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When purchasing a helmet, one area to consider before making your purchase is whether a helmet is D.O.T. and Snell rated.

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D.O.T. Rating

The Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) rating is based on dropping the helmet from a height of ten feet. A simulated head is placed inside the helmet to measure the degree of impact. The head cannot receive more than 400 G-force units on impact.

But are all helmets tested under D.O.T. specifications? No. The D.O.T. might occasionally pull helmets to perform testing, but the majority of helmets do not undergo any level of testing. Helmet manufacturers simply need to feel that their helmet is meeting the D.O.T. specifications to brand it as "D.O.T. rated."

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Snell Rating

The Snell certification stands in rigorous contrast to the D.O.T. specifications. Helmet manufacturers voluntarily submit their products to the Snell rating system and pay for the testing procedures. These procedures are extensive.

Snell cites the following areas as critical in helmet safety:

• Impact management - how well the helmet protects against collisions with large objects.
• Helmet positional stability - whether the helmet will be in place, on the head, when it's needed.
• Retention system strength - whether the chin straps are sufficiently strong enough to hold the helmet throughout a head impact.
• Extent of Protection - the area of the head protected by the helmet.

Snell Memorial Foundation, Inc. ( 2005). 2005 Standard for Protective Headgear, 4.

A Snell helmet ensures the highest level of safety available to the rider today.

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What We Offer

Consider the above criteria as a starting point for judging the quality in your next helmet purchase, and if you have any questions concerning any of the helmets we offer, don't hesitate to contact our customer representatives. Most of them ride and can provide you with specific product information. To reach a customer representative, call (208) 762-9462.

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D.O.T. and Snell Rated Helmet Brands

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