Suggestions for Picking the Right Helmet
Helmet-Buying Tips
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With so many look-alike helmets to choose from, how can you tell which will protect you or your child best? Here are some tips from experts.
· Don't try to buy an all-purpose helmet. Sport-specific helmets best protect against the risks of a given activity. Consider buying a helmet for a particular sport at a store that specializes in that sport.
· Ask your coaches or instructors which helmets they prefer and why, and which certifications the items carry. Some common certifying groups include the American Society for Testing and Material (for sports including skiing, horseback riding and skateboarding); National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (football, baseball, ice hockey, lacrosse, polo); Snell (cycling); Safety Equipment Institute (horseback riding).
· Buy a helmet you or your child will wear. Fashion may not affect effectiveness, but it may keep the helmet on your head rather than on the shelf. Particularly for cycling, choose a helmet that motorists will see easily.
· Make sure your helmet fits snugly, covers the top of the forehead and doesn't slide from side to side or front to back. The helmet should not hinder motion or obscure vision when you move your head. Keep chin straps tight; leave a gap of no more than two fingers between the chin and the strap. Don't pitch those little foam inserts that come with the helmet; installing them can lead to a more secure fit.
· Keep the helmet's proof of purchase. Some brands offer a replacement at a reduced price if the original is damaged.
