissipate the impact), but I can't help but wonder how my head would have fared in a different helmet. Also, the helmet was about 4 years old at the time, so I wonder whether that played a role too.
Mate of mine had a big tumble on road at speed wearing one of those cheap Planet X helmets. Helmet took a good battering and kept his noodle safe. Bike helmets are like toilet roll, they all do the job with different degrees of cost, comfort and marketing. However, all regular cycle helmets offer limited protection and if you want safety then it is a motorcycle helmet