Please, Please, Buy a HELMET! Any Helmet!

[andyzee]

Agree with everything Grassi21 says, and I do find the vent important.

 

[gladerider]

if your goggle is fogging up, get one with real good circulation. check to see if your goggle is double lensed. single lense will definitely fog up much more.
my old goggle used to fog up much more. my new one is much better.
i have leedom helmet and it has circulation holes all through out. it really does help.

but most importantly, i must fit, of course.

 

[dmc]

Screw you people . . . there are plenty of perfectly smart, sane skiers who don't wear helmets. I hate these helmet threads . . all they are are excuses for people to get on their soapboxes and talk down to people who don't wear helmets. I propose we ban all future talk of the benefits of helmets and how great you feel when you wear one.

I also don't care how comfortable it is, how light it is, or how many people you know that were saved by their helmet. All of these dissertations on helmets are the same, and they're all stupid.

Your choice - simple as that to me...

It's just an easy way for people to add their .02 - especially noobs.... Can't comment on anything else so they comment on helmets and skiers codes.... What they know and feel is important...

I know 2 people that have died skiing while wearing helmets... Hit tree's dead on.. At higher speeds a helmet may just leave a prettier corpse...

Stick to you guns - it's a personal choice... Don't let the a-holes get you down... Ski free - take chances...

 

[dmc]

Glad u r ok
Helmet=
No helmet = :dunce:

People telling people on how to live their lives... :dunce:

 

[dmc]

Last night at wachusett i mis calculated a jump and it was more like a quarter pipe...i fell bad and got a concusion level 2. Let my helmet tell you what woul have been my head...

Park riding can cause major head injuries... But most people hear aren't park riders...

 

[bdjeep]

While wearing a helmet makes good sense, it is important that you still ski/ride within your own skill level. Helmets do not make you invincible nor do they protect against neck injury.

A family member broke several vertebrae in his neck during a snowboarding accident a few years back. He was wearing a helmet at the time. Luckily, there was no permanent injury, but he had to wear a brace 24/7 for several months followed by many more months of physical therapy.

 

[billski]

Fuse

I'm sold. Seriously, I've been thinking abt getting one for a while but I've been put off by the potential heat & goggle problems. I'm a hot person and have to be careful or else my goggles steam up. Won't that be worse with a helmet?

What do I buy? How should I shop? What features are useful/useless? How much should I expect to spend?

If it matters, I ski (don't ride).

I am a "hot head"; I sweat a lot when I ski. I shopped arount, I now have a GIRO FUSE. It has the most vents. It has a lever on top, but it also has rubber plugs to remove even more vents. I had the thing wide open when I was at Steamboat last March.

The only goggle problems I ever had were last Saturday at Stowe when we had 35mph gusts. I used a formed face mask, goggles and helmet. A small part of my temple was exposed because I just kept my 15 year old goggles, which are a wee bit small. It was moving towards frostbite, but I fixed it with some fabric. I am considering different goggles that fit better. Then again, I had the same problem when I wore a ski hat.

If I had to do it again, I'd get one with speakers inside it. (I may retro fit with aftermarket speakers, it will just be more expensive.)

 

[NeverSummer8]

that was pretty scary dude. when you didnt respond after i asked you if you were okay i knew something was wrong.

since brayden doesnt remember what happened, i will fill everyone in:
we were at wachusett on thursday night ripping up the fresh pow. we saw a jump on the side of the trail that was in a very poor location. it was the equivalent of putting a jump infront of a wall. the lip was too intense for a jump, but not intense enough to be a quarterpipe. not to mention the tree branch that was dangling down just 4 feet above the "jump". i was about to hit it when i noticed that i didnt have enough speed and i didnt really feel like getting wrecked on the tree branch, so i threw it sideways and turned around to watch brayden hit it. from the start, i could tell he had way too much speed. he popped off the lip from hell and just totally lost control in the air. i believe he hit his head on the tree branch, but i could be wrong. on the way down, i said many swear words because i could see that his head was lined up with a big ice chunk. luckily, God witnessed what was happening and sent a gust of wind toward him that caused his head to dodge the deadly ice chunk. unfortunately, he still ate it wicked bad. we didnt notice his helmet until we were eating waffles at the Waffle Haus, soon to be the Waffle Cabin. we were all scared/happy/amazed/in awe at what we saw. his helmet cracked in 2 spots. you could just rip part of the helmet right off. it really made me open my eyes and realize how important it is to take proper safety precautions. please, wear a helmet/consider wearing one/be careful if you chose not to....that could have been his head

 

[mattchuck2]

Your choice - simple as that to me...

It's just an easy way for people to add their .02 - especially noobs.... Can't comment on anything else so they comment on helmets and skiers codes.... What they know and feel is important...

I know 2 people that have died skiing while wearing helmets... Hit tree's dead on.. At higher speeds a helmet may just leave a prettier corpse...

Stick to you guns - it's a personal choice... Don't let the a-holes get you down... Ski free - take chances...

Good call . . . This is exactly what I was talking about. . .

I was dead serious when I said that these are the dumbest posts in the world. If you wear a helmet, fine, that's cool, but I don't need to hear about it, and you don't have to talk down to people who don't wear them. And yes, when you say things like "wearing a helmet is a no-brainer", it qualifies as talking down to someone.

If you don't think you are adopting a holier than thou attitude when it comes to your affinity for helmets, substitute the words "drive a toyota prius" for "wear a helmet", and you'll see how pompous and arrogant your posts actually are.

Example: "I'm typically someone who advocates the pre-eminence of individual responsibility/decision-making but I'll be honest, driving a Toyota Prius is just a no-brainer for anyone regardless of ability or experience. if you list out the benefits versus the cost to yourself, to the mountain, to society - the benefits far outweigh the perceived cost/discomforts/hassle, whatever. Another observation, not sure how old you are, but as you get older, you develop a much greater appreciation for your physical and mental abilities and realize a little bit of prevention or insurance to protect those gifts are well worth the cost."

 

[Paul]

Good call . . . This is exactly what I was talking about. . .

I was dead serious when I said that these are the dumbest posts in the world. If you wear a helmet, fine, that's cool, but I don't need to hear about it, and you don't have to talk down to people who don't wear them. And yes, when you say things like "wearing a helmet is a no-brainer", it qualifies as talking down to someone.

If you don't think you are adopting a holier than thou attitude when it comes to your affinity for helmets, substitute the words "drive a toyota prius" for "wear a helmet", and you'll see how pompous and arrogant your posts actually are.

Example: "I'm typically someone who advocates the pre-eminence of individual responsibility/decision-making but I'll be honest, driving a Toyota Prius is just a no-brainer for anyone regardless of ability or experience. if you list out the benefits versus the cost to yourself, to the mountain, to society - the benefits far outweigh the perceived cost/discomforts/hassle, whatever. Another observation, not sure how old you are, but as you get older, you develop a much greater appreciation for your physical and mental abilities and realize a little bit of prevention or insurance to protect those gifts are well worth the cost."

Great use of non-sequitor to (attempt to) make a point.

1. The thread is titled "Please, Please, Buy a HELMET! Any Helmet!" This should be your first clue as to the content within. If this is something you find disagreeable, you can feel free to take Doug's advise, and use your freewill to chose NOT to aggravate yourself by entering into the discussion. You provided no reasons to the contrary of helmet wearing, rather, complained that someone provided an opinion and a REASON for that opinion. Others added their opinions which, ironically enough, supported the thread-starter's.
2. You don't want to wear a helmet, fine, no problem here, it's your mellon. But why the hostility towards those who do? I never saw anywhere someone say "Mattchuck NEEDS to wear a helmet" Simply someone who had an experience where he saw the need for one FOR HIMSELF and urged others to do so as well.
3. There is nothing "dumb" about safety. Period. There's also nothing wrong with sharing an experience with a community that may promote intelligent discussion and debate, and may try to persuade some that it is a good thing to do.
4. Please, do us all a favor, and continue to eschew helmets while skiing, motorcycling, sno-mobiling, skydiving, etc... also, smoke, do heroin, run with scissors and anything else your personal freedoms guarantee you. The herd could always use a little thinning, and removing your genes from the pool can only serve to make it a bit deeper.

You also might not be so defensive about being talked down-to, if it weren't a necessity for communication.

 

[andyzee]

Screw you people . . . there are plenty of perfectly smart, sane skiers who don't wear helmets. I hate these helmet threads . . all they are are excuses for people to get on their soapboxes and talk down to people who don't wear helmets. I propose we ban all future talk of the benefits of helmets and how great you feel when you wear one.

I also don't care how comfortable it is, how light it is, or how many people you know that were saved by their helmet. All of these dissertations on helmets are the same, and they're all stupid.

You want to talk about talking down to someone, what was this rant. :roll: Hate the threads, don't read them.

 

[from_the_NEK]

While wearing a helmet makes good sense, it is important that you still ski/ride within your own skill level. Helmets do not make you invincible nor do they protect against neck injury.

A family member broke several vertebrae in his neck during a snowboarding accident a few years back. He was wearing a helmet at the time. Luckily, there was no permanent injury, but he had to wear a brace 24/7 for several months followed by many more months of physical therapy.

At least he only hurt his neck. Bones and muscles will heal. Spinal cords and Brains won't. But since he was wearing a helmet maybe he reduced the extent of injuries by prevent head trauma.

I wear a helmet. Although I know it won't protect me if I hit something at 50 mph, it will help in most other cases, especially low speed glade skiing.

 

[Greg]

Great use of non-sequitor to (attempt to) make a point.

1. The thread is titled "Please, Please, Buy a HELMET! Any Helmet!" This should be your first clue as to the content within. If this is something you find disagreeable, you can feel free to take Doug's advise, and use your freewill to chose NOT to aggravate yourself by entering into the discussion. You provided no reasons to the contrary of helmet wearing, rather, complained that someone provided an opinion and a REASON for that opinion. Others added their opinions which, ironically enough, supported the thread-starter's.
2. You don't want to wear a helmet, fine, no problem here, it's your mellon. But why the hostility towards those who do? I never saw anywhere someone say "Mattchuck NEEDS to wear a helmet" Simply someone who had an experience where he saw the need for one FOR HIMSELF and urged others to do so as well.
3. There is nothing "dumb" about safety. Period. There's also nothing wrong with sharing an experience with a community that may promote intelligent discussion and debate, and may try to persuade some that it is a good thing to do.
4. Please, do us all a favor, and continue to eschew helmets while skiing, motorcycling, sno-mobiling, skydiving, etc... also, smoke, do heroin, run with scissors and anything else your personal freedoms guarantee you. The herd could always use a little thinning, and removing your genes from the pool can only serve to make it a bit deeper.

You also might not be so defensive about being talked down-to, if it weren't a necessity for communication.

0vvn3d

 

[2knees]

I try avoid these discussions, the mrg discussions etc cause they generally all lead to the same point. anger. But, i will say that wearing a helmet really is personal choice. I just started wearing one last year and that was at the insistance of my wife. (until last year, she was a intensive care nurse who has seen things I hope I never see) otherwise, i'd still be helmet free. Skied for 20+ years without one, as alot of people here did i'm sure.

But glad to hear the original poster is ok. head injuries, and the after effects, can be brutal.

 

[bvibert]

0vvn3d

I had to check to make sure I was still at alpinezone.com. I thought I got diverted to somewhere else...

 

[Greg]

I had to check to make sure I was still at alpinezone.com. I thought I got diverted to somewhere else...

I'm getting hip to this interweb thingie...

 

[Paul]

I'm getting hip to this interweb thingie...

Its like a series of tubes.....:lol:

 

[dmc]

I was dead serious when I said that these are the dumbest posts in the world. If you wear a helmet, fine, that's cool, but I don't need to hear about it, and you don't have to talk down to people who don't wear them. And yes, when you say things like "wearing a helmet is a no-brainer", it qualifies as talking down to someone.

Agreed... I get sick and tired of arguing personal choice pretty fast...
I'll argue snowboard bans until the "cows come home" and i could care less about anybody bithcing otherwise - with all the images of dead horse,etc....

But people trying to scare other people into doing stuff... Is pretty lame..

Too many people just think a helmet is the "end all" - "be all" of protection... But it isn't - most of what's going to protect you is your skillz and your ability to know your surroundings..... Too many people put helmets on and then think that they have a magic spell that protects them - which means they can go faster and charge harder...

A helmet is just another means of protection.. Like wrist gaurds, knee pads, knee braces, release bindings, avi tranceivers, ice axes and ass pads.

 

[Paul]

Agreed... I get sick and tired of arguing personal choice pretty fast...
I'll argue snowboard bans until the "cows come home" and i could care less about anybody bithcing otherwise - with all the images of dead horse,etc....

But people trying to scare other people into doing stuff... Is pretty lame..

Too many people just think a helmet is the "end all" - "be all" of protection... But it isn't - most of what's going to protect you is your skillz and your ability to know your surroundings..... Too many people put helmets on and then think that they have a magic spell that protects them - which means they can go faster and charge harder...

A helmet is just another means of protection.. Like wrist gaurds, knee pads, knee braces, release bindings, avi tranceivers, ice axes and ass pads.

Here's the crux of the whole issue. In this post, Doug has provided a thought-out counter-point to pro-helmet posts. While I, and I'm sure others will disagree, that's all well and good, at least he provides a rational reason for his choice. I don't think anyone can dispute the fact that the things most likely to keep you from injury are skills and awareness, that is an absolute "no-brainer." And he's correct, a helmet is another means of protection, like a release binding, et al... Its a means of protection, that I and many others choose to use, and in doing so, encourage others to use as well. I don't think anyone is attempting to "force" others to do so, as has been implied. But I respect Doug's choice, and his counter-point. He backs-up his position, and doesn't just resort to calling it dumb.

I still disagree with you though. I know people who were killed in car accidents while wearing a seat-belt. They knew how to drive, and were alert and aware of their surroundings. Sometimes shit just happens. It doesn't mean I'm going to stop wearing a seat-belt, though. I think the main point us pro-helmet folks are trying to make is that if it can protect you from minor incidents, then why not?

 

[JimG.]

This debate is akin to telling a smoker to quit.

There's no real reason not to except by choice.

And since that choice exists, folks will exercise it. I agree with the sentiment that some people think they are indestructable because they wear a helmet...just like ABS, people take a safety improvement and expect it to save their lives when they lose control. It will save them only if they use it properly and they have the skiing/boarding ability to match the terrain they want to ski.