<figure style="display: block; margin-bottom: 1rem;"><img width="925" height="643" src=" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="A rider shows off a full-face motorcycle helmet with DOT and Snell certification." data-portal-copyright="A rider holds their full-face motorcycle helmet | " decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset=" 1600w, ?w=300&h=209 300w, ?w=768&h=534 768w, ?w=1024&h=712 1024w, ?w=1536&h=1068 1536w, ?w=86&h=60 86w, ?w=902&h=627 902w" sizes="(max-width: 925px) 100vw, 925px" /><figcaption class="wp-media-credit">A rider holds their full-face motorcycle helmet | </figcaption></figure><img width="150" height="150" src="?w=150&h=150&crop=1" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="A rider shows off a full-face motorcycle helmet with DOT and Snell certification." decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="?w=150&h=150 150w, ?w=100&h=100 100w, ?w=200&h=200 200w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /><p id="par-1_52">Melon. Noggin. Grape. Whatever you call head, it’s precious cargo. Should you decide to hit the streets and highways on two wheels, you’ll need a sufficient helmet. It’s a big decision. So, with motorcycle helmets and <a href=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">safety</a> standards like DOT and Snell, what’s the difference between the classifications? Should you even care?</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-snell-motorcycle-helmets-meet-and-exceed-the-dot-standard-set-forth-by-the-nhtsa">Snell motorcycle helmets meet and exceed the DOT standard set forth by the NHTSA</h2>
<p id="par-2_62">The Snell standard, set forth by the Snell Memorial Foundation in California is a voluntary and admittedly sought-after mark for <a href=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">motorcycle</a> helmet manufacturers. Following the death of racing driver Pete Snell from head injuries, Snell’s Memorial Foundation devoted itself to developing and enhancing helmet safety standards. As such, Snell testing covers everything from drop tests to chin bar evaluations and penetration resistance. </p>
<p id="par-3_54">The DOT standard involves two styles of impact testing. The first is a drop test onto a flat anvil at 11.6 mph from a height of around four and a half feet, per <a href=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Revzilla</a>. Next, testers drop a helmet from six feet onto a hemispherical anvil at a faster rate than the first drop. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large" id="emb-1"><img decoding="async" width="1600" height="1066" src=" alt="A rider puts on their DOT full-face motorcycle helmet. " class="wp-image-1707354" srcset=" 1600w, ?w=300&h=200 300w, ?w=768&h=512 768w, ?w=1024&h=682 1024w, ?w=1536&h=1023 1536w, ?w=90&h=60 90w, ?w=902&h=601 902w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A rider dons a full-face helmet | Media Lens King via iStock</figcaption></figure>
<p id="par-4_64">However, they’re not looking for damage. No, testers evaluate how much energy transfers from the helmet to a would-be head. Specifically, no DOT prospect will pass the evaluation if the helmet transfers more than 400 g of energy. Conversely, Snell helmets have to prove a much lower energy transfer to earn the coveted rating. That’s right, Snell requires just 275 g of energy transfer. </p>
<p id="par-5_55">Frankly, a DOT-approved motorcycle helmet can get the job done. If you see the little DOT sticker on your helmet, it meets the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218. As a result, the federal government has confidence in your motorcycle helmet to protect you in a <a href=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crash</a>.</p>
<p id="par-6_62">However, verifying that your helmet is DOT-approved is your task. Some novelty or budget helmets will use counterfeit DOT labels to mislead potential buyers. Of course, there are a few things you can do to better protect yourself. For starters, you can stick to popular brands like Arai, AGV, Shoei, or Bell. Furthermore, you can use trusted sales sites or brick-and-mortar establishments.</p>
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