I'll go ahead and give the helmet guys the benefit of the doubt and figure that them saying it should be replaced after one drop is done more for the sake of liability. They have no idea of knowing how far you dropped it, on what side it hit, etc. It's the same thing everyone has to do these days because of frivolous lawsuits. If you don't say on the label that it could be comprimised after a drop and should be replaced, then someone has an accident and happens to get injured because that area of the helmet was comprimised, then they sue the helmet company. By saying you should replace the helmet, they can always point to the "warning label" and say " we told you so".

 

Do you like carrying on a normal conveesation then if you drop your helmet replace it. A functioning brain is a hard thing to replace.

 

just get a big piece of foam and stick it on your head

 

I'm with you on that. I can't see any possible way the foam lining could be compromised from a little drop when there was nothing inside the helmet to compress the foam.

 

Uh, I am with NOLAMike when he quotes Snell....repeated dropping ( repeated? ) or impact at highway speed MIGHT compromise the helmet. If you can WALK at highway speeds you probably don't NEED a helmet. The gizmo to indicate damage MAY have occurred is being SOLD and a good sales tool is fear.

Ultimately we have to make our own decisions...my decision is that I have only dropped mine 10-20 times and I don't consider that repeatedly and I never could walk over 4-5 mph. There is room for common sense here too...is it cracked, padding compressed, is "scratch" a gouge?

I have a set of VERY pricey kitchen knives...and German manufacturer ( Shamwow says they make good stuff ) recommends sharpening before each use...right.. I paid $450 for 6 knives and I need to shapen them before each use? They also sell a pricey sharpener. Perhaps a car that had been "keyed" wouldn't pass a crash test.

My DOCTOR does not believe in helmets at all...says you trade death by head injury for death from broken neck. My son who is an X-ray tech with 20 years experience is in favor of helmets since they tend to contain the brain matter that makes a donation to a research facility feasible. Your decision should lie somewhere between these two extremes of replacing a scratched helmet and not wearing one.

My opinion of course. Uh ....that is my disclaimer allowing me to claim that I have no real knowledge at all and my opinion should be disregarded. I use a scratched helmet. John

 

Thanks for a cool video.!! worth watching

 

I have heard that dropping from higher than 24" it should be replaced ... But I think that they are covering their butts ( from a legal stand point) so if it failed they couldn't be sued.

 

check out the video the Arai representative said the helmet is still good.

 

Helmet is fine, its designed the same as a hard hat, the outer shell is designed to withstand a sudden hard impact. So if the drop wasn't the same as striking it with a hammer at full force, I doubt you damaged it.

 

I've heard if it was dropped from 4' or higher, so unless you are 9' tall, wear it till you want another.