Tips about Helmets / Sport Goggles / Visors

Helmet and visor tips for motorcyclists

When your neck is on the line
A good fit?
Only a well-fitted helmet which sits correctly can provide optimum protection for the head. This is a simple truth, but one that is often not followed in practice.
Motorcyclists can test how securely their helmet sits by trying to prize the helmet from their head when the chin strap is fastened. If they can do this, they are wearing the wrong helmet.

Making a mark
Test marks guarantee that helmets meet a set of minimum safety requirements.
Motorcycle helmets and visors should always feature the test mark of European regulation ECE-R 22. This mark always consists of an E with a one- or two-digit number which identifies the country, e.g. 1 = Germany.

Safety first
Even if a helmet which has been involved in a collision or accident seems completely undamaged to the naked eye, you should never use it again. Tiny, imperceptible cracks can considerably compromise the helmet’s protective properties.
Another tip – stickers or paints that you want to decorate the helmet with may contain solvents which compromise the helmet’s stability.

And the visor?
When buying a helmet, make sure that the visor includes an anti-fog coating, which prevents your moist, warm breath from steaming it up. Double visors, which separate the warm inner air from the cold outer air, provide additional protection from steaming up. It’s also important that the visor protects against UV radiation.
The visor should be cleaned by dabbing (not rubbing) with a damp cloth or paper. Even stubborn stains such as long-dead flies loosen if you dampen them for a time with a piece of wet kitchen roll. You should never use detergent on the inside of the visor, but a little dish liquid can be added to the water for cleaning the outer surface.
The German Federal Highway Research Institute (Bundesanstalt für Strassenwesen [BASt]) recommends occasionally testing the condition of your visor using what they call the ”tea light test”. The test involves being able to recognize a distinctive pattern that is only lit up by a tea light from a certain distance through your visor. You can find details on the test in BASt-Sicherheitsinfo no. 6 (in German only), which can be downloaded from the Internet at www.bast.de/htdocs/veroeffentlichung/pdf/info_6.pdf. The information can be ordered by telephone on +49 2204 43327.

Helmet and visor tips for winter sports enthusiasts

When your neck is on the line
A ggod fit?
Only a well-fitted helmet which sits correctly can provide optimum protection for the head. This is a simple truth, but one that is often not followed in practice.
When trying on headgear, skiers can test that helmets are sitting tightly by leaving the chin strap open when trying them on, and shaking their head. The helmet shouldn’t wobble or slip. It should also be comfortable to wear together with spectacles, ski goggles or sunglasses, so take eyewear with you when you go to buy a helmet.

Making a mark
Test marks guarantee that helmets meet a set of minimum safety requirements.
Ski helmets must comply with the safety requirement of European Standard EN 1077. This mark should be visible on the helmet.

Safety first
Even if a helmet which has been involved in a collision or accident seems completely undamaged to the naked eye, you should never use it again. Tiny, imperceptible cracks can considerably compromise the helmet’s protective properties.
Another tip – stickers or paints that you want to decorate the helmet with may contain solvents which compromise the helmet's stability. The helmet should be cleaned using water containing a little dish liquid or shampoo.

And the visor?
Integral helmets with face guard and visor provide winter sports enthusiasts with the best protection and are therefore becoming increasingly popular.
The visor should be cleaned by dabbing (not rubbing) with a damp cloth or paper. Even stubborn stains loosen if you dampen them for a time with a piece of wet kitchen roll. You should never use detergent on the inside of the visor, but a little dish liquid can be added to the water for cleaning the outer side.
When buying a helmet, make sure that the visor includes an anti-fog coating, which prevents your moist, warm breath from steaming it up. Double visors, which separate the warm inner air from the cold outer air, provide additional protection from steaming up.

Helmet tips for cyclists, mountain bikers and inline skaters

When your neck is on the line
A ggod fit?
Only a well-fitted helmet which sits correctly can provide optimum protection for the head. This is a simple truth, but one that is often not followed in practice.
For cyclists, mountain bikers and inline skaters, this means that the helmet should not be tilted down toward the forehead or sit on the rear of the head. It should sit securely on the center of the head. The chin strap must be tightly secured, with the forward straps coming down parallel with the temples, and both rear straps running under the earlobes.

Making a mark
Test marks guarantee that helmets meet a set of minimum safety requirements.
For cycling helmets the CE Standard EN-1078 applies. This standard regulates helmets’ shock absorption properties and correct fitting on the head. The helmet should also bear one of the following national marks: ANSI Z 90.4, SNELL (USA); bfu R 8602 (Switzerland); BS 6863 (UK); AS 2063.1 (Australia); KOVFS 1985: 6 or SP-MET 1985.2 (Sweden) or the German mark TÜV/GS (TÜV tested).

Safety first
Even if a helmet which has been involved in a collision or accident seems completely undamaged to the naked eye, you should never use it again. Tiny, imperceptible cracks can considerably compromise the helmet’s protective properties.
Another tip – stickers or paints that you want to decorate the helmet with may contain solvents which compromise the helmet's stability. The helmet should be cleaned using water containing a little dish liquid or shampoo.