How to Choose a Helmet for Inline Skating

ou should strap on a helmet along with the rest of your safety gear every time you go inline skating. After all, your head deserves as much protection as your wrists!

If you already have a bike helmet certified by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the Snell foundation, you're set. But if your helmet is more than five years old or has been knocked around, it's time for a new one.


	The more vents a helmet has, the cooler it will be. Use sizing pads to customize a helmet's fit. Replace your helmet after an accident.

Types of Helmets

Several types of helmets are available for inline skaters—sport, road and mountain bike helmets and BMX or skate helmets. All types are designed to help protect you from impact while being lightweight and comfortable.

BMX/Skate helmetsoffer the most coverage around the back and sides of the head for the aggressive skater.
Sport helmetsoffer versatile protection and comfort at a value price.
Road bike helmetstend to be lighter and offer more ventilation and aerodynamic styling.
Mountain bike helmetsare designed for maximum protection, with visors and extended coverage at the back of the head.

Design Features to Consider

Liner—Most helmet liners are made from expanded polystyrene foam. On impact, the liner dissipates the force of the impact to protect your head. Make sure the liner fits your head comfortably and that it's not damaged or dented.
Shell—Modern helmets are covered with plastic shells. A shell holds the helmet together in a crash, provides puncture resistance and allows the helmet to slide during impact to protect your head and neck. Make sure your shell is intact and in good shape.
Ventilation—Helmet vents enhance wind-flow over your head, keeping you cooler and more comfortable. In general, the more vents a helmet has, the cooler you'll be.
Straps—The helmet strap system should be comfortable and hold the helmet securely on your head.

Find the Right Size

The key to choosing the right helmet is to find one that fits you. Helmets are typically sized in inches and come in several sizes. Measure around the largest portion of your head—about one inch above your eyebrows. Look for a helmet that matches your measurement. If you're between sizes, order the smaller one.

Customize the Fit
Helmets have a remarkably versatile fitting system that includes adjustable straps and sizing pads. These straps and pads will be your primary method for making the helmet fit. A good-fitting helmet will be snug but not too tight.

The helmet should sit level on your head (not tilted back) with the front edge no more than one inch above your eyebrows.
Push the helmet from side to side and back to front. If the helmet shifts in any direction, use the sizing pads to take up extra space.
Buckle and tighten the chin strap. Push up on the front edge of the helmet, then up on the back edge. If the helmet moves significantly in either direction, tighten the chin strap.
With the strap buckled, open your mouth. If the helmet doesn't press firmly down against your forehead as you do so, tighten further and repeat.

Impact Certification

By law, all helmets sold in the U.S. must meet standards set by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). Helmets available at REI also meet performance standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the Snell Memorial Foundation, generally regarded as the industry's toughest.

These standards involve rigorous testing. Test results have helped manufacturers create helmets that are light, comfortable and capable of handling impacts far greater than what a normal person would likely experience during a crash.

When to Replace Your Helmet

Any time your helmet is involved in an accident, it has almost certainly been damaged. Since damage isn't always visible, you should replace your helmet after any significant impact, even if looks OK. You should also replace your helmet after five years, even if it hasn't been involved in a crash. Pollution, UV rays and weathering can weaken its structure over time.