Bicycle Helmets on the Slopes!!!

On my recent ski holiday, a friend of mine brought and wore his bicycle helmet on the slopes! What do people think of this idea? Is it

a) a cheap alternative to buying a specialist helmet?
b) better than nothing?
c) more dangerous than nothing and completely unsuitable?

I should stress that I am primarily interested in the safety aspects - the individual concerned is big enough and bold enough to deal with looking a bit ridiculous and too cheap to hire/buy a proper ski helmet! Unfortunately, I do not have photos!

I look forward to your comments.

I saw a couple of people wearing these in Montgenevre last week. Personally, I dont like helmets, and unless its really cold, I dont even like wearing a hat. I do see there is a safety need for helmets, especially for boarders as they do a lot of falling over in their earlier years. But I always only associate skiers in helmets with downhill racing.
Bicycle helmets though.....no.

If like me you're at the stage where you would feel a bit naked without a helmet and the weather was really hot then a bicycle helmet might make a lot of sense. There's generally a lot more ventilation on a cycle helmet. Obviously if it was cold then the cycle helmet wouldn't do much to keep you warm.

I would have thought Tony, that after your various encounters with skiers on Red 16 in Mayrhofen you would have been straight down the shops to get yourself a skid lid!

Ha! No, that near death experience could have happened to anyone, with or without a helmet. That guy was out of control and could have killed me, but he didnt. Not wearing a helmet had nothing to do with that.
I just dont like the look of them on skiers, and I like to enjoy the fresh mountain air.
However, I dont think it will be long before they make helmets compulsary for boarders, and probably skiers not long after either.
A lad on the group from my village, first week boarder, went over in Sauze and lost his back edge, and smacked the back of his head on the piste. No helmet. He was unconscious, fitting, and almost swallowed his tongue, but for the reaction of one of his mates. He was lucky, and probably wouldnt have been as badly injured if he had been wearing a helmet.
Point taken on that one. But they are not for me, thanks. Not until someone says its the law.

Wanderer

If the bike helmet fits for cycling, it won't fit with a hat underneath for skiing.

Some of the snowboard (but ski as well) helmets out now are multi sport so you can remove some insulation and use it for other activities.


Trencher

On the 1st of Jan 2005 it became compulsary for under 14`s to where a ski helmet in Italy.Failure to do so will incure a £100 fine.
A`m sure its the case in a couple more countries, But whether this is inforced is another thing.
Remember the young boy pre christmas in the usa, He crashed out on the piste into a tree and was found to be wearing a bicycle helmet.Experts have said had he had been wearing a proper ski helmet he would have survived.Stay safe guys you only live once. :wink:


AJ Adele

Trencher wrote:Wanderer

If the bike helmet fits for cycling, it won't fit with a hat underneath for skiing.
Trencher

My understanding is that you should not wear a hat under a ski helmet as it reduces the effectiveness of the helmet.

Colin L wrote:

Trencher wrote:Wanderer

If the bike helmet fits for cycling, it won't fit with a hat underneath for skiing.
Trencher

My understanding is that you should not wear a hat under a ski helmet as it reduces the effectiveness of the helmet.

Kind of what I was saying in a round about way for any helmet.

You can wear a thin balacava under a helmet. On the coldest days -25 or worse, it's about the only way to seal up the gaps you don't normally notice.

Trencher