School me on :: Helmets vs. EPS Helmets vs. Hard Hat Helmets

http://www.bernunlimited.com/Innovation/Hard+Hat

http://www.bernunlimited.com/Innovation/EPS

eps helmet: cpsc certified, single large impact, often lighter
hard hat: not certified but can take multiple small impacts

Here is the main problem with multiple impact helmets: how do you know how many impacts your helmet can withstand before it is unsafe? There is no way to know this- it could be one impact, or 2, or 4, but if your helmet looks undamaged and the foam expired on the first impact, you will continue to wear an unsafe helmet thinking that it is safe. You won't know if the foam has stopped doing its job until it is too late.

It's best to stick with single impact helmets and if you take a fall, just to replace it.

^yep as far as a good helmet goes I cant think of a better one than the poc receptor bug

Okay, so both EPS and hardhat helmets are destined to be replaced, but a "normal" more traditional helmet like the Giro G10 is intended for multiple hits and will always be able to protect? Are there 3 categories of helmets or do I have this wrong?

you have it backwards, no helmet will protect forever, and traditional helmets only protect for one impact. multiple hard hat helmets will protect for many impacts but no where near as well per impact, they have a soft foam that you can squish and it will squirm back into shape (think foam bed foam), traditional helmets have hard foam that you cant squish unless you press very hard and then the dent is in the foam and its useless. (think Styrofoam but more durable and harder) really to be on the safe side, replace any helmet after any real impact, your noggin is to important to risk.

90-95% of helmets are single impact. you are kept safe upon impact when the foam compresses, absorbing the impact instead of your head. the foam does not rebound back to it's original shape, and is thus safe for only one use.

5-10% (probably even less) of helmets claim to be multiple impact. the foam compresses, but returns to its normal volume. there is no way for you as a user to gauge when the foam returns or if it will absorb the same force with equal safety again- therefore sketchy.

Whether the helmet is an ABS construction where the hard plastic is glued on to an EPS foam (Smith Holt) or the EPS is covered by a thin layer and is much lighter than ABS (Giro Maze), they are rated for the same safety level- one is not safer than the other.

Some helmets imploy MIPS technology for "added safety" but current ASTM (USA) or CE (Europe) testing does not take this into consideration. Thus, this and other technologies do not make the helmet pass these tests "better" or more effectively. There is a baseline of safety for these standardized tests and to go beyond it doesn't allow these companies to say they have a safer helmet since every helmet that has passed the test has met a certain level of impact absorption deemed to be appropriate.

i have the giro encore 2, which i'm positive is single impact. how hard of a fall is one that would mean the helmet must be replaced?

word

Unfortunately, there is no way to know for sure. So, what I've always said is if you take a fall where you are glad you were wearing your helmet, you should replace it.

Always take good care of your helmet. Even just tossing it into your car can reduce the life & safety of it. So, when in doubt just get a new one. It's far better than the alternative.

Your hep is appreciated! One last Q :: what is the benefit then of paying more for your helmet? It seems like there are endless options for less than $100. Why then do they make them that sell for double that, MD even triple that?

a more expensive helmet will usually be lighter and lower profile- both of which will require more engineering and/or higher end materials to achieve the same safety rating. Look at the Holt vs Maze- Maze is one of the lightest helmets on the market and far lower profile than the Holt, but it still has the same safety rating.

Then some helmets have adjustable sizing (dial at the back) and adjustable ventilation, both will make the price tag go up.