Can you wear a bike helmet for ice skating? You must be wondering. The truth is, falling is inevitable when ice skating, regardless of your level. That’s why you need to wear the proper protection on your head to prevent head injuries.
As to whether you can use bike helmets or not when ice skating, this is what I discovered from the research:
Yes, you can use a bike helmet for ice skating, especially recreational and speed ice skating. However, the bike helmet should meet specific criteria like The US Consumer Product Safety Commission certification for multi-impact helmets, offer adequate rear coverage, have strong chin straps, fit right, and be in good condition.
That being said, this is only the tip of the iceberg. In the rest of this guide, we’ll look at how these considerations should influence your helmet choice for ice skating. So, without much ado, let’s get to it!
Can You Wear a Bike Helmet for Ice Skating? Best Quality Bike Helmet to Use
Every ice skater should wear a helmet regardless of their age. Accidents are inevitable, and you never know when one comes knocking at your door. So, it’s more helpful to be safe than ignore this then regret it later.
Children and slightly experienced adult skaters are at more risk of falling and suffering head injuries. The main reason behind this is, ice skates have a shorter blade base and may take long before one gets control and balance on them.
According to a study by the Pediatrics Journal, ice skaters are at a 20% risk of suffering head injuries because of the nature of ice skates and sleek icy rinks. The only way not to be a victim is by wearing the right helmet. But can one use a bike helmet, you ask?
Yes, nothing is stopping you. Nonetheless, the bike helmet should meet quality standards set by The US Consumer Product Safety Commission if you’re in the US and Canada Standards Association.
Below are some of the best helmets for ice skating. Feel free to check them out on Amazon.
OnBros Adult Bike Helmet – Safety Certified
ZIONOR Skateboard Helmet for Kids/Youth/Adults
MONATA Skateboard Bike Helmet for Adults, Youths, and Teens
Kids Outdoor Sports Protective Gear Set and Helmet
What makes the right Bike Helmet for Ice Skating
The right bike helmet for ice skating is certified by The US Consumer Product Safety Commission certification, is a multi-impact helmet, offers adequate rear coverage, has a strong chin strap, fits right, and is in good condition.
According to The US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the right bike helmet for ice skating is ASTM F 1447 certified. This is the recommended helmet for biking because it’s multi-impact. Compared to single impact bike helmets, the ASTM F 1447 certified is more reliable.
This helmet provides reinforced head protection and protects against skull fractures and brain damage in case of a fall. In addition, the chin straps are strong and adequately fitting to keep the helmet in your head in case you fall with a hard impact.
In addition, this bike helmet providers adequate rear coverage since most falls happen from the back. It, therefore, makes more sense to protect the back of your head. But that’s not all!
The ASTM F 1447 certified bike helmet doesn’t have a smoother and rounder exterior because this slides more on sleek icy surfaces. This is one thing you want to avoid as it puts your life in danger.
Therefore, if you already have a bike helmet, you should only use it for ice skating if it meets the above quality standards provided by The US Consumer Product Safety Commission certification. If it fails for any of these considerations, you better keep it away when ice skating.
That being said, if you’re shopping for the best helmet for ice skating, only buy a bike helmet if it meets the above quality and safety standards. Before pulling out your wallet or credit card, ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the helmet meet the ASTM F 1447 certified bike helmets standard?
- How’s the cover for the rear head?
- Does it have smoother and rounder exteriors? This should be avoided!
- Does it have strong chin straps?
There are several disciplines of ice skating. However, the main ones include figure skating, recreational ice skating, ice hockey, and speed skating. The ASTM F 1447 certified bike helmets will work well for recreational ice skating, considering skaters never go at high speed.
On the other hand, speed skating and ice hockey may be riskier, especially hockey, since it’s a contact sport. Speed skating may be dangerous because of the high speed of skating. Therefore, these ice skating disciplines need more specialized helmets for reinforced head protection.
The recommended helmets for ice hockey and speed skating is ASTM F 1045, NOCSAE ND030 certified. The helmet is multi-impact and offers reinforced protection for your head. Besides that, the helmets are durable and can be used after an impactful crush.
Other Helmets you can use for Ice Skating
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines, ice skaters can use bicycles, ski (ASTM F 2040), or skateboard helmets. So, apart from a bike helmet, you have two more helmet ideas to use. Why are these helmets recommended? You could be asking.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission helmets are ASTM F 1492 certified. In addition, some helmets are dual certified to skateboards and bicycles. So, you can either get an ASTM F 1447 approved bike helmet, ASTM F 1492 approved skateboard helmet, or a dual certified helmet for skateboards and bicycles.
Helmets Use Best Practices
How do you ensure you get the most value from the helmet you buy? That’s the million-dollar question you need to think through. I’ve put together a list of considerations to look out for when shopping for or using your helmet.
- Only use the right helmet for the right activity for ultimate head protection.
- Look out for the ASTM F 1447 or ASTM F 1492 stickers when buying a helmet.
- The helmet should be in good condition and have a good fit.
- Don’t go for fancy looks over ultimate safety.
- Buy and use dual certified helmets to save cost when participating in both sports.
- Replace the helmet occasionally after an Impactful crush, especially when using single impact helmets.
Other Ways to Keep Safe When Ice Skating
Besides using a high-quality helmet, below are the other ways to keep safe when ice skating indoors and outdoors.
1. Check the Ice Thickness when Skating on Frozen Water Bodies
The right thickness should be between 6 inches and 8 inches. If you’re skating solo or with not many people, the 6-inch thickness will be more suitable. However, where there’s a large crowd, the thickness should be 8 inches.
2. Lookout for Obstacles like Rocks, Pebbles, Stones, and Branches
Obstacles like rocks, twigs rocks, pebbles, and branches can make you trip when skating. So, it’s important to ensure the rink is free of these obstacles.
3. Only Skate on Properly Maintained Ice Skating Rinks
Next, you want to ensure you’re skating on properly maintained ice skating rinks. The rinks can be cold sometimes. So you want to make sure the cold is within acceptable standards.
4. Wear the Right Attire when Ice Skating
The right wear starts with the right skates, which should be properly fitting. You also want to wear warm clothing to protect yourself from the cold. That being said, always wear long pants, socks, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, neck scarves, light sweaters, light jackets, and knit hats.
Related post: What to Wear Ice Skating Indoors {10 Essential Wears}
4. Get Proper Training from Professional Ice Skaters
Learning from the right professionals will help you acquire the right skills like balancing on ice skates, avoiding obstacles, or how to stop when ice skating fast. This isn’t costly, and it should cost between $5 and $200 per hour, depending on your arrangements with the trainer.
Related post: How much are Ice Skating Lessons? The Ultimate Guide
Can You Wear a Bike Helmet for Ice Skating? Wrapping Up
Can you wear a bike helmet for ice skating? If you’re wondering if this is possible, the answer is a yes. However, you should only wear bike helmets certified by the US consumer product safety commission or Canada standards association. The helmet should be multi-impact certified, fitting properly, and in good condition.
That’s all you need to keep safe when ice skating. I hope you found this article helpful. Cheers!
