I like the Schuberth C3, but

[rickatsf]

I like the Schuberth C3, but is a $700+ helmet worth it, especially if it's not Snell certified? Am I placing too much value on Snell certification?

[sedanman]

Unless I am misinformed (hey it's happened before), Snell certification requires the helmet to take multiple blows to the same spot. Like would happen in a race car with a roll cage. Motorcycle riders tend to tumble when they crash and rarely suffer multiple impacts to the same spot. Go on Schuberth's site and look around. They are serious about head protection.

[marchyman]

I like the Schuberth C3, but is a $700+ helmet worth it, especially if it's not Snell certified? Am I placing too much value on Snell certification?

Yes.

FMVSS 218 AKA DOT specs call for no more than 250G of force applied to your head. Snell M2005 helmets could allow up to 300G. The current Snell M2010 standard reduced that amount to 275G. The Snell standard is somewhat moot in that the helmet still had to meet the more stringent FMVSS 218 with respect to impact force for legal use in much of the US.

When it comes to rattling your brain around in your skull less force is better. Snell is nice, but not an absolute must have IMHO. Note: If you are racing the race organizers may specify Snell... a friend had to borrow a helmet for runs on the salt flats at Bonneville due to a Snell requirement.

[mcover]

after my crash on July 4 ( http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=806261 ) I cannot say enough good about Schuberth. And they replaced it for 1/3 the original price.

[moot]

Schuberth meets both DOT and the European ECE 22.05 standards. This might have changed, but last I knew there was no modular helmet that had a Snell certification. This is not necessarily to say that a modular helmet if submitted for Snell testing could not pass, but I believe that Snell will not test and thus will never approve a modular.

[dwyandell]

As I understand it, the DOT certification process is based on manufacturer's data, not necessarily on independent testing. Snell certification requires actual testing by an independent organization (Snell Foundation), using helmets pulled from a production line.
I wear a C3 and it's the best helmet I have owned. Quiet, light, comfortable, ventilates very well, never fogs, doesnt leak, and excellent features. To each his own. You can certainly find a safe helmet for 1/3 the price of a C3, but on the other hand, an uncomfortable, noisy, leaking, fogged up, Snell-certified helmet is not safe.

[marchyman]

As I understand it, the DOT certification process is based on manufacturer's data, not necessarily on independent testing.

Testing is done by independent labs. See, for example,
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/...t+Laboratories -- 218 is the code for labs that do helmet testing.

Quiet, light, comfortable, ventilates very well, never fogs, doesnt leak, and excellent features. To each his own. You can certainly find a safe helmet for 1/3 the price of a C3, but on the other hand, an uncomfortable, noisy, leaking, fogged up, Snell-certified helmet is not safe.