Snowboard Helmet as Winter Bike Helmet?

[Murray]

So, thinking of using a snowboard helmet for winter commuting below -10C in snow because it's warm and holds goggle nicely.

Will it give the same protection? I found that snowboard helmets are ASTM F2040 and bike helmets are ASTM F1447 but can't find if they are similar or which standard is better?

Any ideas?

Murray

 

[kiwirider]

So, thinking of using a snowboard helmet for winter commuting below -10C in snow because it's warm and holds goggle nicely.

Will it give the same protection? I found that snowboard helmets are ASTM F2040 and bike helmets are ASTM F1447 but can't find if they are similar or which standard is better?

Any ideas?

Murray

Why not just shoot off to MEC and pick up one of their $13 one size fits all toques? http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/MensClothing/Headwear/PRD~5016-199/mec-bolt-toque-unisex.jsp

I use that under my helmet all winter, and it works fine - it is thin enough that the bike helmet doesn't need adjusting, and still warm enough to keep your head warm.

I have to say though, in making that call, I don't use goggles - I wear glasses, and that's all that I use all winter - so don't know how big an issue being able to use them is in your question.

However, what I suggest works well for me, and I ride in temps down to -20. Below that, I haven't got a good chain grease that stops the chain jumping on the cassette .... (And right now I can hear my surgeon buddy who also rides all winter saying "you need to get a fixie ...")

 

[nightfend]

Contrary to what you might think due to the costs of bicycle helmets, they are actually some of the least protective helmets out there. Skateboard, downhill skiing, you name it are all better protective helmets. So if weight and heat are not an issue to you (or looks for that matter), then go for it and wear that snowboard helmet.

 

[Murray]

Thanks for the replies. I currently have a Giro E2 that I wear with an Arcteryx liner and it's very warm. The helmet is quite old and should be replaced and doesn't fit goggles well. Most of the time I wear normal glasses, but I find when it snows only goggles really protect my eyes.

Murray

 

[dsut4392]

Contrary to what you might think due to the costs of bicycle helmets, they are actually some of the least protective helmets out there. Skateboard, downhill skiing, you name it are all better protective helmets. So if weight and heat are not an issue to you (or looks for that matter), then go for it and wear that snowboard helmet.

"Better protective" also depends on the kind of impact, e.g. whether it is designed to deflect an object or absorb it. I don't know enough about the respective tests for cycling vs snowboarding helmets, but just a visual comparison of the helmets I own of each type suggests the cycling helmet has substantially more capacity to deform (i.e. the eps foam is twice as thick), which could potentially better cushion a blunt impact (e.g. flat pavement). My Skiing/boarding helmet on the other hand has a much harder outer shell but less eps foam, and would logically better protect against impact with an irregular object (e.g. rock, tree branch) than a cycle helmet.
It would be interesting to see the difference in the testing criteria to see what kinds of impacts are being tested [but not that interested I can be bothered looking it up].

Would I ride feel safe enough riding in my ski helmet if it were ever cold enough to make that practical? Probably.

 

[Martin318is]

Actually, I would caution on that. A snowboard/ski helmet is designed to be comfortable in a fairly upright head-neck position.

I own both bike and ski helmets and thinking about it, I would be very surprised if the ski helmet were comfortable in my cycling position - in fact I think it would force my head to tilt down so I couldn't see properly.

If you are on an upright bike, this may be fine for you but on a road bike I think it would be a bad move.

 

[usedtobefast]

Actually, I would caution on that. A snowboard/ski helmet is designed to be comfortable in a fairly upright head-neck position.

I own both bike and ski helmets and thinking about it, I would be very surprised if the ski helmet were comfortable in my cycling position - in fact I think it would force my head to tilt down so I couldn't see properly.

If you are on an upright bike, this may be fine for you but on a road bike I think it would be a bad move.

i will add cheaping out on your head protection is no bueno. you only have one brain.

 

[avanti]

Why not just shoot off to MEC and pick up one of their $13 one size fits all toques? http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/MensClothing/Headwear/PRD~5016-199/mec-bolt-toque-unisex.jsp

I use that under my helmet all winter, and it works fine - it is thin enough that the bike helmet doesn't need adjusting, and still warm enough to keep your head warm.
.......................................................

You could also complement the above with a waterproof but breathable helmet cover

 

[elapid]

For what it is worth, they were talking about a Canadian study this morning on CBC looking at bike helmets, hockey helmets, and skiing/snowboarding helmets as protection against head injuries in children tobogganing. They found that skiing/snowbaording helmets offered inferior protection, mainly because the manufacturers had skimped on protection in preference for fashion.

 

[bc_hills]

Bern makes helmets that are certified for ski/bike.

http://www.bernunlimited.com/Products/Helmets/Carbon?helmetType=Snow