AAA

Come to think of it, those butt protectors could be of use to me. Not from the standpoint of impact, but as a heat shield. Any time I loose my carving edge and go for butt slide at much over 40 mph, especially on ice, the heat generated from friction instantly lights my butt on fire. It literally feels like I've sat on a frying pan. The next 8 seconds involve trying to share some of the friction with the palms of my hands and rocking desperately from cheek to cheek in a semi-controlled slide. When it's all over, I'm left chanting, "Ooo, ooo! Ahh, ahh! Hot, Hot!", while trying to fan the flames. I've actually turned around and looked at my backside afterwards, convinced that I had to have burned a hole in the pants fabric. So far not, but man it sure has felt like it! Gotta love the ice coast...

oneplankawanka

yeah wolfie.....halfpipes not crackpipes

Snowolf

I think you missed the point I was trying to make here. I was`nt saying, "don't bother with a helmet since they don't work" The point I was making is do not think of a helmet as a substitute for paying attention, using good judgment and riding defensively. Too many people who start rocking a helmet do in fact get an invincibility complex. Statistics bear out my point that in incidents involving impacts at really high speeds resulting in death, the rider was actually wearing a helmet. It`s a bit like seatbelts; sure they help save lives, but defensive driving which avoids the accident in the first place is your best line of defense.

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sedition

Helmets keep your head warm, keep your goggles in place, and give you more space to put stickers on.

Oh yeah, they can also help provide injury, but that is almost ancillary to everything listed above.

__________________
"Up front there ought to be a man in black." -Johnny Cash
Drink sin. Ride with the devil.

GEAR
Rome | Graft | 151
Johnnie Walker | Low-ball | Lodge

the_intern

good point. do you guys think that your image is effected by wearing a helmet? coming from a skate background, it's tough to shed that feeling of helmets are for dorks.

aesthetically, which helmets do you think represent the snowboard image? skate and bike have distinct styles of gear, do you think snowboarding helmets have a style yet?

sedition

I've been skateboarding for...well, over 20 years. Street skaters are reckless. Always have been, and always will be. But the vert dudes know is pretty dumb not to skate w/o a helmet (at least on vert). That said, I don't think the "helmets are for dorks" culture has bleed over to snowboarding to a huge extent. Sure, it is there, but in this case I think snowboarders overall have more safety common sense then skaters do.

As for style, no idea. I have a proect for both snowboarding, and skating (for the rare occasion that I do skate vert ramps or pools).

__________________
"Up front there ought to be a man in black." -Johnny Cash
Drink sin. Ride with the devil.

GEAR
Rome | Graft | 151
Johnnie Walker | Low-ball | Lodge

laz167

Ass pads are for sure good.. Specialy riding in the east coast.My first year I took a bad fall and couldn't sit for a week. As the helmet thing like said above, I'll wear it when I dont know the terrain or it's icy out.The only thing for me is that after an hour or so my neck get's stiff from wearing the helmet.I was actually looking into wrist guards this year anyone know of any that fit under your gloves?

mpdsnowman

I will NOT tollerate any east coast riders wearing ass pads We have the honor of the toughest conditions to ride and we shall not fear that condition and our bodies should be put to the ultimate test

Anyway...on the helmet deal, wolfie is correct in saying "ones not invincible while wearing it" but I encourage people to wear them when they snowboard or ski or ride a bike or even skateboard...heres why.

U shouldnt expect a helmet to take a serious high speed crash. But you should expect some protection from those unexpected "taps" one gets like when in the BC and you go thru trees, you clip a branch and will see a scratch on your helmet...that could be your head. Or if someone hits you by accident and heads collide. Bike riding same thing, if you fall its usually not the big hit that causes issues but more the bounce effect.

I just think you are leaving yourself open to exposure without one. Reduce the risk people...nobody needs to be a superhero.

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M P D S N O W M A N

pawlo

I used a helmet since day one (giro) and it's better than any cap, especially with the vents that you can open or close. Used wristpads occasionally, I will use them more now with the mittens..wristpads SUCKS with regular gloves.
One improvement could be a wristpad designed to fit a specific glove...

I bought a pair of padded shorts for skateboarding / longboarding, I will probably use them on icy days or in the park on the snowboard too...

As for when to ear a helmet...always...most of the accidents I saw were at the end of the day, when people gets tired and sloppy. Once I was getting down my last slope when I got distracted, caught an edge and WHAM I was on my back, I was going slow but the hit on my helmet was pretty hard. Good thing I had one.

zakk

i bought my helmet becasue I wanted my head to be warm and listen to my iPod.

a month later it probably saved me at least a lengthy stay in the ICU.

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-zakk