That Helmet You Wear Skiing or Snowboarding in Utah Might Not Be Doing Much

Wearing a helmet while skiing or snowboarding has become a given. A recent study out of Switzerland tested how good helmets were at protecting the head and the results were surprising.  

Helmets Are Not Effective at the Speed Most are Going 

They tested the biggest brands that make helmets for skiers and snowboarders and discovered that at speeds higher than 12 miles per hour they don’t provide much protection. This is a problem as most go from 30 mph to 46 mph on the slopes. 

The truth is there isn’t a lot more manufacturers can do to provide more protection. Bicycle and motorcycle helmets also fail at higher speeds. They aren’t recommending helmets be abandoned but wanted to see if there was more that can be done. 

Helmets May Make Someone Feel Safer Than They Are 

There have been studies done that wanted to find out if people were less careful wearing a helmet because they feel protected. One study found subjects were more willing to explode a balloon over their head if they were wearing a helmet. 

Even though other trials showed similar results, a comparison of real-life accident data didn’t show a conclusive relationship between wearing a helmet and riskier behavior. There are many factors that make it hard to determine. 

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Where this information is valuable is understanding up front that a helmet doesn’t make you invulnerable. Far better to always ski or snowboard within your ability.