Helmet science

[byronj]

For those that think all helmets are the same because the have a DOT label on them.

 

[302BOB]

The old saying "you get what you pay for" was certainly proven with that helmet video! And it also applies to a lot more things in life than you might expect..............

 

[VoodooBoss]

FWIW most HDPE and race organizations don't allow DOT helmets and require Snell 2010 and newer tested helmets.

 

[302BOB]

Now we know why....

 

[flyhalf]

reading this article immediately worried me
I own a AGV K3 helmet. italian base company I personally believe one of the top, AGV is only DOT and ECE here in US.

So I digged a little more an
https://www.revzilla.com/agv-helmets-faq-frequently-asked-questionsd I found this :

Specifically :

why aren’t AGV helmets SNELL certified? Are they not as good?

There are many different certification standards, including SNELL, SHARP, DOT, ECE, AUS, and others. While all strive to offer the best benchmark for protecting their wearer, they achieve this result in slightly different ways. SNELL tends to concentrate more on the anti-puncture properties of a helmet and ultimate protection in a single crash, whereas SHARP focuses more on energy dispersion and the continued protection of a helmet shell through multiple impacts.

The two also test impacts at different angles, SNELL focusing on perpendicular impacts, while SHARP on oblique. Though both are excellent brands of safety, they are also mutually exclusive. In order to successfully pass one angle of tests, a helmet will often fail one or two of a different standard’s tests and vice-versa. AGV aligns more with the SHARP approach to safety and their helmets carry this certification in the UK. Since SHARP is not a US standard, their helmets are produced with DOT and ECE ratings for our market.

IMO I think Sharp approach make more sense.

 

[TMSBOSS]

Not doubting the certification, personally. Will your track approve your helmet during tech?
It may be beneficial to call your Track and confirm.

 

[VoodooBoss]

Sharp and DOT are more motorcycle focused while Snell is more auto focused. There are plenty of European manufacturers that are Snell approved. Most US tracks will require a Snell rated helmet.

 

[Busdriver]

There are two Snell certifications. M20XX is an auto sports cert, SA20XX is a motorcycle certification.

 

[TymeSlayer]

I thought the M was for Motorcycles and SA for Auto Sports.

http://www.smf.org/cert

 

[Busdriver]

Touch of lysdexia, my bad.

 

[Bill Pemberton]

SCCA, NASA, etc. will only accept Snell Rated Helmet for track events. Amazingly one can buy a Snell Approved helmet for only a bit more than a DOT brain cover ...... around $200-300 bucks.