Helmet question

[Benny Profane]

I just dented my Giro 9 on one side. That's ok, I feel fine, except for the mild headaches that are going away slowly. And I went out and scored a new 9 for $60, so I'm not going to take any chances. But, my question is, did I really have to get a new helmet? The way I see it, I'd have to fall on the same spot just as hard to do some damage, which is in the lightning striking twice category of life. The rest of the helmet is probably OK, right?

[Conundrum]

No, it's probably not good. Onetime-hit helmets like most ski helmets rely on some type of high density styrofoam (there's a specific name I can't think of) to absorb impact. Once it is compromised, such as a dent in the side, that compromise spider webs through the styrofoam. Now the foam will not have the absorbing properties it use to. Some helmets are designed to take multiple hits like the Sweet helmets out of Norway. The arguement with these is that they won't ablsorb a big hit like the styrofoam type helmets.

The best use for your helmet is to prolly give it to the aholes that are posting SAC deals everyday.

[adampecush]

To be quite honest, it is not just the location you hit on the helmet that absorbed the impact; likely, over half of the foam in the helmet deformed in one way or another if you impacted your head hard enough to get mild headaches. This leaves you with a helmet that will not deform/cushion you as it was designed, which, upon serious impact, could lead to injuries a new helmet could have prevented. Hopefully you feel that your head is worth more than $60.

[J-Rad]

No, it's probably not good. Onetime-hit helmets like most ski helmets rely on some type of high density styrofoam (there's a specific name I can't think of) to absorb impact. Once it is compromised, such as a dent in the side, that compromise spider webs through the styrofoam. Now the foam will not have the absorbing properties it use to.

^^^^^
What he said. Same thing holds for mountain bike helmets -> one serious hit and they need to be replaced.

[fez]

some companies have replacement policies where they will replace a helmet for less than retail after you wreck it.