Summer is a great time to enjoy outdoor activities like biking, skateboarding, and rollerblading. But to stay safe, wearing the right helmet is crucial. Last week, we talked about bicycle helmets and how they protect your head in case of a fall or collision. This week, we’ll explore helmets for other activities such as skateboarding.

Skateboarding can be a lot of fun, but it comes with risks. In contrast to cyclists who are most likely to be involved in collisions with motor vehicles, the largest proportion of skateboarding injuries are related to loss of control due to irregular surfaces (e.g., cracks, rough pavement).[1] Studies show that 8-10% of young skateboarders will experience a head injury, and those not wearing a helmet are 60% more likely to get hurt.[2]

Which Helmet Should I Use?

As discussed in our article about bicycle helmets, always check the labels inside the helmet to confirm which activity the helmet has been tested and certified for. In general, bicycle helmets or ‘multi-sport’ helmets can be used for in-line skating and scooter riding, but they should not be used for skateboarding.[3]

Bicycle helmets are primarily designed to protect against high-speed impacts, such as those that might occur during a fall from a bike or a collision with a motor vehicle. These helmets typically feature a hard outer shell and an impact-absorbing liner designed to compress or break upon impact to absorb energy. The focus is on single-impact protection, as most cycling accidents involve a single, significant collision.

In contrast, skateboarding helmets are often designed to withstand multiple impacts. Skateboarders are more likely to experience a series of falls at lower speeds. This necessitates a different approach to impact attenuation. Because falls are common in skateboarding, these helmets are made of material that is specially designed to withstand multiple impacts on the same spot.3 These helmets often use a softer impact-absorbing liner that can recover after an impact and provide continued protection over multiple falls. Additionally, skateboarding helmets are typically designed to cover more of the back of the head to provide more coverage and protection to this region during a fall from the skateboard.

Like bicycle helmets, impact attenuation standards exist for skateboarding helmets. These include the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) F1492 standard, which will be obvious from the label “for use in skateboarding or trick roller skating” on the interior permanent label. The only significant difference between this standard and bicycle helmet impact attenuation standards is that at least one of the impact sites will be impacted three consecutive times at the same test location to evaluate the helmet’s ability to withstand multiple impacts, without significant degradation in performance. Additionally, this standard specifies impact protection lower on the back of the head (or “occiput” in biomechanical terms) than in the other helmet standards.

The Importance of Certification

In a recent study, 10 helmets advertised for use in skateboarding were tested. Of the 10 helmets, one helmet did not claim compliance with any standard. The uncertified helmet offered minimal protection at 40 cm or greater drop heights (i.e., a 1.5-foot fall height, or a 10 km/h impact speed), with a peak head acceleration of 682 g occurring at a drop height of 80 cm (just over 2.5-feet, or a 14 km/h impact speed). These head accelerations are associated with skull fracture and severe brain injuries.

Figure 1: The top helmet is compliant with multiple relevant impact attenuation standards. The bottom helmet does not claim compliance with any standard. NOTE: helmet performance cannot be interpreted by external appearance.

In comparison, helmets that had been certified for impact attenuation reduced the peak head accelerations to less than 150 g.[4] These head accelerations are associated with lesser-severity brain injuries, such as a mild traumatic brain injury/concussion.

In other words, the certified helmets would likely prevent severe brain injury and skull fractures from occurring at these drop heights/impact speeds. Meanwhile, the uncertified helmet would likely not protect against severe brain injury or skull fractures.

Tips for Skateboarders

A caution to skateboarders – the design and appearance of an uncertified helmet does not significantly differ from that of a certified helmet (Figure 1), so it’s important to check the label on the inside of the helmet to ensure that it’s been tested for impact attenuation. Helmet performance cannot be interpreted by external appearance.

As you gear up for summer fun, remember to check your skateboarding helmet to confirm it’s certified and approved for skateboarding use. You may even consider whether you need a new one, based on certification date or design safety considerations.

[1] Active & Safe Central (2025). Skateboarding. [https://activesafe.ca/skateboarding]

[2] Morris, A.R. (2018). Skateboarding head injuries – an analysis of Canadian pediatric data between 1993 and 20017. 2018 CARSP Conference – Victoria, Research and Evaluation.

[3] Parachute. (October 10, 2024). Helmets for bicycles, inline skating, scooter riding and skateboarding. [https://parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/helmets/helmets-for-bicycles-inline-skating-scooter-riding-and-skateboarding].

[4] McIntosh, A.S., Patton, D.A., & McIntosh, A.GD. (2020). Managing head injury risks in competitive skateboarding: what do we know? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55(15): 836-842.