Exposing the myth that Snell approved helmets are better.

[Bakemono]

If DOT is better, why are the cheaper helmets only DOT approved, whereas the more expensive ones are DOT and Snell approved?

 

[Tork]

Not always true. LB got a Snell helmet for $70 CDN incl tax. And the article I quoted covers that topic in detail.

I actually believe that snell has value, I just wanted to set the stage for other helmet issues being more important to me than Snell.

1. Fit. Helmet fit is critical for safety. Too tight and you may be uncomfortable and distracted. Too loose and it could fly off when you need it the most

2 Is the helmet you are selecting going to be warm and comfortable? If not you will become more easily distracted and a less safe rider.

3. How optically perfect is the face shield or goggles? How is the peripheral vision? safety depends on the best vision possible.

4. Does the helmet have a light on the back or are you going to buy one and velcro it on?
Tail lights can get lost in the snowcloud, a helmet light wont. http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=13080


5 Is there a flip down sunscreen available? Or is there a tinted quick change shield available? A tinted shield can help you pick out detail that could otherwise be washed out such as a ditch that could send you crashing into a tree.


Let's just say a Snell helmet is better. But it is not better by as much as you may think. It could be by as little as 37 MPH into a tree Snell vs 35.5 MPH name brand Dot as the impact speed at which brain damage occurs.

I consider the above 5 points to be more important than a Snell sticker because they can go a very long way in helping you avoid an accident in the first place

 

[yammiman]

In reading ALL the information here VERY CAREFULLY I'm only convinced more that I want nothing but a SNELL on my head!

 

[NY_Nytro]

In reading ALL the information here VERY CAREFULLY I'm only convinced more that I want nothing but a SNELL on my head!

Good to know

 

[yammiman]

Thank You

 

[4Fighter]

Excellent article. For snowmobiling, I'm happy to have either label - just as long as I don't have to deal with fog/icing of the shield. But the helmet alone, be it DOT, SNELL, ECE, etc... is not enough to survive a serious snowmobile crash. You should also consider wearing a Tek-Vest.

 

[Tork]

Excellent article. For snowmobiling, I'm happy to have either label - just as long as I don't have to deal with fog/icing of the shield. But the helmet alone, be it DOT, SNELL, ECE, etc... is not enough to survive a serious snowmobile crash. You should also consider wearing a Tek-Vest.

I am glad you read and understood.

And you have made the very best point of all.

Almost equal to head injuries, are injuries to the torso (tek vest can help greatly)

Lets say you had a $300 budget, you had it narrowed down to 2 helmets

A name brand DOT for $179 and a Snell for $259

You would be better off getting the DOT and a Tek Vest

 

[craze1cars]

I'll add nothing to the helmet discussion, but now that the topic has turned at least interesting and helpful I'll share my experience on the Tek Vest thing.

Over the past 30+ years, I have known or been acquaintences with a total of 7 people who have been killed on snowmobiles. Curiously, 6 of them have been in the last 5 years....

Quick breakdown: Three died of head injuries (low speed crashes with NO helmet on) while ice fishing or cruising arond test driving on or near their own property.

The other four all died of internal or external bleeding caused by massive chest injuries (all were wearing helmets and running at a pretty good but non-reckless trail speed) when they hit either oncoming sled or tree. From the facts I've gleaned, none were wearing vests. Only one was drunk (one other was HIT by a drunk...the drunk lived). All were experienced riders in familiar territory. None were routinely reckless or fast or wild riders. Just simple accidents that caught them off guard...wrong place at wrong time. Could have been me just as easily. I believe at least SOME or maybe all of them would have lived if they were wearing a vest.

Therefore I always wear a Tek Vest (and helmet obviously). And I have no idea what rating my helmet has and don't really care.

And I know of many people who have crashed, cracked their helmet, and walked away. So in my non scientific experiences with death on snowmobiles, the helmet saves lives regardless of the sticker on the back. And 4 people I have personally met who rode without Tek Vests have been killed of chest injuries. Enough for me.

That's why my signature says what it does...seems lately that rarely a year goes by that I don't hear from a friend, "Remember so and so? He got killed while riding last week." Very sad how dangerous this sport can be. But I still love it and do it...but take appropriate safety measures to protect myself and my family.

 

[JDKRXW]

What you are saying doesn't make sense to me - regardless of the impact "G's" level between the two, I see it this way - you are wearing a DOT helment that can only sustain 250 G's impact - you receive a 300 G blow - the helment fails and you are dead - you are wearing a Snell helment and receive the same 300 G blow - helment takes the blow, you are still alive but you may have brain damage -

This is not the way it works. A Snell rated helmet must be UNDAMAGED by that 300G blow ....actually, it must be undamaged by TWO 300G blows IN THE SAME SPOT.
If a DOT rated helmet fails at blows higher than 250G, does that mean your head is not protected? ---absolutely not. Just because a helmet becomes dented or cracked in an accident doesn't mean it has not protected you against the first 250G's of impact force.
The whole knock against SNELL rated helmets is that they are too strong and a failure at a lower inpact level might actually protect your brain from being scrambled inside the helmet.

 

[yammiman]

The impact test aside, DOT helmets still do not undergo front impact tests - whole lot of BS on this post about modulars passing simular test, open faced helmets from Harley being SNELL approved, on and on - bottom line is there are not any modulars or open face helmets that are "truly" SNELL approved - I can buy a "ROLEX" off the internet and what do you think I'm going to get? -let's take this 35 and 37.5 mph crash that Tork uses and say there is no head impact - you wear your DOT approved modular or (heaven forbid) a open face helmet and I'll wear a SNELL approved full face or MX helmet - you are thrown from your sled and land face first in the snow, ice, or dirt - who do you think is going to walk away with there face still intact? - modulars that pass front impact test - HA - what a joke - anyone with half a brain knows they wouldn't pass a test when the whole front of the helmet is held on with just two screws - same goes for the Harley open face that is suppose to be SNELL approved - obviously a flook - again, anyone who knows how SNELL test are performed would know an open faced helmet could not pass there testing -we are not talking about riding 15 - 20 mph go karts here - we are talking about 100 + mph sleds - just as 4fighter pointed out, it isn't going to matter what you have on your head in a serious collision - anything less than that I would want the highest degree of protection I could buy - that would be SNELL - I can't believe anyone would advocate wearing an inferior product just to safe guard themselves against one possible scenario - unless of course they worked at DOT or for some POS modular helmet company - lets see you take this BS and sell it to the boys at NASCAR, INDY, IRL, IHRA, NHRA, or any other racing organization for that matter - tell them how much safer they would all be if they were wearing open faced DOT approved helmets - LMFAO

 

[Bakemono]

I agree 100%. Give me the highest rating I can get. I wear a Thor Force. If its good enough for pro motocross racers, its good enough for me.

 

[ruff-rider]

I've been hearing that Snell rated is supposed to be much better than DOT, but I can't seem to find a Modular helmet that's Snell rated?

 

[Tork]

I've been hearing that Snell rated is supposed to be much better than DOT, but I can't seem to find a Modular helmet that's Snell rated?

Snell dropped the ball on testing modulars. They want to now. Correct no modulars are currently Snell. But I posted a link where they were tested independantly and It looks like most of them would pass.

Do car doors open?. Can a car take a hit to the side without welding the doors shut. Why do people think a modular cant pass snell tests?

 

[Bakemono]

Right. Snell hasnt tested modulars yet but they are going to start.
I looked into getting a modular helmet, but I passed on it because of the fact that the only thing that holds the front of the helmet down are 2 little plastic hooks (in the case of the Yamaha SnoForce modular). That makes me feel very uncomfortable.
Id be worried about the front of the helmet popping open if you take a hard digger.
IMO, the inherint risk is not worth the convenience of the front of the helmet opening.

 

[Tork]

whole lot of BS on this post about modulars passing simular test, open faced helmets from Harley being SNELL approved, on and on - bottom line is there are not any modulars or open face helmets that are "truly" SNELL approved - I can buy a "ROLEX" off the internet and what do you think I'm going to get? -let's take this 35 and 37.5 mph crash that Tork uses and say there is no head impact - you wear your DOT approved modular or (heaven forbid) a open face helmet and I'll wear a SNELL approved

not BS, why would you say that, it is very rude!
Go to the Harley site and look for yourself, that open face helmet is Snell approved!
Those modulars did pass similar tests, you think terrorists made up a fake link? If you cant engage in respectful intelligent conversation, do not post on this site.

This is not the way it works. A Snell rated helmet must be UNDAMAGED by that 300G blow ....actually, it must be undamaged by TWO 300G blows IN THE SAME SPOT.
If a DOT rated helmet fails at blows higher than 250G, does that mean your head is not protected? ---absolutely not. Just because a helmet becomes dented or cracked in an accident doesn't mean it has not protected you against the first 250G's of impact force.
The whole knock against SNELL rated helmets is that they are too strong and a failure at a lower inpact level might actually protect your brain from being scrambled inside the helmet

You are getting a grasp on the point!! Thank you for being open minded
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