It was a basic climbing helmet from I think Black Diamond. There entry level general purpose version. Like $70, maybe less. The last time I came across it in my various bins of stuff all the styrofoam on the inside of it fell out. Did a little Googling and apparently like ropes and other gear you should just toss it at a certain age regardless of condition. So It tossed it.
That is what I assumed. IIRC it had something to do with the plastic degrading or whatever. I can understand ropes aging, weakening from abrasions, etc and their obvious importance but unless something smacked the helmet and you didn't store it at the bottom of your swimming pool I'd think it would last.
I don't know. There have been years where the ice has been nasty and I can see having something to absorb a blow to the back of the head from falling. I've taken some pretty good spills on pretty flat terrain on particularly hard ice. Never had the helmet and never hit my head but I can see it. Certainly doesn't seem like a mandatory item on all hikes but I see the case for having one depending on the conditions and your choice of trail. You can't just assume you'll never fall.
It is black & white. Time/age of helmet alone is not a valid reason to throw away a helmet.
Is it not possible that it was the combination of improper traction and not having protective headwear. I would say there is a high probability of Head Trauma involved with this accident. I agree most folks don't need Helmets while hiking but this gentleman was off trail on an icy slide scouting ski terrain by himself ropeless. Therefore, the potential for high exposure could have been present. I look at it this way. Most these days if skiing this particular terrain than less likely would have been wearing a helmet. Whether a helmet in this instance would have saved a fatality is debatable and we will probably never know. In general, wearing a helmet for outdoor activities is a personal decision and not a mandatory one. In other words, left up to the participant. Interestingly when helmets started showing up at ski resorts it was a big debate whether they were necessary for recreational skiers. Then more and more people started wearing them until they became kool or in so to speak. Again not saying this is what needs to happen with hiking but to each his own. Heck when I first started rock climbing in the mid 70's hardly anyone wore helmets including myself. When I look back on it probably not the best decision. Of course then, one of the only helmets available was "The Joe Dodge" which was heavy as all heck as it was analogous to wearing a carved out bowling ball. Helmets are much more svelte now and have come along way and only keep getting better. Do what you want with your own cranium out there but IMO there is a time for a helmet and one that is appropriate for the activity at hand.
I agree but there is room for interpretation IMO. There are other factors involved when it is definitely time to retire a helmet IMO. See my post above. I guess I'm also in the camp of being safe than sorry and not worrying about spending a buck every once in a while, on protective headwear. One thing I know newer helmets are a lot more comfortable and fit better. Which by the way contributes to a higher rate of safety. Technology just keeps getting better. Do you have a helmet tester in your garage we can all use? If you want to wear an inferior piece of equipment from 20 years ago in hopes of avoiding TBI that is your and only your personal decision. Not mine.
Read the Helmets.org site, which is a consumer-funded, bicycle helmet advocacy organization. They have the data.
You make some very valid points, and I agree that head trauma is a big possibility, so yes a helmet in this case, speculation aside might have been a good idea. Your point on specific applications and the associated gear is quite accurate. It reminds me of my climbs out west, they required more thought and more gear, helmet, ice axe, crampons, rope, sometimes took it all, sometimes didn't need most of it.
Shouldn't have thrown out my helmet. If I ever go downhill skiing again and pull my gear out of he garage I might have needed it to avoid a head injury while I was buckling the boots.
I get where your coming from. If you go look at The Gondala Scene from the Movie “Hot Dog” everything was exploding.Shouldn't have thrown out my helmet. If I ever go downhill skiing again and pull my gear out of he garage I might have needed it to avoid a head injury while I was buckling the boots.
As much as this audience revers Joe Dodge, the helmet you are referencing was a Joe Brown you are referencing was a Joe Brown, That and the Bell Topex were the choices back then. And you are right no one wore then.
