Good Full Face Helmet

[jfields 0]

Hi.
I'm looking for advice on a good general-purpose full face helmet. Right now I'm using a Pro-Tec and googles. I don't have a big problem with it, other than that I have to hold the googles off my face in the plane from helmet-on to exit to keep them from fogging. But as I start doing some RW, I want to use a full-face helmet for improved safety.
I'm not looking for anything fancy or expensive, just a good general-purpose helmet that will fit my need whether I end up doing a lot of RW, freeflying, or whatever. I don't want to go with anything really obscure that might be hard to find parts for (tinted or replacement lenses, etc.)
What are people's thoughts about the common helmets like the Z-1, Oxygn, Factory Diver, etc. I'm not trying to start a "My helmet is great, yours sucks" debate. I'd just like to make some form of educated decision, based on people's experiences with their full face helmets.
Other factors to take into account are that I wear contacts and would like to be able to use a Pro-Track in the helmet. I assume all the helmets would be fine, but I might not know some key facts.
Thanks!
Justin
My Homepage
PS Does anyone have a suggestion for my goggles in the meantime? I'm using the Kroops without vent holes, as suggested for contact wearers. I wear them under the helmet so they can't come loose in freefall. Are there any easier solutions that people have found? For example, a different style of goggles that can just be worn over the helmet and put on at the last minute?

[RemiAndKaren 0]

Hi Justin,
lets keep it objective: my helmet rocks, all yours suck.. j/k
I jump with a Z-1(the early model, not the one with the more protected hindges).
Real easy to open and close the visor, unlike what I've seen / tried of the Oxygen (tough to open IMHO);
Real good visibility (the others are good too I beleive);
Poor customer service from the manufacturer (some dealers have also told me they have had troubles with Parasport Italia) as they never answered my emails when I was shopping for a helmet;
Confortable fit.
To sum up: really like my helmet (so does my wife... I'm talking about her own helmet, you pervs...)
Then again the Extreme-Bass-Fishing helmet might be even better...
Remi
Muff 914

[jfields 0]

Remi,
Thanks for the input. I'm curious about what other people say.
I was wondering how many posts would be put up before someone mentioned the Bassmaster thing. Not even one. I should have known. Your "wife" has a helmet? Eww!
Justin
My Homepage

[Geoff 0]

My first and only full-face is an Oxygn (not A3 - the one with the internal alti port). I also wear contact lenses and use a pro-track.
I'm really very impressed. It fits snug and comfortable. You must try some on to get the right size, though.
I leave the visor (the buttonless version) up until about 10 seconds prior to exit and flip it up again after opening if the weather's cold or humid. Easy.
It's very quiet and I can hear the pro-track clearly. Not had any fogging problems. Never had the visor open prematurely. I've done about 200 jumps with the original lens and it's just starting to get that very fine 'crazing' and take on a slightly cloudy appearance, but it's still perfectly good to use. I expect it to last at least another 100 jumps.
It's perfect for RW - you WILL get kicked in the face ocassionally as your skills improve and you fly tighter. I don't honestly think it's ideal for freefly. The visor can pop up if you're in a stand due to the increased wind speed. (not happened to me cos I don't wear it for freefly, but I've seen it happen to others.)
Hope that helps.
Geoff

[TALONSKY 0]

Hi Justin;
I have used a Z1 for my last 180 skydives. I personally think that they are great. I have never had any problems with the visor coming open at all. That also includes about 20 freefly jumps doing sits and stands. I also have a protrac that fits snug in the inside pocket of the helmet.
The one advantage I feel that Z1 has over Oxygen's is it's sturdy visor. My friend left the visor on his Z1 open by accindent on one of our jumps, when we got down we found his visor was still attached and worked fine. I do not feel many other visors would still be there if left open on a jump.
Blue Skies
Kirk

[Kris 0]

I had an Oxygn A3 for about a year and really didn't like the way the visor closed. I really wish I had bought a Z1 instead.
Kris

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

How much money are you wanting to spend? A good, cheap helmet which is still widely used is the original, non-flip Factory Diver. I use it when I am spinning fast 4-way and 8-way. The lens never flies up (duh!) and I just pull the helmet down right before climbout. I don't use the lens in hot weather; I just pull goggles over the top. This basic helmet is still what is worn by the Golden Knights competition RW team.
I don't like A-3's because I have too many friends that have lost lenses; Chris Needels (USPA executive director) among them. He lost three lenses in three jumps at Quincy, and no, he didn't get kicked in the face. Besides that, they are HUGE.
Z-1's have a nicer latch system in my opinion, but they are a bit pricey for their cheaper injection molded construction.
The BoneHead Havoc is a wonderful new lid that has some pretty funky features. I like that the lens is permanently affixed to the flip-up face portion. I also like it's very-secure latch mechanism. It is very light for it's size, but it too is a bit pricey at around $325. Three guys at Raeford jump them now, one who wears rather large glasses. He REALLY loves it, because he doesn't tear his glasses up when he would otherwise be pulling the helmet down with another brand. You could have a complete Groucho Marx disguise on and then flip the front down with no problem! The one detracting comment I have heard comes from a fellow instructor who says he has a more restricted field of vision in his Havoc than he does with his A-3. He now just wears the Havoc for dealing with students. Your speach is not impeded at all with the Havoc until you flip the front down. With both the A-3 and the Z-1, your voice is muffled when your helmet is on, regardless if your shield is up or down.
Food for thought,
Chuck

[Zennie 0]

Quote

It's perfect for RW - you WILL get kicked in the face ocassionally as your skills improve and you fly tighter. I don't honestly think it's ideal for freefly. The visor can pop up if you're in a stand due to the increased wind speed. (not happened to me cos I don't wear it for freefly, but I've seen it happen to others.)

I've had mine flip up in a sit. Sometimes you think it's clicked into place what it really isn't fully. Just flipping it down isn't enough. So now I press down on the visor and then try to push it back up with my hand before I go out.
My only complaint is that the drawstring is a little flimsy. It's almost ready to break on me so I think I'll replace it with shoestring or something.
--------
Zennie
"I know the pieces fit. 'Cause I watched them fall away..."
--Tool

[jfields 0]

Chuck and others,
I don't have a fixed budget for the helmet. It is more accurate to say that I'll spend what I need to, but I'd prefer it to be less expensive. When I'm not doing RW, I may just continue using my trusty Pro-Tec.
For RW and other times when I just want to wear a full-faced helmet, I'm not sure whether I would flip the visor up under canopy or not. Do you all do that or do you just wear it with the visor down all the way to landing? If I find myself doing that, then the Factory Diver seems like the best option because at least your not paying for the visor and it can't come off.
I'll try to borrow helmets from people at the DZ and see what I like.
Chuck, what kind of goggles do you use over the top of a helmet that stay on safely?
Thanks everyone.
Justin
My Homepage
PS The Pro-Tec in my photo is the one I used on AFF level 1. Now I have one in dark blue.

• Quote

[Grogs 0]

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Chuck, what kind of goggles do you use over the top of a helmet that stay on safely?

I'd guess he means that he wears them under the helmet and just pulls the helmet down on top of the goggles. I've seen quite a few people doing that.
Personally, I really like my Z-1. It has a good, easy to work latch system that stays closed until you open it. I've seen quite a few Oxygen lenses fly off in freefall, but I've yet to see it happen with a Z-1. I'd recommend the model with the Dytter pocket on the inside rather than the newer model with and external pocket just because you can hear it better. In fact, I've heard my Dytter on every single skydive with that helmet. I've heard a lot of complaints about the durability of the Z-1, but I've yet to see any problems with mine after 200+ jumps with it. I would definitely recommend you just set the drawstring one time and leave it alone though. I think that's at least part of the durability problem.
I've never jumped a Factory Diver, but the whole concept of a face shield that doesn't open would definitely make me nervous. Last Winter I had several dives where my face shield was completely fogged by the time I got under canopy. If I hadn't had a flip-up face shield, I probably would have had to pull the whole helmet off and try not to drop it.

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

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Chuck, what kind of goggles do you use over the top of a helmet that stay on safely?

I wear the the "sky eyes" ones made by the people that make tube stoes. I wear them right over the helmet and they do not move around at all because the strap is that rubbery tube stoe material. Just my preference. Don't think that a flip up lens is going to give you much protection. I have seen plenty of them kicked off or cracked by inadvertant contact. Still, the bottom piece does do a good job of protecting your jaw and nose (unless you have a real honker!)
In the winter, I wear the visor but keep the bottom kicked out a bit to keep it from fogging. Fogging is the reason that the companies came up with flip lenses. If you pull a stock factory diver down too early, it is most assuredly going to fog up on you. If that happens in the winter, then your lens will freeze over and you will be fucked. When I jump a lens I don't pull my helmet down until right before climbout, then right after opening I undo the tightener and pull the bottom of the helmet up a bit. Kind of a pain in the ass, but not so bad that I am going to pay another $300 for a helmet I barely use.
Chuck

[weid14 0]

My teammate had his Z-1 open on three different occasions in freefall - he is now jumping an Oxygen.... If I were to buy a new helmet it would be the factory diver. the lens is a little thicker, and I never open the dumb thing anyway....

About the lens with permanent fog on teh Oxygen... last week someone said, use some easy-off oven cleaner it will clean the lens right up... so I tried it this weekend. It worked - basically it remves the coating on the lens, which you can't see through anyway. If there are scratches, it doesn't help that situation though (I may try some furnature polish - it works on glasses, what the heck).

[OmriMon 0]

i'm using a friend's factory diver now and i really love it
i jump it without the visor cuz his visor is all cracked up and u can't see anything with it
i think i would buy one for myself and jump it without the visor too cuz i love my goggles better and i like the wind in my face.
i only buy a full face cuz i like the way it sits on my head than a open face
Free Skies,
Omri A-38593

[Aviatrr 0]

I have only jumped 2 different types of full face - a Z1 and a Factory Diver.. Probably 100 jumps on the Z1, 20 or so on the FD.. The Z1 is a nice helmet, very secure with the chinstrap and lens latch, and as an added bonus(I think you said you wear contacts, and this can make a difference) it has a fabric skirt that you tighten down after putting the helmet on that can almost completely eliminate air flowing in from around your neck.. You can get funky airflows in helmets from that, and that has caused my contacts to come out in the past.. No problems for me with freeflying with the Z1.. The downsides with the Z1 - pricey, not what I would call heavy duty construction, and the lens is kinda pricey to replace..
The Factory Diver that I jumped had the fixed lens.. No big deal, just don't put the helmet on until about 15 seconds before exit, and it doesn't fog.. It seems to be a little heavier duty construction than the Z1, but also seemed a bit heavier.. I would not attempt to do any sit/stand with a Factory Diver - nor any other helmet that does not have a chin strap or chin cup..
Mike

[Geoff 0]

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My only complaint is that the drawstring is a little flimsy. ......

??????????? I was talking about an Oxygn, and I've not seen an Oxygn with a drawstring. Do some have one?
Geoff

[Zennie 0]

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I was talking about an Oxygn, and I've not seen an Oxygn with a drawstring

Ooops. My bad. I thought you were talking about a Z1. I was.
--------
Zennie
"I know the pieces fit. 'Cause I watched them fall away..."
--Tool

[jfields 0]

Okay...
I tried on the Oxygn when I was up at Cross Keys the other week. I didn't really like the way it fit/felt on my head. So scratch that brand. That was the only one they had in the right size to fit my melon head.
How secure are Z-1s and Factory Divers on your head? Are they okay for more than RW? For example, if I get a crazy notion to learn sitflying or freeflying someday, would they do okay?
On the Factory Divers, what is the deal with ones that are flip-up vs. single-position? Is one new and one old, or are both options currently available?
Chuck, if you see this, take a look at the attached picture. Are those the goggles you use? They would work over top of my ProTec, rather than under like I've been wearing my Kroops? If so, I'll probably get a pair to try, because I could just pull them over my helmet at the last minute.
Thanks, folks!
Justin
My Homepage

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Justin,
Yes, those are the goggles that I normally wear. I get the best service out of them and they don't have little metal buckles that bite into your head or your custom paint job.
Chuck
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"