jumpjunkie2004 0 #1 March 25, 2005 When I was trying on the helmets, I noticed that I felt REALLY claustrophobic in the closed faced helmets. Will that go away? When you are in freefall, does your close faced helmet feel ventilated? Do you pop it open right after you make sure you've got a good canopy?Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #2 March 25, 2005 Just buy an open faced helmet. and a pair of goggles. Problem solved. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #3 March 25, 2005 My dz is in Northern VA and it's very cold in the winter. Almost everyone that does RW wears a closed face helmet. I'd like a closed face helmet if I can stand it.Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Canuck 0 #4 March 25, 2005 Really cold and full face helmets sometimes equals fogging in freefall. Ask members of the 300 way team who all eventually tore off the visors from their donated A3s. Or ask me, I'm Canadian after all... Canuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #5 March 25, 2005 So..open faced and googles?Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #6 March 25, 2005 Quote My dz is in Northern VA and it's very cold in the winter. Almost everyone that does RW wears a closed face helmet. There are other options. Poly-pro baclava (sp?) and such. Its not as cold here as there, but I have jumped with temps on the ground at 10F and well below 0F at altitude. Poly-pro saved my ass that day.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #7 March 25, 2005 The cold weather is only part of the season. It gets hot there as well. Keep in mind you may not be doing RW for long. You never know what you'll get into. A full face helmet will limit your peripheral vision, as well as your ability to communticate with others in freefall or in the door. Visors have been known to fog up, or fall off alltogether. Goggles do fog, but it's rare in freefall, and if you have a helmet over the goggles they will not come off. Worst case scenario, you are involved in an accident, the first responders cannot perform CPR with a full face helmet on. They also are not supposed to move you (especially your head and neck) for fear of causing further injury. It's really up to you. Good luck with your choice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skolls081102 0 #8 March 25, 2005 Worst case scenario, you are involved in an accident, the first responders cannot perform CPR with a full face helmet on. They also are not supposed to move you (especially your head and neck) for fear of causing further injury. Just for the record, that is not true. I am CPR certified, and have been for 10 years,(so I do know what I am talking about). If a patient is not breathing and has no heartbeat, they are DEAD.. If you do nothing, they will remain DEAD. So, if your options are, take off the helmet (and possibly further damage the spinal cord) but perform CPR to try and revive this person, or, leave the helmet on (and not perform CPR) and let them remain dead- The best option is get the helmet off and perform CPR. Just figured I'd throw that out there. The sole intention, is learning to fly.Condition grounded, but determined to try.Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies.Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #9 March 25, 2005 Of course a damaged spine is better than dead. Would a better option be a helemt which would allow you to administer CPR without removal? These scenarios are all pretty far fetched, but it seems worth a little consideration. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #10 March 25, 2005 Are you guys trying to scare me to death? It won't work. I just wanted to know what kind of helmet to buy.Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skolls081102 0 #11 March 25, 2005 Not trying to scare you at all. Just wanted to give you the correct information so you could make the decision. I didn't want part of your decision based on incorrect info. And this is nothing against davelepka- alot of people have the misconception that if you have a full face helmet, CPR can't be performed. It can- having spinal cord damage is better than not breathing. The sole intention, is learning to fly.Condition grounded, but determined to try.Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies.Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,583 #12 March 25, 2005 A Pro-tec helmet will protect your head at least as well as any other kind. Cutting down on the potential for head injury cuts down on the possible need for rescue measures . People jumped without full-face helmets for a long time; you can still do it. But if you want a full face, but one that gives better access and a more open feeling, you might try one with a whole face that comes off, like the Havok (I think it does). Look around -- there are a lot of options. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
divnswoop 0 #13 March 25, 2005 LOL!!!! I love dz.com!!!!!!! Can I die if I'm wearing a Tony suit instead of a Bev? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,145 #14 March 25, 2005 Quote The cold weather is only part of the season. It gets hot there as well. Keep in mind you may not be doing RW for long. You never know what you'll get into. A full face helmet will limit your peripheral vision, as well as your ability to communticate with others in freefall or in the door. Visors have been known to fog up, or fall off alltogether. Goggles do fog, but it's rare in freefall, and if you have a helmet over the goggles they will not come off. Worst case scenario, you are involved in an accident, the first responders cannot perform CPR with a full face helmet on. They also are not supposed to move you (especially your head and neck) for fear of causing further injury. It's really up to you. Good luck with your choice. I've seen someone whose eyes watered due to extreme cold in a Illinois winter jump, and his goggles froze to his face. He could neither see nor take the goggles off.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #15 March 25, 2005 QuoteIf a patient is not breathing and has no heartbeat, they are DEAD.. If you do nothing, they will remain DEAD. *** Now THAT'S a Tee-Shirt if I ever saw one! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #16 March 25, 2005 QuoteI've seen someone whose eyes watered due to extreme cold in a Illinois winter jump, and his goggles froze to his face. He could neither see nor take the goggles off. Quote That happened to me a couple times in the Illinois winter...only it was my CONTACTS that froze in my eyes... It was an easy fix...moved to a warmer place! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #17 March 25, 2005 QuoteI've seen someone whose eyes watered due to extreme cold in a Illinois winter jump, and his goggles froze to his face. He could neither see nor take the goggles off. ... There's no crying in skydiving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #18 March 25, 2005 The Havok...I haven't seen it. I'll have to check it out.Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #19 March 25, 2005 QuoteAsk members of the 300 way team I didn't have any problems with mine. I think if your jumping during a cold winter day, I'd rather find the right technique for not allowing it to fog up, then subjecting my face to frostbite. Not putting the helmet on until just before exit, keeping the shield coated with anti fog, and pushing your lips to the hole in the front of the helmet while breathing, are all good techniques used to prevent any condensation from building up in the helmet, and they are the techniques I have use to never have my full face helmet get fogged up. Be safe. Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #20 March 25, 2005 Protecs are cheap enough that you can always have it in reserve. Besides, spring is here, right? Won't be cold much longer. Cold is relative anyway - you get used to what you have. I was briefly concerned, then mostly amused when I was in Elsinore a couple weeks ago and noticed half the load was wearing a neck warmer. Even from SF to LA, there is a difference in what is considered warm enough. Can you demo a jump or two with the closed face before buying? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LittleOne 0 #21 March 25, 2005 I bought a Z1 full face right after AFF. It is really quiet and that helped me to stay relaxed. In the summer, it was not unbearably hot. During the winter, I do not need a balaclava. On the ground, I felt a tiny bit claustrophobic in the full face but I did not feel that way at all in freefall. In freefall, I felt no ventilation and I like that. On the other hand, I had a hard time opening the visor while wearing winter gloves so it fogged up on while under canopy on one jump, making that landing interesting. On a siftly jump, the thing nearly blew off my head. Of course, I should have tightened it but I forgot that this helmet's strap and cowl (is that what you call the thing around the chin and neck?) tends to loosen a little with each jump. I marched into the gear store and bought an open face. I have not decided to sell the Z1 (unless you wanna buy it ) but I do not foresee trekking around with both helmets. Just my minimal experience... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpjunkie2004 0 #22 March 25, 2005 I'm going to see if I can try one out at my dz next weekend. Hopefully someone will have one I can try.Jump, Land, Pack, Repeat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,145 #23 March 25, 2005 You get used to a full-face helmet pretty quickly. I thought it claustrophobic at first but now I quite like the feel of them, and I very much like the reduced noise level. Right now I have 2 full-face and 2 open-face helmets. I probably do 20 jumps in a full face for every one I do in an open-face. I jump in Illinois, and fogging has not been an issue for me. Like Ed wrote, just breath through the vent and don't put it on too soon.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #24 March 26, 2005 Might want to wait until at least you get your A license before trying a full face. I love my Z1, but I can't really see my handles very well with it on. It also does fog up under canopy in the cold, and in the really cold it often fogs and freezes in freefall (only close to the nose). In chilly weather, I crack it open under canopy and the fogging clears. This winter, on the really cold days, I find that the fog freezes and won't clear even when it's open. It doesn't block my vision too badly, but it is just one more thing to cause trouble. I once was unable to open it under canopy after it fogged when I was trying out a new pair of gloves (first and last time I used that pair). Worked fine on the ground, but once my hands were very cold and I was in a hurry, couldn't get the thing to open. Finally, while you're doing student jumps, the full face really will make communication in the plane more difficult. Get a cheap protec and a pair of goggles for now (or keep using the student stuff if it's not too bad) and decide what you want in a helmet in another 20 or 50 jumps. You'll have a much better idea of what you're looking for then, and have time to take a close look at other peoples helmets and try them on. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #25 March 26, 2005 I got a full face Factory Diver because I got tired of having contacts blown out due to assorted goggles that never fit very well. At first, I missed the feeling of the wind in the face. 700 jumps later, you couldn't pay me to go back to an open face helmet. That helmet now has a bunch of cracks in the gelcoat around the mouth and chin. Why? Because a another jumpers knee on a freefly jump, and the back of a guy's helmet on another jump. The first collision would have been broken teeth/jaw without the full-face protection. The second collision was so hard I saw stars and almost passed out. That helmet was one of the best investments I ever made. I've made lots of winter jumps with little to no fogging problem. Once I put the helmet on, I inhale through my nose and exhale through lips pursed against the lining to force all air out the grill. Edited to add: My Factory Diver does not affect my peripheral vision."There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
