Bicycle helmets save many lives
every year, and while any helmet is better than nothing at all, there are some
very good reasons to get a new helmet. Here’s a list of reasons to buy a new
helmet.
1. Have you ever crashed with your current helmet?
Bicycle helmets are designed to
protect well for one substantial impact. If you have had a crash during which
you hit your head hard enough that you were glad you were wearing a helmet,
than you should replace the helmet. Even if you can’t see any substantial
damage to the helmet, the impact-absorbing ability of your helmet is
compromised and there may be unseen cracks in the helmet shell.
2. Is your helmet more than 5 years old?
Even if you have never crashed
with your helmet, you may still want to replace your helmet if it is over 5
years old. Studies have shown that the EPS foam used in most helmets today does
not “break down” as quickly as many helmet companies claim, yet prolonged
exposure to heat and/or sun can definitely reduce the foam’s ability to absorb
impacts. Over the course of a helmet’s life countless minor impacts from
dropping, rolling around the floor of your car, getting knocked around in your
closet, bumping your head on small, low-hanging branches, etc. can cause
micro-fractures in the foam and reduce the effectiveness of the helmet. Plus
new technology is continually improving the fit and protection of helmets. After 5 years of use, most helmets are
generally in pretty rough shape. If you are one of the few who take
extraordinarily good care of your helmet, or if you don’t really ride that
much, your helmet might still be just fine.
3. Is your helmet uncomfortable?
If you can’t wait to take off
your helmet when you ride, if it is too tight, or too loose, or too hot, or
hurts your head after riding for a while, then a new helmet is a good
idea. The ideal helmet will fit well
enough so that you don’t have to continually adjust it while you ride. You
should not have to tighten the chin strap so much that it chokes you to keep it
in place. Your helmet should be comfortable enough that you barely notice it
while you are riding. A really nice
helmet can actually help keep you cool by channeling air over your head while
you ride.
4. Is your helmet properly certified for bike riding?
Make sure the helmet you use has
a sticker inside stating that it meets CPSC or ASTM standards for impact
protection. If not, replace it with a helmet that does. Otherwise you may not
be properly protected during a crash.
Even if your helmet is properly
certified, fits well, and is still in good shape, you might want to consider a
new helmet just because of improvements in style, comfort, and protection. Even
in the past 5 years helmets in general have become lighter, with better ventilation,
better padding, and better fit adjustment systems. Plus new advances such as
Mips (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) have made them safer than
ever. Check out a new helmet and see if you can improve the safety and
enjoyment of your riding.
