Helmet Information

The original bike helmets were made for bicycling on roads and road racing. As they have evolved, they mostly had an elongated shape, always with vents, and are usually made with EPS foam covered by a thin plastic shell. These are the most-used helmets in the world, and millions of them are sold every year. Helmets made for the U.S. must meet the US Consumer Product Safety Commission standard, so look for a CPSC sticker. ASTM’s F1447 standard is identical.

Commuter

Means a helmet with a rounded shape, rather than the elongated road style. Has vents, and is usually made with EPS foam covered by a thin plastic shell. It sometimes has accessories such as mirrors, winter ear flaps and rear blinkers that are useful for commuting.

Youth

Usually a small or medium road or mountain helmet, designed for riders from about 10 to 15. Graphics usually reflect youthful themes. Has vents and is usually made with EPS foam covered by a thin plastic shell.

Child

For children between the ages of 5 and 10. Can be just a smaller youth model, resembling a road helmet, or can have a rounder shape like a toddler helmet. Tested under the CPSC standard with exactly the same headform weight and drops as an adult helmet. The age categories are blurred by head size variations, and if the helmet fits the head the age tag can be disregarded.

Toddler

Made for very young children, usually under the age of five. Typically round and smooth. Extra rear coverage has always been part of toddler helmets, and is required to pass the CPSC standard if the helmet is designed for children under the age of 5. If the foam is thick in the rear, the child should be supported by a pillow behind the back if transported in a trailer or high-backed child seat to avoid forcing the head forward and down. Tested under the CPSC standard with exactly the same headform weight and drops as an adult helmet.

Women’s

A helmet designed for a woman must have a place for long hair, usually a pony tail port. That should be a channel in the foam in the rear. There were a few such helmets in the early 1990′s, but they disappeared after men stopped wearing their hair long. Today the term denotes the same helmet design sold to men, but in a medium size and with pastel graphics or perhaps a flower or two.

Downhill mountain bike racing

A lightweight motorcycle-style helmet, usually with a chinbar to give some facial protection. Used in off-road downhill races, usually on wooded terrain with rough courses. Generally has vents, and is made of EPS foam with either a thin plastic shell or a thicker one made of either plastic or a composite material such as fiberglass or carbon fiber. One of the few choices for road riders who want facial protection but must have vents. The best are certified to the ASTM F1952 Downhill Racing Helmet standard.

Mountain

An artificial distinction, actually a type of road helmet. The term has come to mean “has a visor” for most manufacturers. In the past, one manufacturer advertised a former road helmet with extra large top vents to let warm air rise during very slow off-road riding, but that one is discontinued.

BMX

A lightweight to full weight motorcycle-style helmet. Some are just motorcycle helmets sold to BMX (Bicycle Moto-Cross) riders. Always has a chinbar for facial protection, and usually has a big, squared off visor bolted to the helmet. Made of EPS foam with a shell of plastic or composite material such as fiberglass or carbon fiber. Sometimes has vents, but usually small ones, since BMX races are usually short. Some are certified to the ASTM F 2032 BMX bicycle helmet standard, others to the more protective DOT motorcycle standard. Only the Snell M-2005 motorcycle standard requires impact energy management in the chinbar in the form of crushable foam.

Chrono

A helmet made for aerodynamic efficiency at racing speeds in time trials and track pursuit events. One is simply a round ball, but most are elongated teardrop shapes. Some have very long tails that sit on the rider’s back and blend the profile into a streamlined shape. When riders sit up or look down the tail is hoisted up into the airstream. At least one is designed to buzz if the tail is out of position. The most aerodynamic models have no vents to spoil the smooth flow of air around the shell. This coupled with the lack of aero effect at normal street speeds limits this type of helmet to track or time trail use. In a crash, the long tail would be like a lever to jerk the head. Race organizers now require these helmets to have impact protection, so they are made with EPS foam and a light plastic shell. We have a page up on chrono helmets.

Skate

Skate helmets began as round smooth hard shell helmets in the 1970′s, and skateboarders cling to that shape still. It is in fact the best shape for hitting pavement at high speed. The shell is usually hard ABS plastic, and the interior foam can be EPS, EPP or a variation of those types. Skate helmets were once made with a squishy butyl nitrile foam that works well in lesser impacts but cannot handle the energy of a full hit from a bicycle, or even some skateboard crashes. Some are still made that way. Skate helmets traditionally have very small round vents that do not move enough air for comfortable bicycle riding. There is an ASTM F 1492 Skateboard helmet standard, but most skate helmets now in the US market are certified only to the CPSC bicycle helmet standard. The best are dual certified to both standards.