Helmet Replacement?

funtimes

Member
I was wondering when a fall is hard enough to buy a new helmet...I have the smith maze, and I had heard helmets were only good for one fall. I was skiing yesterday, and my ski brake was apparently broken, which caused me to whip backwards and hit my head...there's no crack on the helmet, but I didn't know how big of a hit the helmet could take. anybody have any insight? +k
 
I, and a few other people I know, usually go by the rule that if you hit your head hard enough and THINK you need your helmet replacing, then it's usually best to replace it.

Me, I have the RED Hi-FI Shaun White model, looks tidy and is so damn light.
 
If there is any question then you probably should. I have the smith variant Brim. Fantastic helmet, but it mainly depends on what you ski to choose what kind of helmet you want.
 
This. Cracks or visible damage are not the only sign of your helmet being expired. In fact, usually you can't tell when your helmet is expired since the foam has compressed and this was what you were ultimately counting on to keep you safe. So, if you take a fall where you were glad to have your helmet on, you should replace it. Don't take the risk, just get a new helmet.
 
alright awesome thanks guys +k to you all. is there any test you can do to see if it is alright? or a way to check the foam to see if it is crushed? i just loaded my helmet up with all my favorite stickers haha i don't want to replace it if i don't have to (unbelievably terrible reasoning,i know)
 
Go with the BERN Baker or the POC Receptor Bug. Have both of them and theyre comfy as hell and can take a beating. I upgraded from a Smith Maze and I've never been happier
 
Bern makes two types of helmets, the Hardhat, and the EPS.

I'll pull it right from the site

Available as a Hard Hat with a burly ABS shell with multiple-impact soft Brock® foam or as a helmet with ABS shell and EPS hard foam. EPS hard foam meets ASTM F 2040 and EN 1077B standards for snow and ski, CPSC and EN 1078 standards for bike and skate. Hard Hats with Brock soft foam do not meet the standards for action sport head protection.

Do not buy a helmet if it is not certified.

Do not buy a helmet that says it's multi impact, and then act like it's a multi impact.

There is no way to test how much life a helmet has left in it.

 
well other companies make similar ones too. like sandbox does, i know that. Also RED makes hardhats. It's basically anything with really thin foam that resembles what you were looking at. and like stated above, do NOT buy a multi-impact helmet and treat it like one. You never know which impact was the final one.
 
if the helmet has any visble damagefrom an impact, it's done.

Also, if it's a helmet like the maze that is designed for a single impact, and you have had a definate impact, put 2 and 2 together..... it's done
 
Unfortunately no- there is no way to tell if the foam is "too compressed" to no longer be safe. Visible damage is the obvious tell tale sign, but when in doubt don't risk your brain. We all know how important head safety is....
 
Which is a good way to check for cracks, but again a helmet can be compromised without being cracked. And if you guys tell a customer a helmet is safe when the compressed foam no longer keeps them safe, you could face some serious legal ramifications. Just be careful with that...
 
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