Posts Tagged ‘Helmet’
Written by Enid Burns on 30 August 2010
It's important to wear helmets properly or they'll do more harm than good.
A bump on the head is more than it used to be. A recent study conducted by Hasbro Children’s Hospital and Brown University, both in Providence, R.I. finds an increase in children ages 8 to 19 in the emergency room for concussions. While the study cites a decline in certain organized team sports, kids remain prone to injury in a number of sports including individual sports such as bicycling and snow skiing.
While not all sports call for it, an increasing number of activities now call for a helmet, particularly with minors. Sports have seen great strides in headgear in recent years. Ski helmets like the one from Saloman have made it more common to see helmets on the slopes. Innovations in football helmets like the X1 from Xenith reduce the likelihood of a concussion upon impact during gameplay.
Still, some question whether helmets insure safety. Of course those that question the use of helmets are concerned that wearers are more willing to take risks and put themselves in harm’s way. The best way to reduce head injuries is likely to wear proper protection and be aware of the risks of your activity. It’s also important to be sure if you’re wearing headgear, you’re wearing it the right way. Many cyclists, for example, wear helmets set too far back on their head.
Brown University and Hasbro Children’s Hospital Study [via The Wall Street Journal: Childhood: Athletes' Concussions Have Doubled]
Tags: child safety, concussions, head injuries, Helmet
Posted in Cycling, Equipment, Outdoors | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 11 August 2010
Salomon Patrol C.Air Mike Douglas Ski Helmet
A decade ago chances were you’d be more concerned with keeping your head warm while hitting the ski slope than with actually protecting it. But as helmets have come to be standard gear for biking, so too have the brain buckets have become part of the outfit for skiing. Getting a helmet to fit properly has never been easy – so when Saloman decided to introduce a new ski helmet they turned to Whistler-based pro skier Mike Douglas to help with the design.
To truly make a “one-size-fits-all” helmet, Salomon utilized a built-in inflatable pump. The same technology has been used in previous models, but the Mike Douglas pro-model features lightweight and breathable design that will be good for all sorts of weather conditions – because the last thing you want is a helmet that is hot or uncomfortable. If the helmet doesn’t fit right people simply won’t wear it. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: EPS, Helmet, Michael Douglas, polycarbonate, Salomon Patrol C.Air Mike Douglas, ski, ski helmet, slopes, Whistler
Posted in Apparel, Equipment, Outdoors | No Comments »
Written by Enid Burns on 05 August 2010
Helmets should be top of the list for new gear, as football season gets ready to kick off. Concussions are an ongoing problem, and many teams use reconditioned helmets rather than new ones, which exacerbates the problem. There’s no complete safeguard for preventing head injuries for players who choose to go out on the field, but every little bit helps. Xenith, a company founded by a Harvard grad who played as quarterback on the varsity team, has a new design to help cushion and protect the head. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: concussion, football, Helmet, shock absorbtion
Posted in Equipment | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 07 July 2010
Today putting on a cycling helmet is something most serious riders do whether going for a long training ride, or just when they’re taking the bike out for a short spin. But Harvey Echin of The Vancouver Sun brings up an interesting question, and that is whether wearing a bike helmet actually makes you any safer? One point that is brought up by Colin Clarke, a mechanical engineer is that helmets can actually be subjected to more impacts than a non-helmeted helmet – in part because the helmet is larger and thus an otherwise near miss becomes a hit.
The other point that Echin notes is that some sources have noted an increase in cyclist accidents as more riders wore helmets. The argument here could be made that riders have a greater sense of security and thus take greater risks. In this case, we can kind of agree. In those times when we’ve rented bikes – such as biking in Paris or Rome (where helmets were not available) – we were trying to be a little more careful, in part because we weren’t familiar with the bikes, but also because we didn’t have a helmet.
Finally, there is the debate about freedoms and whether laws should be passed that make it mandatory to wear a helmet – as is the case in Canada. To weigh in on the issue, we’ll only say that we suggest everyone wear a helmet but to generally try and ride as safely as possible.
Wearing a bike helmet might not make you any safer [Via The Vancouver Sun]
Tags: Cycling, Helmet, safety
Posted in Apparel, Cycling | 2 Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 17 May 2010
- Bell Citi Bike Helmet
Riding to work looking like Joe Pro probably won’t endear you to your boss, especially as you might seem more ready to hit the road than saddle up in the cubical for a day of punching the keyboard and hitting the daily grind. Likewise, the gear meant for training probably isn’t always ideal for commuting. A few companies have realized that, and Bell has introduced a helmet for the urban road warrior.
The Bell Citi is designed for commuting, just as the name suggests. It is actually a little bulkier and heavier than a race day helmet. There is even a “glow in the dark” version for those who ride either before dawn or just after dusk. There are also versions in gloss black, matt pewter and safety yellow for those who do their commuting when the sun still shines. But either way, you can stand out in the dark with reflective strips and the ability to affix a light to the back of this lid.
This helmet features the ErgoDial fit system for easy sizing adjustments, and it will protect your head with the Fusion In-Mold construction. It also offers a Blade visor to keep the sun and rain out of the eyes, and air-moving Channeled Ventilation. This brain bucket can even be used with a Flip Mirror as well, so you can see the cars even if they don’t see you. It has good style, without too much racing style, so it is perfect for commuting.
Bell Helmets: Citi
[Via BikeRadar.com]
Tags: Bell, Citi, Communting, Cycle, Helmet
Posted in Cycling, Equipment | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 08 January 2010
Life doesn’t have a soundtrack (which can be good or bad), but if you’d like to add a soundtrack to your activities the Tunebug Shake will help get you started or as the company touts it “Music 4 UR Melon.” 
This mini-external sound generator (don’t think of it as just another speaker), mounts to your skate/snowboard or bike helmet. The Tunebug Shake features a 3.5mm audio jack, as well as Bluetooth technology. It runs on a LiPoly battery that can last longer likely than your legs! The Tunebug shake is available now for $119.95.
Tags: Bluetooth, Helmet, NXT, Shake, Tunebug
Posted in Cycling, Exercise, Running | No Comments »
Written by Peter Suciu on 08 January 2010
What good is doing some daredevil stunt if no one was there to see you do it? So before you try doing something that might risk life or limb, strap on GoPro’s helmet mounted cameras. These high-end wearable cameras from Hero might just make you feel like one – hero that is. There are plenty of similar devices but these seem like the kind that can truly take a lickin’ and keep on filmin’, even if it recording your agony of defeat instead of your moment of glory!
Tags: extreme sports, GoPro, Helmet
Posted in Exercise, Gadget | No Comments »
