Helmets

[mofo554 0]

Does everybody these days jump with a helmet? I have seen some that don't, as well as people who jump with frap hats, but they seem to be the exception rather than the rule. I realize why helmets are highly recommended for freeflyers and those who fly high performance canopies, however...

In the hypothetical situation in which you're an experienced jumper making a solo with a docile canopy, would you wear a helmet? Would you ever jump without one? In which situations would you/do you not wear one?

[bmcd308 0]

I don't wear one when I do solos, but that is probably dumb, since one of my friends just recently knocked himself out hitting the doorframe on exit on a solo. He wokeup in freefall on his back wondering where he was. He said he thought he was having that dream where you are falling, then after a couple of seconds realized he actually was falling, checked his altitude, and pulled.

Brent

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www.jumpelvis.com

[Chrisky 2]

Actually, everything skydiving helmets are good for is exit protection (and that just a bit) and to protect your head from the collision with other jumpers during free fall. And as camera and audible-mount of course.

They are not designed to protect you on a HP landing. If you take the time to read ANY Label on them, they don't protect you from anything, so don't count on it. Still, it's better to wreck the helmet first and then your head...

I like wearing a helmet for the following reasons:
My audibles and camera.
Keeps the wind noise out.
Looks cool.
Makes me feel a bit safer thus more relaxed (I call it the turtle-effect)
Might be DZ policy.

But if you just want to do a hop'n'pop under your 260 Giantfoil, imho you don't really need one.

The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open.
From the edge you just see more.
... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

[AggieDave 6]

In the summer, I tend to leave my helmet on the ground if I'm doing a H&P or a clear and pull from altitude. Its fairly stupid, actually, for me to do that, but it's f***ing hot outside, so I just do it.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[wmw999 2,559]

I wear a fairly nasty old Pro-tec all the time. I have very few helmetless jumps.

I also broke a helmet front on an airplane door once, in the days before the Cypres. Ergo the very few helmetless jumps.

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)

[bch7773 0]

I've made a few helmetless jumps. I couldn't afford the Z1 I wanted, so I just jumped helmetless for a few weeks until I got it.
Its kinda a cool feeling, just wearing goggles. You can really hear and feel the wind more. But it also comes with more danger... plus, your goggles come off easier, which sucks in freefall, if there isn't a helmet there to pinch em down at the sides.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[Squeak 17]

I wear my Gath ALL the time, I realise if offers bugger all protection, but my Sport Rx Goggles cost $200.ooAUD (scripted) so I'm concerned that without the helmet on there, is a chance of them blowing off in FF and I dont want to be in the position of being sight impaired on landing

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[Tonto 1]

I only wear one for freeflying.

I have 3950 jumps, of which about 20 are freefly.

I've never hit my head on anything, and I like the feel of the air.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[drenaline 0]

  Quote

Does everybody these days jump with a helmet?

nope but they should

>>In the hypothetical situation in which you're an experienced jumper making a solo with a docile canopy, would you wear a helmet?

I am not an experienced jumper but if I where the answer is yes I would wear it.

>>Would you ever jump without one? In which situations would you/do you not wear one?
Maybe in the future but only as a tandem master doing a tandem and who knows I may be wearing a frap hat.

A friend (his dz.com name is skyslut) once asked me the "why I didn't wear a helmet" and I answered its simple because I was just doing a hop n pop, then he asked me for what was a helmet for and I answered for protecting my head, then the question "when can you hit your head skydiving?" easy answer doing formations, riser slaps and with the ground... after that talk I have never jumped without a helmet.

>>and those who fly high performance canopies

I have a friend who had an accident flying a sabre 2 with a wingload of 1:1 and he wasnt going for a HP landing, something just went wrong and he got a bad landing, hitting his head kinda hard and breaking an ankle, good thing he had a helmet.

Always wear one, if you dont like it because its suffocating then go for an open face, if you want to hear the wind then go for a protect or the bikers design that bonehead has (the one without the spikes).

HISPA 21
www.panamafreefall.com

[Harksaw 0]

I have read some of the warning labels on helmets and they go really far in saying the helmet won't do anything. I think this is mostly for liability and I think they can help you on a tumbling landing just as much as they could a midair collision. Just a personal preference, but I would never jump without one, and I dont think I'd ever use a fraphat.

__________________________________________________
I started skydiving for the money and the chicks. Oh, wait.

[Chrisky 2]

Same goes for me; but you'll have to decide yourself what your helmet can take.

The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open.
From the edge you just see more.
... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

[Jethers203 0]

Tonto,

How old are you? Can I have some of your jumps? That is pretty impressive!!!!!

John D-24352

[GraficO 0]

after reading some of the post... I thought I might throw my 2 cents in. After doing some R&D on some of the most popular skydiving helmets for the past few years, I might be able to provide some insight for people to make a educated decision on skydiving helmets to purchase.

It is true that no skydiving helmet is specifically designed to protect your head or your neck. No skydiving helmet is DOT or SAE certified... BUT... there are a few things to keep in mind about helmets (hard shell, soft shell, open face, full face, flip up visor, fixed visor, or leather padded) and skydiving:
- Yes they allow you a place to put audibles and cameras.
- Yes they are not rated specifically to protect you from a serious impact like a motorcycle helmet would.
- No they will not absorb ALL of the energy from a serious impact with the aircraft, another skydiver or the ground but will take SOME of the energy out of the impact.
- Have there been occurances where a helmeted skydiver survived a serious impact with some sort of object that they probably would not have if they weren't wearing one? YES.
- Are there better features between skydiving helmets over others in regards to safety? YES
- Why do skydiving helmets manufactuers place that warning sticker in their helmets? Because in our litigious society, everyone wants to blame everyone else but themselves. Skydiving is dangerous... so let's get to the point... you want to skydive, you accept all risks involved... there are absolutely no guarantees that a helmet will or will not protect you regardless of construction or design. No helmet manfacturer or skydiving helmet manfacturer can guarantee that.
- Do they look cool? Some do but everyone has their own opinion

Overall, a desirable skydiving helmet is designed first and foremost to provide the following things:
- good peripheral vision
- range of motion and head movement. You don't want to be restrained from being able to see your emergency handles or not be able to check your airspace above you at pull time
- Ergonomically designed to fit the bulk of human head sizes and shapes comfortably. Frankly, there are some heads that just won't fit in a skydiving helmet... long foreheads, oblong skulls, wide craniums... etc. Most manufacturers accomodate these people by offering custom liners. Shell sizing on some can be altered but most of the time it's the liner that determines ultimately the final fit.
- lightweight construction so that hard openings are not accelerated by extra weight to your head and neck.
- Padding construction... what materials and thicknesses will absorb more impact energy
- Shell construction... what materials and combinations of materials provide "better" protection than others.
- Warmth... temperature at altitude is much lower than at ground elevation especially during the winter
- Noise reduction. Prolonged exposure to loud noises can damage your hearing.

Overall, skydiving helmets basically cover all of the above... again... some better than others. Research your helmet purchase by contacting a qualified, experienced gear dealer on the features and customer feedback surrounding helmets you have interest in... ot just what's cool or what's more or less expensive. Afterall, the gear dealer is going to hear both the positives and the negatives first regarding any brand or model of helmet becuse if there is a problem, the gear dealer is going to be the first one to get the helmet back!

Feel free to email if you have specific questions... I can't publicly recommend or chastize any helmet because of what I do for a living in the industry. In private conversation, I can however give my personal preference on what I fly... camera, RW or freefly.

GraficO

GraficO

"A Mind is a terrible thing to taste."

[flylikeahandbag 0]

Helmets are mandatory in the UK.

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http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk

[Tonto 1]

I'm old dude. So old I'm not allowed to advise the youth on matters regarding bird and bee wing loading, and need to eat worms through a straw...

But I know how to have fun!

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[Tonto 1]

  Quote

Helmets are mandatory in the UK.

Yeah... but that's cos you're not allowed guns..

Seriously, I think the rest of the world is quite happy with some senior skydivers choosing to go without headgear if they choose. The BPA have their reasons why they know better than the rest of the world, I guess.

Rigs are mandatory in SA.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[Shadowplay 0]

First off, what does baking a helmet mean? Does it have something to do with molding the pads for a custom fit on your nugget? Also, I'm looking at getting a mindwarp for my first helmet. I don't want one that covers my full face right now because I'm a student and right now will be doing mostly solo jumps (as far as I can tell anyway). I'd like something that is durable lightweight and will cut down on the noise. Is this a good choice?

[Chrisky 2]

Baking means that you can heat a carbon fibre helmet in your oven (Bonehead has a prezise manual i think) and they will become somewhat soft like chewing gum. Then you can form them and once cooled, they'll stay in shape.
Good feat if you have some strange headform, as i do.

The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open.
From the edge you just see more.
... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

[drenaline 0]

  Quote

I don't want one that covers my full face right now because I'm a student and right now will be doing mostly solo jumps (as far as I can tell anyway).

If you are interested in doing RW in the future then you should go for the full face as your first helmet, there is no need to spend money in 2 helmets.

HISPA 21
www.panamafreefall.com

[ifics 0]

What is the benefit of having a full faced helmet? Beside it being quiet and the wind not running up your nose?

[Chrisky 2]

Your rotating drill partners feet not running up your nose!

The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open.
From the edge you just see more.
... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ...

[Tonto 1]

  Quote

Also, I'm looking at getting a mindwarp for my first helmet. I'd like something that is durable lightweight and will cut down on the noise. Is this a good choice?

I think so. As a non helmet user I looked at many designs and manufacturers and settled on a mindwarp as my 1st helmet at 3800 dives. I'm very happy with it, although I havn't hit it against anything yet.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[drenaline 0]

Cleaner teeth. Have you ever seen somebody biffing with his face? kinda funny to see his face and mouth full of grass.

For RW because you can get some nice kicks in the jaw or nose, trust me on this one I have kicked my partner a lot of times

HISPA 21
www.panamafreefall.com