Modular helmets & crashes

[edge_kw]

Yesterday, we had a guy in our group blow a corner, sled straddled a large tree and he flew about 25-30 ft down into a ravine. Backboard, ambulance removal, etc. (He's ok other than a lot of bad bruising.)
....but, his modular helmet was open after he came to rest and had a bloody nose. This is the second crash I've seen where after tumbling and rolling, the person came to rest and their modular helmet had popped open.

So, aside from convenience, what's the big attraction to these helmets?
I believe most of them aren't Snell rated (correct me if I'm wrong here) due to the fact that there isn't sufficient chin impact protection.

But.....something to think about when you're buying a helmet.

 

[rx1mtn]

Glad to hear your bud is ok. With my helmet, I have to make sure I hear 2 distink clicks to make sure it is latched correctly. I can see where it may come open under some cerumstances.

 

[WarriorBeads]

funny, 2 guys I know had bad accidents with those helmets on and they worked really well....one guy got his bell rung (mild concussion) and the other walked away from hitting pressure crack on a lake at 100mph. The helmets' interior collapsed in both cases and were toast, but they probably saved both guys' lives....to the best of my knowledge (and memory) the fronts stayed intact, although they were smashed up.....

 

[welterracer]

everyone in my riding group (except me) uses the skidoo modular helmets..

I really dont know why anyone likes them... aside from being able to open the whole front i think they suck..

They spend half an hour every day changing that stupid diaper in the face mask and have a ton of problems with the snapes breaking..

We had freezing drizel two days in a row and they couldnt see out of them.. my electric shield on my el-cheppo helmet kept the sleet from completely freezing which allowed me to be able to wipe it off..

Ill stick with my old reliable electic sheild/helmet

 

[mbw919]

The big attraction for me, both snowmobiling and motorcycling, is the ability to put the helmet on and off without removing my glasses. The last I heard, Snell has no test procedures for flip-front helmets so none are submitted for testing to get their stamp of approval. Some that I have seen are really nothing more than an open face helmet with a fancy shield, while some are constructed with impact safety in mind. Unfortunately, the better ones are intended for motorcycle use and those manufacturers don't offer a snowmobile version. I read a test somewhere online a few years ago comparing modular motorcycle helmets and those made by Nolan and Shoei had the most secure latch mechanisms for the chin bar while others had cheap plastic hooks to keep them latched. My old Lazer Blizzard modular had cheap looking plastic latches as well as cheap overall construction. My new BRP Modular 2 (also made by Lazer) isn't much better and it's difficult to get the chin bar latched properly. I use a Nolan N100 for motorcycling and it's definitely a top of the line, well made helmet, but it doesn't work great for snowmobiling. It’s way too drafty and fogs badly, even with the breath deflector and no-fog inner shield. I wish Shoei made a snow version of their Multitech:

http://www.shoei-helmets.com/road/helme ... .aspx?h=13

I guess the bottom line is that most modulars are made for convenience, not necessarily for safety. And, as I recently found out again with the BRP Modular 2, you get what you pay for.

Glad the guy in your group wasn’t badly injured.

 

[BigMac]

It depends on how you look at the purpose of a snowmobile helmet. On the one end there is maximum comfort and convenience at the expense of safety, on the other end there's maximum safety at the expense of convenience. No question the modular helmet is a compromise, but IMHO it's a good compromise between safety and convenience. I switched from a modular to a BV2S and found that to be superior in every way. Probably not worth the money, but an excellent helmet. I don't dick around with the moisture pads anymore - far more trouble than they're worth. Heated shields? Expense aside, I've found them to be far more inconvenient than "mask diapers".

Personally, I don't dress to crash. I don't wear body armor, and I don't insist on a Snell-rated helmet. I do insist on comfort and convenience. I always knew that the modular helmet might flip up in a crash and wouldn't be as safe as others out there, but it was so much more convenient than other helmets, especially Snell-rated helmets, that I (and many, many others, apparently) went that route. The BV2S is even better IMHO.

YMMV

 

[Coondog2707]

I am a professional firefighter/ advanced emt. I have been to a lot of motorcycle and snowmobile crashes. The modulars almost always come apart. From the very first one I saw involved in a crash I was convinced that if you want a full faced helmet, this wasnt the one for you. Someone said they are nothing more than a fancy open faced helmet which is a great way to look at it. Unfortunately, the occurance of facial trauma that this style helmet lends it rider to makes this option less than appealing to me.
IMHO there really isnt an acceptable compromise between comfort and safety. The helmets primary function is protection for the head. Everything else comes after.
But thats just me. there are lots of bikers that wear the really small helmets or none at all. To each his own.......

 

[BigMac]

I am a professional firefighter/ advanced emt. I have been to a lot of motorcycle and snowmobile crashes. The modulars almost always come apart. From the very first one I saw involved in a crash I was convinced that if you want a full faced helmet, this wasnt the one for you. Someone said they are nothing more than a fancy open faced helmet which is a great way to look at it. Unfortunately, the occurance of facial trauma that this style helmet lends it rider to makes this option less than appealing to me.
IMHO there really isnt an acceptable compromise between comfort and safety. The helmets primary function is protection for the head. Everything else comes after.
But thats just me. there are lots of bikers that wear the really small helmets or none at all. To each his own.......

To each his own indeed. I'm a trauma surgeon in central Minnesota, and the Assistant Coroner for this county. I see a lot of motorcycle and snowmobile crashes too - the ones that live, and the ones that die. I wear a BV2S for its, IMHO, balance between safety and comfort/convenience.

 

[Safety Sean]

Well I am not a doctor or an EMT but I am a HSE professional. My job is to ensure that employees are provided the means & measures so that they don't have to see doctors or EMTs because of workplace accidents. I deal in risk management on a daily basis that in some cases could result in serious injury or even fatality if the proper proactive measures aren't put in place and when I apply the same principles to my helmet I come up with a modular as being good to go. But thats just my thoughts and everyone has to make their own choices...

 

[BallsCasten]

If we make our decisions strictly on safety ... we wouldn’t be on the sleds doing 100 miles an hour. If on them at all.
It is recreation for me and that means I need to be comfortable.

 

[Woody]

I"m a firefighter/first repsonder here, and have also seen my share of helmeted (and non helmeted) wrecks.

I was in a wreck several years ago, with impact speed at 106mph on GPS, and the bombi modular front piece ripped off on side in a bad wreck. I always make sure that both hooks are snapped securely when puting on the helmet. I got a new one just like it though, even though they're a little heavier, I still enjoyed the ability to open the front. I've also bought the moto x style for warmer riding.

 

[Tinman1944]

I am an X off road racer and I also have 4 children and a wife. That being said, SAFETY is the most important issue. I owe it to them to come home and continue to provide for them, I love them enough to be a little uncomfortable to enjoy the sport I love. I will only ride with a full face Snell rated helmet. My opinion, you are entitled to you own. That's what is great about this Country.

 

[SharkAttak]

that's not good to hear that the helmet open's on impact

 

[Superman]

Wow K! sorry to hear about that.

I agree with the modular helmets not being the safest choice. 90-95% of the time I wear a moto-cross helmet and goggles. But on really cold days I still pull out the Bv2s. But I wouldn't want to test it in a crash. Just alot of plastic parts on the front of the Bv2s that could go boom. Glad to hear your buddy is O.K..

 

[BigMac]

I am an X off road racer and I also have 4 children and a wife. That being said, SAFETY is the most important issue. I owe it to them to come home and continue to provide for them, I love them enough to be a little uncomfortable to enjoy the sport I love. I will only ride with a full face Snell rated helmet. My opinion, you are entitled to you own. That's what is great about this Country.

I assume that you also ride your snowmobile with a Tek-Vest, or some other kind of body armor, as well as knee, elbow, and shoulder inserts in your jacket?