How to Choose the Safest Bike Helmet

Wearing a helmet while cycling does not eliminate the possibility of head injury in a crash, but it helps. According to this study , helmets provide a 63-88% reduction in the risk of head and brain injuries in all age groups. Conclusion: It would be foolish to ride a bike without it.

However, not all helmets are different. Materials, manufacture, fit, and age can affect how effective a helmet is in a crash, so if you’re going to wear a helmet (and you really should), make sure it’s as safe as possible.

Check for CPSC Seal

When choosing a bicycle helmet, the first thing to check is the Consumer Product Safety Commission label. Since 1999, all bicycle helmets made or imported for sale in the US must comply with CPSC guidelines to ensure they are safe and effective. But that doesn’t mean that every helmet you can buy actually fits.

According to a recent study by Consumer Reports, non-certified helmets of all kinds are available for sale through Amazon, Aliexpress.com, and other online retailers. Some helmets state that they are CPSC certified but do not contain the information required by the CPSC. When choosing a helmet, make sure the label includes the following information:

• A statement that says “Meets US CPSC Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets aged 5 years and over” or “Meets US CPSC Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets 1 year and older (Extended Head Cover).”
• Name, address and telephone number of the manufacturer or importer.
• Information, such as a serial number, that identifies the month and year the helmet was manufactured, as well as the production batch.

Making sure your helmet is government approved is just the first step to making sure it’s as safe as possible. CPSC marking is required, but there is no government agency that checks helmets – it’s an honor system. So note that the helmet is also ASTM2, Snell3 or ANSI4 certified. These are independent testing companies that test the safety of helmets to a stricter standard than the government requires.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Bike Helmet Online

Buying helmets online can get you a lower price than buying from a brick and mortar store, but if you’re not sure what you’re buying, it’s best to go to your local bike shop. There is no substitute for trying on different helmets for fit and comfort and discussing your needs with a specialist in a bike shop. So if you don’t already know the bike helmet model that’s right for you because you’re replacing an already used helmet, visit a bike shop in person.

Don’t Buy a Used Bike Helmet

Buying someone else’s helmet is pretty indecent – people sweat a lot in these things – but it’s also potentially unsafe. You would have no way of knowing if a previous accident had reduced the structural integrity of a used helmet.

How to tell if your bike helmet fits correctly

If you are wearing a bicycle helmet that does not fit your head properly, it may not help you in an accident. The Lifehacker Guide to Bicycle Helmet Fitting offers clear guidelines for proper helmet fitting, but don’t let this replace visiting a bike shop and making sure your fit is right and comfortable.

What is a “MIPS helmet” and is it safer than a regular helmet?

MIPS stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System. MIPS technology, found in many types of helmets, is used in many helmets and is designed to allow the helmet to move independently of your head, dissipating angular force as well as forward force.

How effective MIPS helmets are in preventing brain injury is a complex question. Testing by the Snell Foundation has shown no performance benefit to helmets equipped with MIPS technology. On the other hand, the helmet design company claims to have conducted 17,000 tests that prove “all MIPS helmets are significantly better than non-MIPS helmets.” Be that as it may, MIPS helmets dominate the lists of “best” safety helmets .

When should a bicycle helmet be replaced?

You should get a new helmet if there has been any impact on it. Even if there are no visible cracks on it and the helmet was working perfectly when you had a minor accident, once your helmet has been hit, replace it. Even if all you have done is drop your helmet hard enough to cause a small crack in it, it should be replaced.

Bicycle helmets are mostly disposable. They are designed to dissipate force by breaking or crushing, so if the inner layer of foam is damaged at all or the plastic is cracked, it is less effective than it was, even if it looks fine.

Some say that bike helmets should be replaced periodically, even if they are not damaged. Different helmet manufacturers have different recommendations for helmet replacement. The Snell Foundation recommends replacement every five years or so, depending on how often you use your bike and how well you take care of your helmet. On the other hand, this study tested 63 helmets of different ages and found that the age of a helmet does not affect how well it performs .

Can I wear a skateboard helmet for cycling?

The first rule of thumb for head protection is that in the event of an accident, any helmet is better than none. However, you must wear a head covering suitable for the sport you are playing. Cycling helmets are designed for different types of impact than skateboard helmets. Equestrian helmets are designed for different impacts than football helmets. And so on.

Is one style of bicycle helmet better than another?

Broadly speaking, there are three main varieties of bicycle helmets: road bike helmets, mountain bike helmets, and commuter bike helmets. Road helmets are made light and aerodynamic. Mountain bike helmets tend to have visors, better protection for the back of the head, or even a full face mask. Commuter helmets tend to be more rounded and designed for versatility and ventilation.

Which is “better” depends on what kind of cycling you do. Some research suggests that road bike helmets are more effective at preventing concussions than mountain bike helmets, but the difference is small, and mountain bike helmets are designed for the multiple, smaller impact you can get from falling down a mountain, as opposed to single hit. , the huge consequences you can get from getting hit by a car.

But every crash is unique, so it’s impossible to pick the perfect helmet for the way you ride. In an ideal world, you’d be wearing a helmet designed for your sport of cycling, but if you feel like a fool for an aero helmet and want to wear an urban helmet, that’s probably fine. There’s something to be said for wearing the bike helmet you feel most comfortable in, especially if it means you’re more likely to put it on before you start pedaling.