Supra

Now, that is some golden advice right there

Cycle4Fun

You're wrong about the serious knocks. That's what helmets are designed to do. Prevent severe injury from serious impacts. This level of protection ultimately means the smaller knocks aren't serious at all. A good helmet will save your life from serious knocks to the head. A helmet with reduced profile may not be able to absorb as much impact energy, it may not have as much coverage down the back of the head. Yes, you can still die from head trauma while wearing a helmet, that's true. It's just less likely and impacts need to be much greater.

The other thing is helmets reduce concussions. They aren't designed to prevent concussions.

I'll give you two real life examples in my life. They are bicycle related, but the technology, design, and impact speeds and fundamentals are similar.

Five years ago June, I was sitting at work when I got a phone call. My friends father was being life flighted to the local hospital in critical condition. I learned this when I got there. Coming down a hill with a corner in a group ride road bike ride, he hit some gravel. He slid across the road and hit a tree square to his back. The impact broke his vertebrae damaging his nerves while causing severe internal bleeding. He had a major concussion when the back of his head hit the tree as his body wrapped around it, but no bleeding in his brain. We estimate he hit the tree at 25-30mph. The trauma surgeon said he would have died at the scene if he wasn't wearing a helmet. One year later that bad ass was back on the bicycle.

That's an effing serious knock to the head.

Second story. While mountain biking I went over a rock feature on a nice dry day. Turns out those rocks had moss on them that made them as slick as East Cost snow. The bike went out from under me and the side of my head hit the edge of the rectangular cut rock. 1/4" dent into the 1/2" foam. I was only shaken up. Doubtful I got even a minor concussion. Wearing a helmet turned what would have been a serious and bloody concussion from impact to the side of my skull into a loss of $50.

Best $50 I've ever spent.

Just make sure the helmet is certified to ASTM 2040 / CE EN 1077 and has good coverage on the side and back of the head. You wear a helmet because it will save your life. It also happens to keep your head and ears warm better than a beanie. You don't buy a helmet because it looks good.

Cycle4Fun

Here's another good bicycling link from Bicycling Magazine.

"These are just a few of the examples of how modern helmets are far safer than those from even a decade ago. Further proof that helmets are safe: Don't wear one and you die. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), since 1998 thousands of people have died in bicycle accidents, more than 90 percent of whom weren't wearing helmets. In 2008, IIHS stats show that 714 cyclists were killed. Only 58 of those cyclists were wearing helmets. The rest, 656, were lidless."

Bicycle Helmets: Injury Prevention | Bicycling Magazine

tiredpanda

There has been a ton of research I have put into both snowboard helmets and bicycle helmets. I have concluded for myself that they don't do much for speeds greater then about 20mph. Thanks for the stories I'm always glad to hear when people male it out of bad crashes. But the fact is in both stories it is just a guess that the helmet saved you and your dad.

Not really a park rat I just want something to eat up some of the energy from blunt trauma. When snowboarding and I feel the need I carry a mouth guard which I feel is more effective at preventing concussions .

phony_stark

This is why I like hardhats the best. They're soft, so they prevent low speed impacts and you're less likely to get a concussion.

I don't haul ass like supra though. I tree the mountian more like a skatepark with the occasional "half ass" hauling.

tiredpanda

I can't find Brock foam berns anywhere in Canada ugh . Only single IMPACt and multi impact foam. Is the Brock foam squishy? If so its probably insanely comfortable. Oh does the normal been helms fit the same size as Brock foam version

matty19

Isn't the multi-impact foam te Brock foam?

In my experience, the hard hats and the certified helmets have the same fit. Again, on my head, they run about a size small.

phony_stark

I have the sinkfit helmet for my bike and the brock foam for skating/snowboarding....duuuuude the Brock foam is very comfy. It's not WILD squishy, but it's markedly more comfy than any other helmet that I've owned.

tiredpanda

They only have multi impact for other brands not the bern tho. I went and tried on the been eps and wasn't as comfy as the red mutiny. Thanks everyone

Triple8Sol

As far as low profile lids go, I tried on the newish Protec ones and they seemed just as low-pro as my Bern Watts but even lighter.

__________________
14 NeverSummer Proto HD . 13 Never Summer Cobra . 12 Gnu Rider's Choice C2PTX
13 Now IPO . 12 K2 Formula . 11 K2 Formula
13 NB x 686 580