Snow Helmets? Anyone try these before?

[marriedman]

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/9/44/509/42831/ITEM/HJC-CL-Max-II-Zader-Snow-Helmet.aspx

This is just on eof several that I stumbled upon today. Bluetooth capable, heated, and well vented. One site I was on said they were for snowmobiles. But I cannot see why they wouldn't work for MC's as well. If the venting is as good as they say, I wonder how they would do in the summer?

[bajakirch]

You'll want to make sure they're DOT/Snell-certified.

I purchased a back-up helmet off CL for $25. I got it home and then noticed that the shield was etched with 'For Snowmobile Use Only'. Apparently the shields on snowmobile helmets are thinner than those on MC, and may not hold up to a rock tossed up and struck at 70 mph.

[skramer360]

It does say on that page that it is DOT approved.

[ariwhiteboy]

It does say on that page that it is DOT approved.

DOT approved for impact with snow, or pavement?

I could understand considering it if it offered benefits you couldn't get in a purpose built, on road, motorcycle helmet.

[green427]

From what I've read, snowmobile helmets are very noisy at high speeds as they are not as aerodynamic as m/c helmets.

[mattrowe19]

A lot of the snowmobile helmets are simply MC helmets with a different face shield. The HJC I had for snow, was just that. The face shield is designed to be more fog resistant. Also, typically when a snow helmet says heated, it's simply a defrost line, like your car. The defrost is at the top and bottom of the shield and helps to keep the shield fog free. I never noticed my head staying warmer. I plugged it into a connector that was attached to my sled. I rode all the way to -5 F and never had a problem with my head staying warm, heat or not. I would just get a MC helmet. The optics on a MC shield are better and the MC shield is also more impact resistant. If it says DOT approved, it's referring to the helmet, not the shield. I'm willing to bet the shield has the same notice that baja had on his.

[marriedman]

mattrowe - that is exactly what I wanted to hear. Thanks!

[mattrowe19]

Glad I could help. If look at sites like denniskirk.com you'll see, particularly with HJC, that the helmet models for snow are the same as the MC models. They just have a different shield.