How do You Keep Your Helmet Chin Strap from Loosening?
#26
Senior Member
Use a sewing needle and a piece of strong thread to put a stitch through all 4 pieces of strap. Nylon thread works good. Tie a couple of good knots, and melt the ends with a lighter. We used this method to keep parachute harnesses from slipping out of adjustment.
Last edited by Doug64; 10-13-21 at 10:29 AM.
#27
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Happens to me too. But the strap loosens in such small increments that I only need to tighten it back up about once or twice a year.
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#28
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A PITA for me too, since it takes a couple minutes to sort it out when I'm anxious to hit the road. I think I'll try gluing it next time I find myself dealing with it. I have to customize all sorts of products to get them to function properly, so why not the bike helmet...
#29
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Maybe our heads are shrinking?
gm
gm
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#30
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Added an O ring - and had to use hemostats to get the ring over the buckle part. Time and a few rides should tell. Otherwise like the ideas about needle and thread and glue gun.
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#31
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loose strap on my new SMITH PERSIST helmet
Now its very rigid with a small elastic band wrapped around the strap twice and very discrete...no one can really see this neat fix!
#32
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I've done that on a number of helmets. And like another said, I find the expensive helmets need it more. I use a Speedy Stitcher, two stitches and a square knot. Easy and easy to slide a knife under to cut later.
#33
#35
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#36
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I have to wonder if maybe some of the folks who never have had their helmet straps loosen just ride with loose straps. Being one of those who have broken more than my share of helmets as well as being old as dirt, I have owned a lot of helmets in a wide range of prices. I don't recall a single one where the straps didn't loosen. Some worse than others. The o-ring thing helps. I'd put in a stitch if I never rode in cold weather where i wanted a layer of insulation on my head, but it would be a bad fit when it was 20F or below and I wanted to wear a beanie under the helmet. So I just live with tightening it every few rides or however often it slips enough to need it.
#37
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Every helmet I have had did this.
Doesn't seem like such a big deal to tug on the end of the strap when I put the helmet on.
Doesn't seem like such a big deal to tug on the end of the strap when I put the helmet on.
#40
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The O-ring in my Scott helmet didn't work. I used a splitter buckle from a discarded helmet as a stop on the 2 straps exiting my helmet buckle, worked OK.
#42
Senior Member
Yup, an extra o ring usually does the trick, also make sure the buckle is laced correctly, and keep it clean and dry, skin oil and sunblock will make it slide.
#44
don't try this at home.
My Lazer helmet's buckle slipped. I had to readjust about once a month or so.
It's plastic guide that merged the "Y" below my ear moved way too easily. I tried a bit of Gorilla Glue under the guide, but that didn't last very long before it started slipping again. and it looked pretty bad too.
My 2 year old Giro has thinner, narrower straps, and the buckle rarely moves.
I like the sewing idea. I used this on a camera wrist strap that had a cinch-down slider, but I wanted the loop to stay wide open. Just normal thread through the center of the two layers was enough. It made a small dot in the webbing. I probably pushed the needle through 6 or 8 times.
It's plastic guide that merged the "Y" below my ear moved way too easily. I tried a bit of Gorilla Glue under the guide, but that didn't last very long before it started slipping again. and it looked pretty bad too.
My 2 year old Giro has thinner, narrower straps, and the buckle rarely moves.
I like the sewing idea. I used this on a camera wrist strap that had a cinch-down slider, but I wanted the loop to stay wide open. Just normal thread through the center of the two layers was enough. It made a small dot in the webbing. I probably pushed the needle through 6 or 8 times.
#45
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Salt. Sweat in it enough and the straps will be stiffer than a pair of laundered long johns in Alaska in winter time.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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