About Street Luge Helmets

Street Luge Is Definitely an Extreme Sport

Street luge is an extreme racing sport in which athletes shoot down paved roadways while lying supine on a wheeled board. As street lugers are very prone to high-speed "wipeouts," they need to protect themselves with quality safety equipment, such as leathers, pads and helmets.

Cycling Helmets

Most cycling helmets are designed to be lightweight. Because of this, they are generally styrofoam-based with a thin plastic overlay. However, since street luge will never require you to labor up a hill, there is no sense in sacrificing protection for the sake of decreasing weight. A street luge helmet needs to be hard and thick.

Skateboarding Helmets

Since street luge did evolve from skateboarding, some might be tempted to use a generic skateboarding helmet in street luge. This is a bad idea. Though skateboarding helmets are heavier and have less of a tendency to shatter than cycling helmets, they still do not provide ample protection for the high-speed collisions that can occur in street luge.

Motorcycle Helmets

Many street luge enthusiasts wear generic motorcycle helmets. This is because, rather than trying to make their helmets lightweight, motorcycle helmet designers strive to give their helmets the optimum available protection above all else. Because of this, motorcycle helmets have a thick, sturdy construction and a strong chin guard.

Specialized Street Luge Helmets

Though street luge enthusiasts widely use motorcycle helmets, some complain that, in the supine posture of the sport, the thick chin guard detracts substantially from visibility. For this reason, some companies have developed specialized "wedge" helmets for street luge. These come with a smaller chin guard that still gives some chin protection while allowing for a wider area of vision.

Face Shields and Goggles

It is most advisable to use a motorcycle helmet or street luge helmet with a plastic face shield. This will protect your entire face from debris and collisions. However, some enthusiasts feel that face shields are uncomfortable and annoying. If you decide not to use a face shield, you should at least use goggles to protect your eyes.

References

• Auld Over the Road: What Is Street Luge?
• Doctor Danger: How to Get Started in Street Luge