While doing research on bicycle helmets, and specifically my old Specialized helmet and new Giro one, I found something interesting. It seems that the Snell testing standards for bicycle helmets are more stringent than those legally mandated by the CPSC. Additionally, the CPSC standards are tested against by the manufacturer, while the Snell standards are independently verified.
Making things more interesting, none of the Giro or Bell helmets conform to the Snell standards. The only name I recognized on the Snell-provided list of helmet manufacturers is Specialized, the company which manufactured the helmet I was wearing when I fell on Friday.
At this point I can’t help but wonder if I should return the Giro helmet I purchased and get something like the Specialized Instinct instead. I believe that Bell and Giro both make good helmets, but I just wonder if the bit of extra certification is worth it.