Skateboard helmet vs bicycle helmet?

[szsz]

While the helmet hats are indeed adorable they totally defeat the purpose of the helmet being able to slide and thus not catch and result in broken neck. Not advised!!!

[Eden]

While the helmet hats are indeed adorable they totally defeat the purpose of the helmet being able to slide and thus not catch and result in broken neck. Not advised!!!

I highly doubt those helmet hats would stick to the ground.... the helmets that were found to be dangerous in that respect were the short lived (though I occasionally still see someone tooling around in one!) all foam with no covering at all models. The problems was that the polystyrene could actually stick to the pavement for an instant and in that split second snap your neck. They could be made safer by the addition of a lycra cover, but were still never a very good idea and did not last long on the market.

The helmet hats have a slippery hard shell on the helmet itself and I would doubt that the hat covering would pose a risk either, even if it were firmly attached to the helmet, which I think it is not.

[Looeez]

The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute website http://www.bhsi.org/index.htm has a lot of good info. I looked at when researching helmets and I actually ended up buying a skateboard style helmet which meets all the safety standard stuff.

[sarahspins]

I love my Giro Skyla and it's a $40 helmet

That said, now that it's getting cooler I like it a lot more than I did about 2 or 3 months ago I think next spring when it warms up I will look at spending a little more and upgrade to one with maybe a bit more ventilation.. but it's very comfortable and it fits great.

[XSportsProtecti]

Hi aeiea,

Great advice on this thread regarding the differences between "skateboard" and bicycle helmets. You really have to be careful, as there is a difference between "styling", "marketing", and "safety/certification standards."

If you are bicycling, then you really should be wearing a helmet that meets the CPSC bicycle helmet safety standard. Look for the sticker inside the helmet that declares this - typically with the letters "CPSC", but at least with a statement like "this helmet meets the requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Commission safety standard for bicycle use..." The CPSC standard is mandated by Federal law for any helmet sold in the U.S. as a bicycle helmet.

Skateboard helmets CAN meet a certification (from ASTM - the F1492 skateboard helmet certification), but ARE NOT REQUIRED to pass any testing at all. So, anyone can make a helmet and sell it as a "skateboard helmet" without passing any test. Not that this is wrong...There are very good quality skateboard helmets on the market that are not certified to anything - they don't need to be.

With that having been said, many brands market helmets as "skateboard helmets" - including skateboarders on the box and/or "skate" text on the package. But typically, if you look closely, you'll see that the helmet meets the CPSC bicycle standard (and maybe even the ASTM skate standard, too), but is marketed and sold as a "skateboard" helmet. This is a case where the helmet has skate styling, and skate marketing, but it's certified to the bike standard. If you really want the "skate" look, and/or the extended coverage on the back of your head, choose one of these....

And finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you to check the inside of your current helmet. If it does not have a sticker with the CPSC language, you really should find yourself a bicycle certified helmet - even if it has the skate styling you like. For $35, you can pick up a Bell Faction or Giro Flak - good examples of "skate style" helmets that meet the CPSC bike standard. Want lighter weight and a more bicycle oriented style? Something like the Bell Citi or the Giro Xen have a skate influence, but still have tons of venting and light weight. They are bicycle helmets that incorporate a skater style...

I hope this helps you and others. It can be confusing. The bottom line - if you're bicycling, wear a helmet that meets the CPSC safety standard. Whether that helmet looks like a skate helmet or not is totally up to you!