Headcase - A Helmet Buying Guide

Written By:

John Arens

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There is no piece of gear more important than your helmet. Regardless of whatever tires, wheels, winches, or any other accessory you bolt onto your ATV or UTV, one unfortunate whack on the head can make it all go away. We simply cannot overstate the value of a quality helmet, even for UTV riding, and here is what you need to look for.

Fit

Both comfort and effective protection require a helmet that fits correctly. The helmet must be snug on your head, but not so tight that it pinches your face, cheeks, or ears in any way. A good test is to shake your head from side to side and if the helmet moves on its own, it is too loose and will not offer maximum protection. The cheek pads and liner should be made from a hypo-allergenic material that can be removed and washed. A few rides on a sweltering summer day will illustrate the value of this feature, and we usually drop the removable parts in the wash and then let air dry. At the rear of the helmet, the neck roll should rest against the neck and be made of the same, soft material as the cheek pads.

Protection – The Shell Game

The helmets main job is to dissipate the energy of the impact over a larger surface. The brain is particularly susceptible to injury when rattled against the inside of the skull. The helmet is also designed to control the deceleration of your head as it comes to a stop, a little like anti-lock brakes are designed to control a skid. Foam inside the helmet helps control the deceleration forces, but the impact energy is spread across the shell. This is one area where there are major differences between high-end helmets and low-end models. High-end helmets are often made from composite materials, like kevlar and carbon fiber laminates, while introductory models are made from several materials, such as poly-alloy plastics, injection molded plastics, or thermoplastic resins. The problem is extremely low-end helmets made from resins will help reduce the impact, but they can present a secondary danger by shattering or fragmenting. For that reason, we cannot recommend the low-end helmets. When choosing an intermediate-
level helmet, we would always go with a helmet made with a polycarbonate or woven fiberglass shell. When picking a full-face helmet, be sure the foam padding extends all the way to the front mouth guard as well. An added bonus with the high-end helmets is they are usually made of super strong and very light materials, like carbon or kevlar, which means they often weigh much less than a low-end or mid-range helmet. When it comes to helmet weight on long rides, the lighter the better.

Ventilation – A Breath of Fresh Air

Airflow is important for comfort, and most helmets offer a few forehead vents near the top and outlet vents at the rear of the shell. Some helmets even offer side vents designed to work like a vacuum of sorts, theoretically drawing out heat and moisture. To be honest, we’ve never really noticed a huge difference. A well-vented mouth guard is essential for removing condensation from your goggles, and hopefully all the vents can be closed off for cold weather, but we’ve used a little electrical tape on occasion. Many helmets also feature an interchangeable mouth guard.

Certified Safe – DOT and SNELL Approved

Never wear a novelty helmet that is not at least DOT certified! DOT certification is a safety standard that indicates at least a minimum level of protection a manufacturer believes their helmet will offer. That’s the good part. The scary part is they’re not always tested thoroughly, but DOT personnel try to hold everyone accountable by testing any helmets they can find to make sure they actually do meet the standard. Unfortunately, random testing has proven that 44% of DOT-badged helmets actually FAILED the tests in 2008. There is a much better standard, however.

The SNELL testing standard is a much more demanding set of tests a manufacturer must comply with in order to receive the highly coveted SNELL rating. To achieve SNELL certification, the helmet manufacturer must submit multiple samples of each model helmet for destructive testing. Only after a helmet passes all tests, will it be allowed to display the SNELL logo on the back. Needless to say, if you’re wearing a SNELL approved helmet, you’re wearing the best protection you can buy. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers attempt to achieve the SNELL standard because their helmet simply cannot pass the tests, they do not feel it will benefit them in increased sales, or they just bought a container load of them from China, and they really don’t care about your head anyway.

For 2008 DOT motorcycle helmet test results, check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration site at: http://www.nhtsa.gov/

Like we said before, never wear a helmet that is not at least DOT certified!

ATV & UTV Riding – What type of helmet?

For any type of sport riding or aggressive UTV action, we always wear a full-faced, motocross style helmet. The advantages of this type of helmet are excellent protection for the skull, good protection for the jaw and mouth, thanks to the chin bar, and ample ventilation. We really prefer the protection offered from this type of helmet, but for utility work there is another choice.

Utility work around the farm or UTV riding back to the hunting camp doesn’t usually require the full body armor of the motocross track, and often times an open-face helmet can get the job done. Though not as flashy as a motocross helmet, a quality, open-face helmet can offer excellent protection to the skull. An added benefit to hunters is that should you be presented a quick shot on the way to your hunting stand, an open-face helmet will let you quickly take aim with no interference.

If your open-face helmet has a face shield, the shield should stay in place when opened, be scratch resistant, and should not distort your vision by making the world beyond look as if you are peering out through an old window.

How Long Does a Helmet Last?

Usually a helmet will last for one crash or five years, whichever comes first! If a helmet has taken a hard crash, it has done its job by absorbing the impact. In most cases, the foam inside has been compressed, greatly reducing its protective capability. In severe crashes, the exterior may have been fractured as well. In either case, the protection has been compromised and the helmet needs to be replaced.

Helmets also have a shelf life thanks to the glues and materials that hold them together. Oils from your hair, heat, and a myriad of other substances can break down the liner or protective foam. Manufacturers recommend replacing a helmet if it is more than five years old. As tempting as it is to throw on that speckled lid from ’72 that looks like it has raised a couple batches of kittens, you need something a little better. Some racing organizations even check to see when a helmet was made before you can participate in an event.

The old saying is; “If you have a 25 dollar head, get a 25 dollar helmet”. However, even the neighbor kid who likes to ride shirtless on the road has a head worth more than that. There are plenty of good helmets between $100 and $150, but whatever type of helmet you choose, full-faced, open-face, or full motocross, please wear it! Undoubtedly, you have family, friends, and loved ones that want to see you come back in one piece!