I was carrying around my helmet in it's baggie, and somehow it slipped out, dropped to the ground, and rolled like 10 feet. I don't think the drop was that far (maybe 3 feet at most), but there are paint chips and scratches all over from it rolling on concrete.
I've heard if a helmet is dropped it should be replaced, but this didn't seem like a drop that could render the helmet ineffective, any suggestions?
Thanks
Eh, in a perfect world, yes a dropped helmet should be replaced, just to be safe. But this isn't a perfect world.
Some helmets are fine, even after being dropped, but sometimes they get cracks under the paint or between the layers of glass and/or plastic that could compromise their impact resistance. In racing, the rule of thumb is that if a scratch goes thru the paint, you have to replace it. I guess its all up to you to decide what you can "live with", literally.
I have a 4 year old Shoei RF-R that is scratched up all over and that I've fallen down on and dropped at least 4-5 times. I haven't replaced it because most are minor, its a very comfortable helmet, and well... I'm a cheap bastard, but also don't like cheap helmets. So I am almost at the point of shelling out for a new one though...
One of the bike mags did a story last year on this very topic. The results were pretty convincing that just dropping the helmet does not decrease it's effectiveness in a crash. They even dropped helmets from 10+ feet and still found they worked within specs.
Anybody got a link?
jeff
I'd bet the "drop it replace it" talk originates with the helmet makers! I'd assume that a "small" drop from normal carrying height wouldn't damage a helmet. I mean if they can't take such a small impact why are we wearing them? It's the soft styrofoam lining that actually protects your head from a shock. The outer skin merely takes the abrasion of the road. That's what I think...
I also can't back this up with an immediate source but ... :)
I just read somewhere that part of the DOT spec includes a certain number of drops before the helmet is compromised.
I also have a chip out of the chin section on my Arai, and a cracked vent cover on top and its been dropped 4 or 5 times over the last 2.5 years. But I don't have $350 for a new helment, and the new one would just get dropped anyway.
Trev
Here's a link to mucho info from Snell. Maybe there is something on drops in here:
http://www.smf.org/
It's fine, the helmet companies just want to sell more helmets. Now if you crash, get a new helmet.
-Anti
Got it, thanks. now the helmet has some character :)