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rickfri59

Helmet Questions

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I have a Z1. I love the fit, it's warm, it's quiet, and looks great. However, I question its ability to protect my head in a serious bang. LIke most other "Skydiving" helmets I've had the chance to examine, there's no hi-density foam between the skull and the helmet shell. I haven't seen too much more padding than some comfort foam rubber. I want to get an open face helmet for the hotter days when I'm jumping alone. Aside from a Gath or Hurricane there's not much on the market for under a buck-sixty, and again, there's the protection issue. So, I've been cruzin' the snowboard & ski stores looking @ at helmets labeled as "winter sport" helmets. The price of a decent looking Boeri helmet is about half the cost of an open face skydiving helmet. The impact protection, IMO, is superior. it looks pretty cool, and there is a pocket in the ear fabric/padding (both sides) that with a little velcro would make a pretty good place for my Dytter. The only shortcoming I see are the vents oner the ears, which could be covered with duct tape. I cant see any snag points (after removing the goggle strap retainer) Pro-Tec even makes a decent looking snowboarding helmet with all of the Boeri features. So, for the more experienced crowd out there, is there any reason NOT to go with a good snowboard helmet??

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I'd think as long as it won't snag and there is good flexibility so you can get your head back when arching, it'd be fine.

Protec makes a skydiving helmet as well that looks like good protection too.

I was contemplating just putting some nice closed-cell foam rubber in a skydiving helmet, but your way is cheaper. ;)

7CP#1 | BTR#2 | Payaso en fuego Rodriguez
"I want hot chicks in my boobies!"- McBeth

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. So, for the more experienced crowd out there, is there any reason NOT to go with a good snowboard helmet??


Yes, help the skydiving market by buying skydiving gear. The bonehead mindwarp can give good protection (haven't seen one, thats what I have been told).

HISPA 21
www.panamafreefall.com

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Protecs are actually the best protection you can buy for skydiving. They've had years of proven use in many other sports and are worn by many other sportsmen(women) in many other sports for that very reason. Yeah, they look stupid compaired to other skydiving helmets, but they work really well.
--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

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Protecs are actually the best protection you can buy for skydiving



This is absolutely true. In fact, the ProTec is about the only helmet out there that really offers any impact protection. Face it folks, skydiving helmets are about abrasion protection, not impact protection. The more expensive helmets on the market do a better job of absorbing a blow, but nothing like a motorcycle helmet or even a bike helmet that are made to take both blunt force and glancing blows.

Since we MUST look cool while skydiving, you're not likely to see anything with real impact protection any time soon (although Para Tech has one coming out that looks good...based off a motorcycle design).


"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

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***Since we MUST look cool while skydiving, you're not likely to see anything with real impact protection any time soon

How come? Is it the added bulk bulk of the high density foam making the helmet "bigger", and therefore not sleek and "cool" ? The Protec snowboarding helmet I've seen isn't as ugly as the basic student helmets used at DZs, and it doesn't appear to be too bulky. I'm new to the sport, and in choosing a helmet I went along with the opinions of experienced jumpers ( I wanted to do RW) at my DZ. The Z1 is all it was said to be. I just on't get why the manfacturer doesn't throw more hi density shock absorbing material in the shell. I have seen a retro-fit kit on-line for about $90 bucks. Any opinions or experiences with one of these kits?

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Is it the added bulk bulk of the high density foam making the helmet "bigger", and therefore not sleek and "cool" ?



I'd say this is probably a pretty accurate statement, reflective of a large portion of the community. Something else to think about though: Any protection is better than none. Chin and jaw protection are a great way to avoid getting knocked out.

IMO Jumpers tend to think that 'something' on their head constitutes "protection", and to a degree it does...sometimes to a very small degree, but none the less.;) I think the biggest reason jumpers don't take head protection more seriously though, is simply that there aren't all that many injuries/fatalities on the books that a helmet would have prevented, so it doesn't way as heavy on everyone's mind as maybe it should.

You have to remember, pretty much everything ProTec makes is actually meant to take a blow, most skydiving helmets aren't. They just generally aren't made with shatter lines in the padding to absorb shock like bike helmets are, nor are they all designed with maximum coverage...they're designed to 1) Look cool 2) provide some level of protection...in that order.

See, you're still thinking like a normal, safety conscience human-being, not like a skydiver;)


"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

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