dropzone_moron 0 #1 January 9, 2006 Hi all, Newbie here…..so pardon my ignorance for making this comment. I was checking out some skydiving helmets at a local shop, and I noticed they’re over priced and offer very little real life protection when comparing to helmets made for their respective sports. For example, I looked at Bonehead composite helmet that sells for $200+. The shell and lining of the Bonehead is thin as can be. I’m sorry! I can't see how a helmet like that will protect someone from a serious knock to the head. This bonehead helmet can NOT hold a candle next to my SNELL rated ski helmet at less than half that cost. What's up with that? Why do skydiver even put up buying a inferior helmets like that? Are they really buying it for looks or for protection? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #3 January 9, 2006 Mostly looks and a mild nod towards safety. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #4 January 9, 2006 Skydiving helmets are desgined to protection from minor impacts, to hold audibles, and to keep your head warm (I guess they help hold your goggles on too). They are not intended to offer the protection of a rated helmet. As such, they are much lower profile, and will not catch wind on the edges, or impede your vision (much). Some of them do look cool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #5 January 9, 2006 Price is directly related to the size of the market. We're just not a big enough bunch to get anyone to make us cheap helmets. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
klingeme 1 #6 January 9, 2006 These helmets are made to be VERY lightweight and to protect you if you should trip on landing (5-10 MPH) and hit a curb or street on an off landing, or someone's knee hitting your head in freefall (again 5-10 mph relatively. Ski helmets are designed to protect you from hitting a tree at 45 MPH and the weight is a lot less of an issue. I beleive the cost is a combinatino of size of the market (the manufacturers have to make a living) and the materials used. Mark Klingelhoefer edited for Duh!?! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrogNog 1 #7 January 9, 2006 Many skydivers like thin helmets. They're sexy and they do some of their protective jobs well or adequately. As I understand it, carbon-fiber composite molding is not as cheap or easy as injection plastic and foam molding. That may account for the price difference between Bonehead helmets and pro-tecs or SNELL-rated helmets with one-time-use crushable foam liners. I wear a black protec, it's cheap, it looks stupid, and it feels great when I whack my head on the wing, door, or friend's head* while I'm loading or riding to altitude. (* Not sure how good it feels for my friend's head. ) -=-=-=-=- Pull. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #8 January 9, 2006 QuoteThis bonehead helmet can NOT hold a candle next to my SNELL rated ski helmet at less than half that cost. What's up with that? This topic has been beat to death in this forum. At the risk of being labeled a search nazi... you'll find the answers to your question by doing a search. Short answer - the skydiving market isn't large enough - ie there is not enough potential profit out there - for any manufacturer to put the time, effort and money into obtaining any sort of "rating", assuming that any such standard existed for skydiving helmets. There is also the issue of liability to consider. If you think that skydiving helmets are too expensive or inferior you have a few options. You can buy a Protec (good protection at minimum cost), use your ski helmet for jumping, or better yet, design, test and market a better skydiving helmet yourself. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tombuch 0 #9 January 9, 2006 QuoteThese helmets are made to be VERY lightweight and to protect you if you should trip on landing (5-10 MPH) and hit a curb or street on an off landing, or someone's knee hitting your head in freefall (again 5-10 mph relatively. Ski helmets are designed to protect you from hitting a tree at 45 MPH and the weight is a lot less of an issue. Ski helmets are tested for a direct impact of about 15mph, but may provide some protection with higher speed glancing blows. The composit skydiving helmets aren't tested at all. You can read about the testing of snowsports helmets in the FAQ on the R.E.D. (Burton) site at http://www.redprotection.com/misc/faq.asp. .Tom Buchanan Instructor Emeritus Comm Pilot MSEL,G Author: JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and Easy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #10 January 9, 2006 Yeah, it has been discussed before. Some of the threads are quite detailed and explain some alternatives like snowboarding/ski helmets. Try here for some search results of previous discussions... http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=search_results&search_forum=all&search_string=ski%20helmet&sb=score&mh=25 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrewEckhardt 0 #11 January 10, 2006 Quote For example, I looked at Bonehead composite helmet that sells for $200+. The shell and lining of the Bonehead is thin as can be. I’m sorry! I can't see how a helmet like that will protect someone from a serious knock to the head. It won't. It wll prevent a bloody scalp wound if you hit your head on climb-out or trip on landing. It'llkeep your goggles from blowing all the way off, give you a place to mount your audible, and maybe provide a camera platform. Quote This bonehead helmet can NOT hold a candle next to my SNELL rated ski helmet at less than half that cost. What's up with that? Based on USPA membership which is required to jump at most dropzones, there may be 35,000 skydivers in the US. In 2003 the US skiing and snowboarding markets had 11,300,000 participants. With up to 322 times the potential customer base a ski/snowboard helmet maker can amortize costs over many more units. A complete set of skydiving gear (rig, main, reserve, Cypress) now costs $5000+. I spent about $500 on my last snowboard, $300 for my bomber bindings, and maybe have $300 in my boots for $1100 total; you could spend much much less at Snigrab. Skydivers buying new gear spend a lot more money. With a smaller market that spends more skydiving helmets should cost more. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MB38 0 #12 January 10, 2006 Up until I bought a BH Optik, I was jumping a snowboarding helmet. It did the trick, but I found that there was a funny little pocket of air that would form below the front of the helmet and above my goggles on my forehead. What that meant to me was every time I do a flip or cartwheel when sitflying... the air would get displaced and pull my goggles down. That's more of a random experience than anything else, it's not like skydiving helmets are designed to keep the air flowing smoothly across your forehead. So the snowboarding helmet did the trick for me.I really don't know what I'm talking about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
artistcalledian 0 #13 January 10, 2006 i just strap a couple of egg cartons to my head... looks cool and will offer great impact protection ________________________________________ drive it like you stole it and f*ck the police Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #14 January 10, 2006 I like the skydiving helmets for their lower profile, the audible altimeter pocket and and no snag points. There are other helmets we borrow from other industires. We carry Pro-Tec and Gath. Both has actual crash test ratings, but carry some minor set backs. The Pro-Tec is not as low profile and a bit less comfortable in freefall. A bit noisier as well. The beefier Gath (convertible) does not have a suitable pocket for an audible altimeter.... yet. The two choices above are great lower price point choices. As far as looks go. I think ALL helmets look kinda dorky, so a Pro-Tec or Gath is no different. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NelKel 0 #15 January 10, 2006 i just strap a couple of egg cartons to my head... looks cool and will offer great impact protection <<< You do this empty, or full of eggs? lol Personaly I use toilet paper_________________________________________ Someone dies, someone says how stupid, someone says it was avoidable, someone says how to avoid it, someone calls them an idiot, someone proposes rule chan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdbrown 0 #16 January 10, 2006 Quotei just strap a couple of egg cartons to my head... looks cool and will offer great impact protection <<< You do this empty, or full of eggs? lol Personaly I use toilet paper glue tampons to your head, offers impact protection and looks like you got a nice set of dreads -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Travman 6 #17 January 10, 2006 QuoteQuotei just strap a couple of egg cartons to my head... looks cool and will offer great impact protection <<< You do this empty, or full of eggs? lol Personaly I use toilet paper glue tampons to your head, offers impact protection and looks like you got a nice set of dreads Well absorb the blood well if you have an accident to Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damion75 0 #18 January 10, 2006 Quote Skydiving helmets are desgined to protection from minor impacts, to hold audibles, and to keep your head warm (I guess they help hold your goggles on too). They are not intended to offer the protection of a rated helmet. As such, they are much lower profile, and will not catch wind on the edges, or impede your vision (much). Some of them do look cool. you forgot noise reduction! I did a jump without last summer (UK skydiver so this is rare!) and damn it was noisy! *************** Not one shred of evidence supports the theory that life is serious - look at the platypus. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattyblast 0 #19 January 12, 2006 I bought a black Pro-tec and used it for the first time a couple of days ago. It actually looks pretty sharp, and was extremely comfortable. Newbies like us don't need the fancy-schmancy helmets just yet. "DOOR!!!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #20 January 12, 2006 QuoteI bought a black Pro-tec and used it for the first time a couple of days ago. It actually looks pretty sharp, and was extremely comfortable. Newbies like us don't need the fancy-schmancy helmets just yet. I bought this one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Martini 0 #21 January 13, 2006 Buy a Gath. Worthless and ugly but cheap. Hey, I know a girl like that!Sometimes you eat the bear.............. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joellercoaster 6 #22 January 13, 2006 Hey, this is sort of on-topic... I guess. I've seen a few photos (there's one in the new BPA Calendar) of freeflyers wearing open-face helmets with coloured visors down to about nose level. Seems like a very neat thing for head-down. The reason I'm asking though is not because I have any desire to do head-down, but because they make these guys look like Ace Goodheart from old-skool anime Battle of the Planets. Does anybody know what these are?-- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #23 January 13, 2006 Gath helmets with visor... I got a white one with blue visor... don't know why I chose these colors scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #24 January 13, 2006 QuoteBuy a Gath. Worthless and ugly but cheap. !cheap ??? come on.... it's got the highest price/quality/comfort ratio IMHO (around 160$ for a piece of plastic) I'd rather pay 200$ for a piece of carbon scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joellercoaster 6 #25 January 13, 2006 Yes, but did you then paint eagle eyes on the side?-- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
