25 Jul 2023
What is Virginia Tech, and what does its 5-STAR impact protection rating really mean?
Obviously, all helmets sold must be certified to meet minimum safety requirements.
However, not all helmets are created equal and two helmets that meet the official standard for certification may offer different levels of impact protection. But how would you know these differences?
That is where the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab comes into play. They are independent of any funding or influence from manufacturers and therefore provide unbiased ratings on a 5-STAR scale that allows you to make informed decisions when purchasing.
Simply stated, the ratings identify which helmets best reduce concussion risk. More stars equate to better protection, with 5 stars representing the best available helmets.
How does Virginia Tech determine these scores? The ratings are based on the results of 24 impact tests per helmet model in the Virginia Tech lab. Through use of a drop tower designed to mimic real-world bicycle crashes concussion risk is measured for each impact.
But how do you measure concussion risk? This is measured from peak linear acceleration and rotational velocity for each test.
By testing both direct and rotational impact, the Virginia Tech rating provides a deeper look at overall protection when the wheels wash out from under us, and we hit the pavement or trail.
As Lazer’s mission states, safety is at the forefront of the mind and is never compromised when designing Lazer helmets. That’s why Lazer is the #1 brand in cycling protection with more 4 and 5-star rated helmets from Virginia Tech than any other cycling brand.
However, safety is not the only thing riders look for in a helmet. Ventilation, weight, comfort, style and others are all important factors that influence the wearer’s preference.
That’s why Lazer introduced KinetiCore, a built-in rotational impact protection technology resulting in less use of overall material for improved ventilation, a lighter-weight helmet design, and fewer plastics used in construction.
How does Lazer’s KinetiCore rotational impact protection score? As part of testing and developing KinetiCore, Lazer’s technology underwent Virginia Tech’s rigorous helmet-testing certification process.
The results were a watershed moment for the team, and showed what KinetiCore was capable of. It added several 5-star bicycle helmet ratings on top of the impressive number of 5-star ratings Lazer already held with its existing range, meaning that wearers can be assured that KinetiCore has performed highly under the most demanding test procedures.
With a variety of models to choose from, riders are sure to find the type and style of helmet to fit their riding needs.
Ingenuity Built-In. Not Added On.
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