Do I need a new helmet?

[He Man]

Define impact here... Their impact is a huge 25 or some foot drop with a 10lb pointed weight. The likely hood of that happening twice is pretty low. Thats like have your bike come at you and the handle bar hits you in the face....twice.

Droping it on the floor is a self weight drop over 3-6 feet spread over the surface of the helmet.

Take it however you want, theres aboslutely no justification in replacing a helmet after you droped it from  shoulder height other then to calm your nerves. 

Football helmets are just as high tech as motorcycle helmets. In fact, i think they are more high tech. They need to absorb a lot of energy, and dissipate it VERY efficiently for the player to not get a concussion, and they need to do it several times over the course of the game.

[suzyj]

Football helmets are just as high tech as motorcycle helmets. In fact, i think they are more high tech. They need to absorb a lot of energy, and dissipate it VERY efficiently for the player to not get a concussion, and they need to do it several times over the course of the game.

Helmets?

Big Bumps of the AFL

[ozzys4r]

Really guys..?! You only get one head! I used to work in a bike shop. Helmets are throw away after one impact... Either get it checked by the manufacturer or replace IMO... They cost very little when compared to life long care after you are brain damaged in an accident. We all know how dangerous it is on the road already. Dont gamble with your life.

Just my 2cents

[Scotzman]

Define impact here... Their impact is a huge 25 or some foot drop with a 10lb pointed weight. The likely hood of that happening twice is pretty low. Thats like have your bike come at you and the handle bar hits you in the face....twice.

Droping it on the floor is a self weight drop over 3-6 feet spread over the surface of the helmet.

The whole two impact thing and dispersing the impact is why SNELL changed their testing, because like you said, the chances of getting hit twice are pretty minuscule and should be replaced after the first hit (crash vice drop) anyways.

[scott_araujo]

I think Snell was developed in response to early bicycle helmets that tended to break apart after absorbing the first impact, leaving the rider unprotected for successive impacts, same spot or elsewhere.  Makes a lot of sense for what used to be just a piece of styrofoam on your head, not so much for a moto helmet that has a strong shell around that holds it together already.  I'm glad Snell has changed to what seems like a more sensible standard for moto helmets. 

The requirement to meet the second impact in the same spot meant the helmet absorbed less impact and transmitted more for to your head on the first hit.  DOT only certified helmets absorbed much more force on the first impact.  Since you don't tend to hit your head twice in the same spot this means better helmets for all of us.

Scott

[scduc]

[Football helmets are just as high tech as motorcycle helmets. In fact, i think they are more high tech. They need to absorb a lot of energy, and dissipate it VERY efficiently for the player to not get a concussion, and they need to do it several times over the course of the game.


I beg to differ, Fact is that the NFL is currently investigating the helmet issue. And no other sport/ event carries more concussions with long term damaging effects the American football. Rugby is by far a more aggresive sport with less incidents. Even boxing which  some consider brutal has less long term affects then football.

Really guys..?! You only get one head! I used to work in a bike shop. Helmets are throw away after one impact... Either get it checked by the manufacturer or replace IMO... They cost very little when compared to life long care after you are brain damaged in an accident. We all know how dangerous it is on the road already. Dont gamble with your life.

Just my 2cents

This is really the point.

[DaFoose]

[Football helmets are just as high tech as motorcycle helmets. In fact, i think they are more high tech. They need to absorb a lot of energy, and dissipate it VERY efficiently for the player to not get a concussion, and they need to do it several times over the course of the game.


I beg to differ, Fact is that the NFL is currently investigating the helmet issue. And no other sport/ event carries more concussions with long term damaging effects the American football. Rugby is by far a more aggresive sport with less incidents. Even boxing which  some consider brutal has less long term affects then football.This is really the point.

I don't mean to change the subject, but don't most of the football incidents have to do with the size of the guys playing? As in the linemen? I don't follow rugby, but how many rugby players are over 300lbs? But yes football is definately the worst as far as long term effects.

[Triple J]

I beg to differ, Fact is that the NFL is currently investigating the helmet issue. And no other sport/ event carries more concussions with long term damaging effects the American football. Rugby is by far a more aggresive sport with less incidents. Even boxing which  some consider brutal has less long term affects then football.This is really the point.

I agree that football helmets aren't as effective as they could be. This is because you cannot design a helmet to absorb multiple hits as effectively as one designed to only take only. Simple engineering principle, coupled with the economics of not being able to replace helmets after every hit in football.

I completely disagree about the quote above. No way Rugby is more aggressive than football...at least from an impact standpoint, particularly head impacts. If it were there would be more head injuries, period. American football players are larger and faster than Rugby or Aussie Rules football players, and they impact each other with much greater force (largely due to the equipment they wear and the feeling of invincibility it gives them). The attitude in Rugby may be more aggressive...but the hits (which cause the head injuries) aren't even close.

Also, boxing has just as many long term effects as football. The brain damage associated with head injuries (similar to Alzheimers) was first discovered in boxers. The difference is there are way more people playing football, so the number of injuries is going to be higher. Look at the old boxers (Frasier, Ali)...they all have issues from being hit in the head so many times. I expect these injuries to start popping up in UFC stars within the next decade as well.

On the helmet front...I agree with HeMan. If you drop an empty helmet a small distance (like off of a table), and the shell is not damaged, then the helmet should be fine. Helmet liners are designed to crumple (like a car frame) in an impact; however, there needs to be something inside of them to cause the crumpling...like a head...otherwise the lining should not be damaged. Telling if the shell has been damaged is the magical question.

[mitt]

Really guys..?! You only get one head! I used to work in a bike shop. Helmets are throw away after one impact... Either get it checked by the manufacturer or replace IMO... They cost very little when compared to life long care after you are brain damaged in an accident. We all know how dangerous it is on the road already. Dont gamble with your life.

Just my 2cents

So by your logic, if you drop your helmet from say 10", then you replace it?

Helmets can take some level of abuse that is so far below the crash levels, that it just doesn't have any affect.   I guess each of us has to decide, but remember, your helmet was shipped, in an un-padded cardboard box 1000's of miles.  It probably saw as much cumulative energy abuse as a once or twice drop from 30".

mitt

[metallimonster]

..they all have issues from being hit in the head so many times. I expect these injuries to start popping up in UFC stars within the next decade as well.

I wouldn't put Boxing and MMA in the same category here.  I know there has been multiple studies that have proved MMA is much more easier on the noodle than boxing.  The gloves are way less padded and guys aren't getting repeated blows to the head for 12 rounds like in boxing. Typically, if your getting hit more than a few good times in the head than your getting knocked out in MMA.  Plus, there are multiple aspects like grappling and kicks that boxing doesn't have.  Long-term effects remain to be seen but I would say boxing is by far the worst for brain injuries.