Until then, helmets are required to meet at least one of the voluntary safety standards, which cover everything from impact protection to buckle and strap strength to how much of the head the helmet covers. Each of the 24 helmet models tested uses one of four buckle types. Roughly one in 10 samples of the two problem buckle types broke apart in one test or the other. Try to avoid helmets with these buckles. In the meantime, continue to use the helmet.
Any helmet is better than no helmet.
Bike helmets reduce your likelihood of death or serious brain injury when falling from a bike. Many manufacturers will replace a helmet after a crash, usually for a fee of a third or less of what a new helmet would ordinarily cost. Manufacturers also suggest that helmets be replaced every three to five years, due to hidden deterioration from weathering and air pollution. The June issue of Consumer Reports will be available May 27 wherever magazines are sold. Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union, an independent, nonprofit testing and information gathering organization, serving only the consumer.