Jack Michaud
January 16th, 2004, 05:28 AM
<i>Originally posted by Pat Donnelly</i>:
Giro 9
IMO - the Giro 9 is a step up from a bicycle helmet. Giro is part of Bell Helmets and are manufactured in China. The Leedom I have (Limit) has been rebuilt (stryo foam replaced by Leedom) twice since 1999 - this was done in Norwood MA. The current repair was done on the day the helmet was received. In both cases I did not know the styro's integrity was in question. Some Mfg's liek Leedom offer an inspection service while others tell you to destroy and discard the helmet after an impact or after 3 or 4 seasons. If a hit is taken with the Giro then I will have to toss it as the styro foam is molded directly onto a thin layer of plastic.
Actually the Giro 9 was top rated in a recent Consumer Reports test. Here's what CR had to say about a few helmets they deemed unacceptible:
"HELMETS TO AVOID
Although our own tests suggest that the Boeri Axis Rage would have passed the impact tests of the ASTM and European Committee for Standardization, shells of 7 of the 10 high-gloss Boeri Axis Rage helmets we tested shattered when we dropped them from about 6 3/4 feet onto a flat anvil. (This did not occur with the Rage’s Iron shell, which is made of a different material.) The high-gloss shell broke into large, sharp fragments that could cut the wearer’s face. And the chin-strap system was compromised, which could cause the helmet to come off (see Problem helmets). We’ve judged the Boeri Axis Rage helmet with high-gloss shell Not Acceptable.
Some samples of two helmets failed our test for chin-strap retention. A plastic ring connecting parts of the straps broke. If that happened during an accident, the helmet could shift or come off. Their names: the W Helmets W Ski w/Slider (see Problem helmets) and the Boeri Axis Rage (high-gloss and Iron versions have the same retention system). We recommend that you not buy those helmets. If you own one, consider replacing it.
We also checked all the helmets for warmth, ventilation, and resistance to being pushed out of position. As the Ratings show, some helmets will keep your head warmer or cooler than others, and some were more adept at staying in place on our panelists’ heads."
Giro 9
IMO - the Giro 9 is a step up from a bicycle helmet. Giro is part of Bell Helmets and are manufactured in China. The Leedom I have (Limit) has been rebuilt (stryo foam replaced by Leedom) twice since 1999 - this was done in Norwood MA. The current repair was done on the day the helmet was received. In both cases I did not know the styro's integrity was in question. Some Mfg's liek Leedom offer an inspection service while others tell you to destroy and discard the helmet after an impact or after 3 or 4 seasons. If a hit is taken with the Giro then I will have to toss it as the styro foam is molded directly onto a thin layer of plastic.
Actually the Giro 9 was top rated in a recent Consumer Reports test. Here's what CR had to say about a few helmets they deemed unacceptible:
"HELMETS TO AVOID
Although our own tests suggest that the Boeri Axis Rage would have passed the impact tests of the ASTM and European Committee for Standardization, shells of 7 of the 10 high-gloss Boeri Axis Rage helmets we tested shattered when we dropped them from about 6 3/4 feet onto a flat anvil. (This did not occur with the Rage’s Iron shell, which is made of a different material.) The high-gloss shell broke into large, sharp fragments that could cut the wearer’s face. And the chin-strap system was compromised, which could cause the helmet to come off (see Problem helmets). We’ve judged the Boeri Axis Rage helmet with high-gloss shell Not Acceptable.
Some samples of two helmets failed our test for chin-strap retention. A plastic ring connecting parts of the straps broke. If that happened during an accident, the helmet could shift or come off. Their names: the W Helmets W Ski w/Slider (see Problem helmets) and the Boeri Axis Rage (high-gloss and Iron versions have the same retention system). We recommend that you not buy those helmets. If you own one, consider replacing it.
We also checked all the helmets for warmth, ventilation, and resistance to being pushed out of position. As the Ratings show, some helmets will keep your head warmer or cooler than others, and some were more adept at staying in place on our panelists’ heads."