Head protection is very essential for speed snow sport. Manufacturers and engineers designed ski or snowboard helmets specifically for skiing and snowboarding usage. So can you wear a snowboard helmet biking?
Making use of another sport’s helmet like bicycle helmet may not provide enough protection like the snowboard helmet itself. They insulated ski and snowboard helmets for cold weather, whereas bicycle helmets provide more ventilation than snowboard helmets. So in this guide we will take on the road to searching answers to the question can you wear a snowboard helmet biking.
What are the benefits of using a helmet?
It reduces wind noise.
Wearing a helmet keeps the wind out of your face and improves on your visibility. Okay, one reduction is very helpful in chilly weather because icy wind can lead to windburn. This is like sunburn. Helmets that cover the ears also reduce wind noise, which therefore leads to a quiet ride. A reduction in wind noise makes it easier to hear what is going on around you. So wearing a helmet makes you to focus on the road as you ride or ski.
Improves on your view of the road
Helmets with face shields protect your face from bugs, dust and airborne objects while riding.
Keeps tut hair out of your face
If you have king hair, helmets can keep your hair out of your face. Wind can blow king’s hair into a rider’s face, obstructing the rider’s view and even bring about discomfort.
Protecting you from the weather.
Rain, dust and other inclement weather make riding very dangerous. A helmet helps to keep rain off your face, preventing reduced visibility and distractions that can lead to loss of control while riding.
Bike Helmet Safety Rating
The Insurance Institute for Highway safety has rates over 143 bike helmets using the STAR evaluation system. Helmets having more stars provide less concussion risk than helmets with fewer stars.
The Insurance Institute for Highway safety rate each bike helmet based on the results of 34 impact tests carried out in their laboratory. A drop tower designed to match helmet to ground characteristics in cycling is used to test each helmet.
Also, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab created the first helmet safety system. This system is to assist discover the best bike helmets for their safety and impact ratings. During testing a bike helmet, they developed a safety ratings system comprising a 5 star rating.
We consider a helmet with 5 star rating to be safest while that with a 2 start rating is less safe. They introduced this rating system to assist cyclists determine the best bike helmets and how it will protect them in case of an accident.
Note: Wearing any kind of helmet is better than wearing none.
Design Features of a Snowboard Helmet
Snowboard helmet design follows the same principles and pattern as helmets made for other sports. They all contain a hard outer shell and a layer of protective padding that cushions the skull. They have differences though, like having temperature-sensitive materials and ear coverage.
Shell
Snow helmet shells comprise a hard material, usually high-impact plastics that can buffer the initial impact across a greater surface area. The shell is made to absorb shock by cracking on impact.
Padding Materials
EPS (expanded polystyrene) is the most popular padding material for high encases of the head itself. It absorbs energy from the impact.
Some models allow for minor deformations in the foam to mitigate brain injury. Yes, when the helmet pads crumble on impact, the time of impact is increased. This causes the forced that results from the impact to reduce and your head is no longer exposed to too much danger.
Most times, these deformations greatly reduce the effectiveness of the helmet over time. It becomes less protective as it wears out.
Design Features for a Bike Helmet
- A traditional bike helmet comprises a polycarbonate shell over Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam. Foam is the same material found in coolers, product packaging, and many other products.
- On impact, the polycarbonate shell cracks, spreading the initial burst of energy across the entire surface. The force then moves to the EPS foam, which compresses while absorbing more of the blow.
- Now that’s the EPS layer is crushed, cracked and split apart, it is out of commission. That’s why all helmets are referred to as “one and done”. It is difficult to tell how much a helmet’s safety has been compromised after impact; it is advisable not to bear risk. If your helmet gets hit, get a new one rather than to continue with the old one.
Helmet’s that use Koroyd comprise 3 layers;
- The polycarbonate shell
- A thin sheet of Expanded Polystyrene foam
- The Koroyd cylinder layer
Differences between a Ski Helmet or a Snowboard Helmet and a Bike Helmet
To answer the question, can you wear a snowboard helmet biking? We have to look closely at the differences between a snowboard helmet and a bike helmet. They primarily made a helmet to keep your head protected, although they come in different forms and varieties.
The best helmets make available an equal blend of comfort, air circulation and protection. For the differences between ski and bike helmets, the differences are not so huge, but–they designed ski helmets for higher impacts than bike helmets. This is because a snowboarder speeds twice as much as of a bike.
Also, ski helmets are more padded with insulation material to offer warmth to the skier’s head. This is not really the case with bike helmets. Even if it is, it is not as much as that of snowboard helmets.
In addition, snowboard helmets are certain to be termed by the sides to cover the ears form getting cold although different from bike helmets.
Choosing the Size and Fit of a Helmet
Using the right size of a helmet and making sure it fits is ultimate. If not, it will be difficult to get the best of it. First things first, measure your head by using a soft tape. You can easily wrap the tape round your head at the region just over your ears and eyebrows.
A lot of helmets come measured in centimeters and it might be best to use a tape calibrated in centimeters. In case a soft tape is absent, you can make use of a soft line or powerful material and wrap it round your head, after which you can now measure the line.
In an ideal situation, you should have your measurements somewhere in the middle of what they gave and if you are at the end of the measurement, increase up a bit.
Regarding the fit, once you get a helmet, wear it on your head and have the front align with your eyebrow and gently tighten the strap until you feel comfortable. If it feels comfortable that way while leaving your head and the helmet’s lining with no gap, that shows the helmet is your exact fit. Also, make sure the back of your next is not touching the rear end of the helmet.
In addition, if after they strap your head in the helmet feels there is so much space around it or feel shaky, then helmet is big and is not your size. However, if the helmet feels so tightened that you feel squeezed around your head, it also implies it is not your right size (small).
When to Replace Helmets
After a crash
Most people do not know that they must replace a helmet after any crash where your head hit. They make the foam part of the helmet for one time use hence, after crushing it once, it is no longer protective as it once was, even if it looks good.
Be mindful that if the helmet did its job, most people would tell you they did not hit their head or did not hit their head that hard. The thin shells on many helmets now hide any dents in the foam. But if you can see marks on the shell or measure any foam crush at all, replace the helmet.
The helmet foam can get damaged by dropping it on a solid surface. The cracks may be almost invisible with the naked eyes. So you need to look thoroughly. Cracks in the foam always require replacement of the helmet.
Most people often feel reluctant to replace a helmet that looks as good as new, but this is not advisable because you don’t want to take chances on where you will hit next time. If it cracks the foam under the thin shell, it will be more likely to fly apart in your next accident.
If it is from the 70s
If you still use a helmet from the 70s without a Styrofoam liner, it is supposed to be replaced immediately. 1970s helmets were good ones, but they were not up to current standards. The hard shells were great, but the foam liners were not thick enough to meet up today’s snell standard. Also, if you have one of the 1980s, it is also advisable you replace them. Lab tests showed some years ago that bare foam doesn’t skid well on pavement, and could jerk your neck in a crash.
Are you using it for non- bicycle activities?
Since 2003, helmets have been available that are actually certified to skateboard or ski Standards and the CPSC (Consumer Product and Safety Commission) bicycle helmet standard.
If you are using bicycle helmet for skate boarding or any other sport where you regularly crash, we would suggest you get a helmet designed for the particular activity you are pursuing.
Is it newer? : With what standard sticker inside?
Newer helmets from the late 1980s and 1990s may not need replacement. Check them out to see what standards sticker is inside. If yours is ASTM or Snell, the helmet meets today’s standards for impact protection and you may find that consumer reports tested it in one of their articles.
Do you still like wearing it?
Your helmet is definitely a piece of wearing apparel and also serves as a safety appliance. If you consider yourself a stylist rider and your helmet is not as fashionable as the new ones, go for it. There is nothing wrong with wanting to look good and stylish, and if you do, that is a valid reason to replace a helmet.
Snowboard Helmet for Mountain Biking.
They can use ski and snowboard helmets for mountain biking if the weather is cold like in winter. But you may be way too warm while cycling. If the helmet is CPSC certified, then it can be used.
Non- compliant skate helmets, however, should not be used by cyclists. These helmets do not provide adequate protecting against strong force of impact.
Kid’s helmets
If you are looking to kit out your children, you can use the already mentioned steps to find the right fit for the kid’s helmet. Always take the child to the shop when you want to purchase his/her helmet.
You should note that younger children may not describe exactly how it feels. Ask them whether any spots hurt or are uncomfortable. Also, never buy a helmet with room to grow. It is unsafe when too big.
Adjustable fits systems
Helmets come with adjustable system to allow you to tailor the fit to your head shape. Below are some common adjustments systems to help you discover which is favorable for you.
Adjustable Boa
A lightweight and secure dual in the neck area gives you micro adjustability to ensure a comfortable fit. This system is straightforward to adjust on the slopes with just one hand.
Inform fit system
Like the above system, Inform fit system offers dialed adjustability, tightening or loosening the helmet’s fit, including vertical tuning.
Pad system
Removal pads are the most common and cheapest fit system. The thickness in the interior of our helmet can be added or taken away. This is, therefore, ideal for anyone wanting to ski or snowboard with a hat underneath.
Air fix
A low-profile headband attaches to the inside of your helmet, allowing you to fine tune the fit of your helmet by increasing or decreasing air at the touch of a button.
Some minor aspects are to be gotten and considered when choosing the best helmet for any activity: why helmets are built the way they are, safety standards and the things each helmet is supposed to protect you from?
While some cross over may be possible, after reading this you may decide it is not always worth the risk.
First, we will look at the 3 common helmets that you may want to cross over to cycling: equestrian, motorcycle and ski/snowboarding helmets.
FAQs
Can you use a ski helmet or snowboarding helmet for cycling?
Ski and snowboarding helmets do 2 most important things: protect your head in cases of an accident, especially when moving at a high speed and also help to keep your head warm.
Having this in mind, ski and snowboard, they can use helmets as bike helmets, but you may notice being way too warm while cycling, just like motorcycle helmets.
This will work perfectly during winter to keep your heads warm in winter while cycling.
Can I use a snowboarding helmet for mountain biking?
A ski/snowboard helmet can be used for mountain biking if the helmet is CPSC certified. Mountain bikers should not use non complaint snowboard helmets. These helmet types do not ensure maximum protection against powerful force of impact.
Are bike helmets and snowboard helmets the same?
For differentiating a snowboard helmet from a bike helmet, the differences are not so clear, but one thing is sure, they design snowboard helmets for higher impacts than that of a bike helmet. This is because the typical speed of a snowboard is almost twice that of a biker.
Also, snowboard helmets are more padded with insulation material to offer warmth to the snowboarder’s head. This is not always common to many bike helmets. Even if it were, it does not get to be as much as that of a snowboard helmet.
Snowboard helmets are certain to extend by sides to cover the ear region from so much cold. But this isn’t the case with bike helmets.
So as it meant a snowboard helmet for mountain colds and icy regions, you may have to put these into consideration anytime you think of getting a bike helmet.
Can you wear a motorcycle helmet on a bicycle?
A rider can wear a bicycle helmet on a motorcycle, but it cannot provide the same levels of safety and protection a motorcycle helmet can. Riding a motorcycle with a bicycle helmet can be illegal in many places.
Both a motorcycle helmet and bicycle helmet protect the head of the rider from impact injuries. Motorcycle helmets are usually more durable and heavy duty. It made them to protect the head in case of a motorcycle accident. Motorcycle helmets undergo a series of testing. These tests vary from country to country.
They subject motorcycle helmets to different temperatures, humidity levels and even water immersion.
They designed bicycle helmets with a few key points in mind. A bicycle helmet should provide protection from head injuries during impact and also provide cooling and airflow facilities. It should be lightweight. You can see our other articles on 11 American sports that require a helmet
