5-Star Safety: Meet the Highest-Rated Whitewater Helmets

For years, Virginia Tech’s testing lab has done independent work evaluating helmets on safety. But many may not know it goes beyond biking and climbing helmets — all the way to the whitewater waves.

It’s important to note that all helmets that come to market, including ones we trust by a variety of outdoor brands, are evaluated to pass certain safety standards. For climbing and mountaineering, for example, that certification is EN 12492. For watersports, the required standard is EN 1385 for Class 1-4 Whitewater.

There are typically five or six required components that must be met for any helmet to be certified. Helmets must have a proper extent of coverage, field of vision, shock-absorbing capacity, a certain level of protection and durability, and more.

Beyond those requirements, Virginia Tech lab ratings (ideally five-star) are quickly becoming another standard.

Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings

How It Works

It’s important to note that VA Tech’s methods for testing and rating helmets differ based on the sport category. So, don’t go comparing these scores to a five-star-rated bike helmet, for example.

For watersports, Virginia Tech rates each helmet based on the results of six impact tests, using a pendulum impactor.

The lab measures things like linear and rotational acceleration for each impact, which correlate to concussion risk. It also tests the helmet’s front, side, and back at two impact energies based on whitewater river flow rates.

Each lab helmet impact is weighted to contribute equally to the average helmet’s overall score.

Simply put, the results of these impact tests align with a certain amount of concussion risk. More risk means a higher overall score (less good in terms of protection).

So in the Virginia Tech rating system, a lower score offers better protection. And it’s only with scores below a number threshold (a score of one) that get awarded its coveted five stars.