Fullface camera helmets?

[MWGemini 0]

I've been looking around lately for full face camera helmets, and have found very little information about existing models. I know there is one in the store at my DZ, but it is very big and bulky and doesn't fit me well.

Although I have very few jumps, I do know that I like full face a lot better than open, and when I get into flying camera (long ways off), I would prefer a full face set-up, but it looks like few, if any, are being made.

Do any of you have any information on full face camera helmets? Manufacturers? Models? Reviews? etc...

Thanks,

Mike

[TALONSKY 0]

Please read the first thread in this forum. You are far, far from being ready to jump camera. Invest in jumping and buy the equipment when you are ready for it.
Kirk

[MWGemini 0]

As I said in my first post, I am a long ways off from jumping a camera. That does not mean I can't do research, however.

Mike

[TALONSKY 0]

In my experiance people will research it, purchase it and state I will just set it aside for later. Then just a little while later start jumping it anyway.
To answer your question there are a few different types. The bone head flat top pro is a full faced, the hansen helmet is a full faced. I would highly recommend not getting these style for a first camera helmet though. The Skysystems Sidewinder is an oxygen full faced helmet with a camera box on the side. you can purchase them only through squareone.
Kirk

[MWGemini 0]

Well, I certainly won't be purchasing anything any time soon, so don't worry. I am an unemployed college student and can barely afford to jump right now.

The sidwinder is more along the lines of what I think I would like. I currently use an old Factory Diver and am relatively happy with it. Does the visor still open on that, or is it locked into place?

If I am unable to find one I am happy with when the time comes, I might try my hand at fabricating a custom helmet. I've worked with fiberglass and similar materials before and it wasn't that difficult, just time consuming.

Thanks for the info.

Mike

[TALONSKY 0]

The original Sidewinder is based off of the factory diver with a fixed visor (see attached pic). The Sidewinder 2 which is the picture above are based on the oxygen so the visor flips open. It is my understanding that the original Sidewinder is no longer made but you can order the Sidewinder 2 as stated above I believe last time I checked they go for about $495. Right now there is one with a camera in the classifies on this sight for $600.

[MWGemini 0]

Ah. I've seen pictures of the original that you just posted. That and the one at my DZ are the only two I've seen, which is why I thought full faces were very rare and had locked visors.

Do you know if the sidewinder 2 has the ability to mount a still camera also (which would block the visor, I imagine)? Have you ever jumped one? Are there any differences compared to the normal Oxygen (besides the camera)?

Thanks,

Mike

[Canuck 0]

You can put a still on a Sidewinder (I've seen it), but you really don't want to. In a few hundred jumps when you're ready to start jumping camera, and then in a few hundred more when you're ready to add stills, you want something with at least a chin-cup, and prefferably something even better like a rear entry latch if you're gonna strap that much weight onto your noggin.

Canuck

[TALONSKY 0]

You will not be able to put still on top without doing some work on the shape of the helmet. Basically there is not a flat spot for the camera.
Kirk

[MWGemini 0]

A topic that I have not seen covered much (and I may have just overlooked it) is a comparison between full face and open face for camera. Why is it that there are so few full faces? Are they better for some reason, or is it a cost issue?

It was mentioned above that having that much weight would require a chin cup. Is this for stability reasons, or something else? Are full faces generally not stable enough to mount cameras on?

Thanks,

Mike

[Canuck 0]

I think you need to be clear on what you are calling full face. From what I gather, you mean a helmet with a visor. Many refer to a helmet like the Flat Top Pro as a full face, even though it has no visor.

There is nothing inherently inferior in terms of stability with a helmet that has a visor. The stability is a result of how well the helmet fits your mellon, and the type of closing/tightening mechanism. The problem with the Sidewinder is that the only tightening mechanism is a velcro strap that sort of squeezes the helmet tighter to your head. Ratchet chin-cups are better, fixed chin pieces with a rear entry mechanism are the best. My Flat Top Pro when buckled down doesn't slip around on my head one little bit.

There is by the way at least one helmet out there that is rear entry with a visor, but they seem quite unpopular.

Canuck

[MWGemini 0]

The other concern is that with a full face (which you are right, I've always considered as having a visor and fully enclosing the face), there is not a cutaway system. Other threads that I have read about the sidewinder/S2 have discussed that, and while one could probably be rigged up (I have an idea in mind), I wonder if it would be inferior to the ones I have seen on open face helmets (namely the Optic Illusion, the only helmet I have seen up close and have worn).

However, in some of those same threads, people have said that the sidewinder does not need a cutaway system because it is much less likely to snag. Are cutaway systems generally regarded as mandatory by experienced fliers? From my (obviously non existent) experience, I would think that having one is a very good idea, if not an absolute requirement.

I think I may have to brush up my glassing skills if I ever want to jump a full face (with movable visor) camera helmet that is capable of attaching cameras to, as the only system that comes close to what I (think I would) want is the sidewinder, but it does not have a mounting surface on the top, a invertable camera box, or a cutaway system, which are all features that I would like in a camera helmet, based off what I have seen and read.

Again, I am NOT pursuing camera flying. I am simply doing research on the issue, which has stemmed from the fact that I will soon be editing tandem videos at my DZ (hopefully). I would like to jump a camera ONE DAY, but it will not be for at least a year, and probably 2 or more, in which time this entire discussion and all the research I am doing now may not be applicable.

I appreciate all the information I have received so far, and thank you all for not flaming me (too much ) for being another noob asking dumb questions and/or questions that I shouldn't really be worrying about right now.

Thanks,

Mike

[IvanPeters 0]

Quote

The other concern is that with a full face (which you are right, I've always considered as having a visor and fully enclosing the face), there is not a cutaway system. Other threads that I have read about the sidewinder/S2 have discussed that, and while one could probably be rigged up (I have an idea in mind), I wonder if it would be inferior to the ones I have seen on open face helmets (namely the Optic Illusion, the only helmet I have seen up close and have worn).

However, in some of those same threads, people have said that the sidewinder does not need a cutaway system because it is much less likely to snag. Are cutaway systems generally regarded as mandatory by experienced fliers? From my (obviously non existent) experience, I would think that having one is a very good idea, if not an absolute requirement.

Most cutaway systems involve completely removing the chin cup or rear latch resulting in a great big opening for your head to come out. A normal full face will fit quite snugly and does not come off easily even when not tightened. You might be able to loosen the tightening system on the sidewinder but you are not going to make the hole bigger.

There is a valid argument for not needing a cutaway if there are no snag points. But I would say that you have to be pretty sure there are none. If there is the slightest gap anywhere then Murphy's Law says that a line will find it.

Ivan