New rider, and I don’t wanna crack my head

[biasoccerboy]

I’m new to actual mountain biking. I previously did pretty light trails. I want to get a new helmet, and am most concerned about protection. I am deciding between something like a skate style helmet like the Fox Transition, and a more all mountain type helmet like the Gyro Hex. I was wondering whether a skate style helmet will absorb more of the impact than a more traditional bike helmet. I am not especially concerned with ventilation since I have long hair anyway. All suggestions welcome. I ride a GT Avalanche Hydraulic.

Benjamin

[Syd Patricio]

First off welcome.

Well if your not to concerned (you will be though when going for those long rides) then a skate style helmet offer more protection rather than the vented XC- AM helmets. The Hex is a good choice as it is both tough as well as vented at an affordable price.

The big thing though is try many on and see which fits the best.

[rmanla]

what type of riding are you planning on doing? Downhill at a ski resort? or XC? Easy advice would be to say dont fall, hahha. But it happens, i use a fox flux helmet and it has pretty good overall protection in a vented xc style shell. Those vents are really helpfull if youre out there pedaling up hills in the dead of summer. But if youll mainly just be hiking up the mountain and bombing down then a skate style or downhill style helmet would suit you.

[eastwood ✓ supporter]

+1 on the Giro Hex. Great protection, great ventilation, and great fit… overall great helmet.

[sal_pic]

I believe the difference, protection-wise, is that skate helmets are designed to withstand multiple impacts, while your typical bike helmet is supposed to take only one major impact, but take it like a champ.

Either way, wear it every time!

[Dustin Gaddis]

Y’all sure about that? Aren’t both xc and skate style helmets certified the same? I thought all helmets, motorcycles included were designed for one impact.

A skate style lid offers better penetration protection with it’s thick plastic outer shell. But the foam inside is designed to do the same thing a xc helmet does: it controls how fast your head stops when it hits the ground. It acts like a crumple zone, making your head slow down, not just instantly stop. If your head stops too fast your brain can hit the inside of your skull…and that ain’t good!

Anyhow, once that foam is crushed, it can mo longer absorb energy like it’s designed to do, such is why the helmet should be replaced.

[trailrider247]

Pro-Tec makes a multi-impact helmet, according to thier site here http://pro-tec.net/bike/technology.html thier helmets with the SXP technology "has built-in rebound control, once the helmet liner has been compressed, multi-impact SXP memory kicks in and the liner rebounds to its original shape, maintaining its impact-absorbing qualities." i dont know if i would trust that the technology works, but they claim it does, as far as i know Pro-Tec is the only company producing a muti-impact helmet.

[biasoccerboy]

Thanks for all the suggestions

I have a very basic FF helmet just in case I finally get the courage to do a big jump or something, then I won’t have to wait till i get the right helmet, and by then lose all the courage i had summoned up 😆 This is the link to the helmet I was just getting ready to buy.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/ProductSet … opnav=&s=1

Does anybody know if this one is any good (it comes with gloves…)

thanks

[biasoccerboy]

I ordered the TSG helmet mentioned above, 😃 hasn’t gotten here yet, I’ll review it when it comes.

[biasoccerboy]

Finally got the helmet. Seems great for the price, though since I haven’t owned many other ones I don’t have much comparison. It fits my head great. Very light (hence the name). It has 20 vents, but they don’t work all that well, since most are on the top and back. The channels inside don’t seem to do anything, but I’m willing to sacrifice comfort for security. 😄 CUZ I LUV MY BRAIN

[Dyno_Don]

That helmet looks good for shorter rides but for the long summer runs a bicycle helmet would be a better choice, Costco also has a Bell Bicycle helmet for around $25.00, if they are still in stock in the store you go to, I picked one up for a spare, at that price I’d buy both.. good luck, nothing is better then good luck..
Here is a pic of my Costco $25.00 Bell Helmet
http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac12 … 040001.jpg">

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