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KolinskyDC

Open Faced Helmets

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Any advice on which open faced helmet to buy?? Have read some good things about the Mindwarp and Pro Tec on some of the other posts. I also was looking at the Z1 open faced online. Any preferences and what you like about it would be appreciated.

Melissa

"May the best of your past be the worst of your future"

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If you are looking for protection, the protec offers the most protection but the least in the looks department. Most all other helmets offer little true protection. That said, I prefer the Z1 EVO, it is cheaper than most other open faced helmets and has two audible pockets inside the helmet. The Gath is cheaper than the EVO but does not offer internal audible pockets.
Depending on the color and size you are getting you should have no problem getting it by the 21st
Kirk

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If you are looking for protection, the protec offers the most protection but the least in the looks department.



If you have the desire you can give it a nice custom paint job and that takes care of any lack in the looks dept.
Thats what I did. These pics dont really do the finish justice and I'm currently working on a much nicer one.
These pics are my first attempt and thus included all my mistakes and a boring color scheme B|



Check the pics in this post.

This was painted to match the color of the grippers on my jumpsuit and in fact, its an exact match. The original color was a sandy gray color.

I customize them further by bolting snaps onto the outside that I snap my goggles onto. This allows me to have my helmet on in the plane but I can wait till just prior to exit to put on the goggles since they are on the outside. I can remove them after I'm under canopy too for a better view.

I got this idea from my home DZ in Hazleton, PA. They do this on their student helmets. I loved the idea so I immediately stole it for my own helmet.

My next one will be far more interesting and cool.
Its "under construction" as I post this.
If it turns out good I'll post some more pics.

You can have both strength and a cool look too. It will always look like a pro-tec but thats not a bad looking basic helmet in my opinion.
You can even mount audibles inside them. They do that on all student helmets at my DZ

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While all helmets offer some type of protection most skydiving helmets offer very little real protection. If you really look at most skydiving helmets there is little padding and no hard foam to absorb real impacts. I think the idea is if you have a real hard impact your head is going to be the least of the problems. All of this excludes the protec which if I am not mistaken was not originally designed as a skydive specific helmet.
Kirk

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Don't buy a helmet you haven't had a chance to try on. Different helmets fit different shape heads and faces best - for example the Hurricane fits slim faces best, the Mindwarp fits "not so slim" faces best, etc.

Don't assume that because you wear a medium in any helmet that you'll wear a medium in all helmets. Each manufacturer has it's own sizing chart; you may be a small in one helmet and a medium in another.

Personally, I have an Aviator and I like it alot.

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All of this excludes the protec which if I am not mistaken was not originally designed as a skydive specific helmet.
Kirk



Correct. I believe that they were originally designed for sports like skateboarding, cycling, etc. but lend themselves well to skydiving as they are very light, comfortable, and very strong.

Fact is, as far as protection is concerned, there is no other skydiving helmet that even comes close.
I like mine and plan to continue to use it :-)

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Thanks for all the advice. In know I should try some on before buying but there aren't that many people around the DZ this time of year to ask if I can try their helmets. I am heading off to Lake Whales on Jan 21st and wanted to get my own helmet to bring down. Still not sure what I am gonna do. It is between the Z1 and the Mindwarp. I have been wearing a pro tec from my DZ since I began, and it is fine, but I figure I eventually want to do video so having a helmet that will be able to have a camera mounted is preferable. Wish they had skydiving gear stores the way the have other sports stores. Thanks again for the advice.

Melissa

"May the best of your past be the worst of your future"

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I just got an Aviator, barely used, from the classifieds here. I measured my head around, and went on good faith that it'd fit. And, it fits perfectly! I really like this helmet, it is comfy, has two audible pockets, and looks nice in white which is what I wanted...

however, I do not think this is for camera flying (unless maybe monkeycam). I was thinking I wanted something for when I eventually get a camera, too... but then, I spoke to some cam flyers on this site who mentioned that they think it's nice to have a helmet for camera, and one that isn't for camera. And, after thinking about it, I agreed. So, i'll cross that bridge when I get there, for now i'm really happy with my ff helmet! :)

Good luck. I don't know if they have a gear store in Lake Wales, but you can call and ask if they do, and what they stock in helmets. I think that Lisa (skybytch) in Sebastian has quite a selection of helmets in stock, and it isn't all that much a drive (maybe an hour?) from Lake Wales. Then you could try one on and even fly with it cuz she'll let you demo, too.



Just a thought.
Good luck.
Angela



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Lake Wales has a gear store upstairs in the rigging loft.



Thanks, that's awesome. I am definitely gonna hold off on buying one now and do some shopping around down there. I will just bring a protec from my home DZ, in case I don't find one I like down there. The owners at my DZ are letting two of my friends and I bring their rigs down to Lake Whales and pay them a much smaller rental fee per jump. We just got our A's and are a little nervous to try new rigs at a new DZ, so they are taking care of us. Cool, I am glad I now know about the gear store at Lake Whales...probably should have checked that myself. [:/]

Melissa

"May the best of your past be the worst of your future"

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Sounds like you got lucky on both counts. Thanks for the suggestion, I will definitely look into the Aviator. Hopefully they will have one in Lake Whales. I should try some on before I buy, I tend to not be as lucky when it comes to stuff like that.

Melissa

"May the best of your past be the worst of your future"

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first I removed all the pads

1. Sanded the smooth surface off to give the paint something to hold on to

2. 1 coat of gray primer inside and out

3. 3 coats of high gloss enamel (gold) inside and out

4. Masked off the areas that were to look like "cracks"

5. painted crack design with a brush

6. 3 coats of high gloss clear laquer (Krylon) inside and out

Most important things I learned from the first one:

Let each coat dry completely BEFORE applying the next coat. Drying time varies with the paint. 48 hours for the paint I used.

Keep the thing in a dust free environment while its drying or you will get lots of imperfections in the finish.

Make sure the place you are working is well ventilated

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the gear store is called WINDLINE and Billy Bradshaw is the owner. those folks are good people and billy has a nice selection of helmets to choose from and try-on.

make sure to ask questions about the fit. billy is quite knowledgeable on them and would be happy to answer them for you. :)

have a great time at lake wales. also, if you get a chance, shoot by zhills on that trip, too. it is just under an hour away from lake wales. sebastian is about 2 hrs, deland is one and a half hours away.

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the gear store is called WINDLINE and Billy Bradshaw is the owner. those folks are good people and billy has a nice selection of helmets to choose from and try-on.



Thanks arlo, and thanks for the e-mail. I spoke with Billy this morning and he has plenty in stock, so I will definitely be waiting til I get down there to try some on. Going to do a few demo jumps to, good time to try some different canopies, as I will be looking to get my own rig soon.


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have a great time at lake wales. also, if you get a chance, shoot by zhills on that trip, too. it is just under an hour away from lake wales. sebastian is about 2 hrs, deland is one and a half hours away.



I will, thanks. I can't wait to get down there, so excited and a little nervous, being so new and at a different DZ. It is nice that some people from my DZ are going, a few of who were my instructors going through AFF and A license stuff, so that will help alot. We plan on going to Sebastian for a sunset jump, not sure about the others, due to limited time. Will be back in Florida in May, so will have to stop by Z Hills then, heard lots of good things about it.

Melissa

"May the best of your past be the worst of your future"

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Sounds like you got lucky on both counts. Thanks for the suggestion, I will definitely look into the Aviator. Hopefully they will have one in Lake Whales. I should try some on before I buy, I tend to not be as lucky when it comes to stuff like that.

Melissa



I agree, try them on. Let us know what you end up with:) Have a blast down there!! Sun sets in the west, so you'll have to choose btween looking at the ocean in Sebastian, or the sunset. I'm sure you can't go wrong either way:) zhills is an awesome dz, you should definitely plan it into one of your trips! :)

Angela.



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