skipro101 0 #1 October 31, 2003 How safe is it to use gear from other sports? I really am dissapointed with the quality and cost of the crappy full face skydiving helmets out there today. from all ive seen, they suck. visors come up, pads come unstuck, and to top it off, they are still like 300 bucks. My question, is would it be safe to use moto racing helemts? I have a 500 dollar street racing helmet. Its 100X better quality that the skydiving full face helmets. Would it be safe to use for skydiving? thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #2 October 31, 2003 The excess weight of it in a hard opening is enough to damange your neck. Plus its wide enough that the risers might pinch your head between them. How much of an impact are you expecting to take??Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #3 October 31, 2003 I would not risk my life for $200-$300. You can find a fullface for <$250 and thats designed for skydiving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #4 October 31, 2003 Skydiving helmets and motorcycle helmets are designed to protect you from completely different types of injuries. If you plan on biffing in and having your helmet keep your skull intact, the perhaps a motorcycle helmet would be appropriate, but that's NOT why most people wear helmets while skydiving. Generally speaking a skydiving helmet is there to protect you when getting kicked in the head during jumps with other people, to keep you from getting too scratched up when you dig the door on your way out of the plane and to have a nice quite place to put your Dytter. For those purposes, a motocycle helmet is far heavier, larger and more cumbersome than required. As for the specific instance of the weight issue, I can guarantee my camera helmet fully loaded weighs more than just about any motocycle helmet, but then again, I'm jusping a very docile canopy known for its very soft openings. So, anyway, you'd want to take that into consideration as well. Now, how sexy is REAL PROTEKtion? PROTEKs are actually cheap multi-purpose helmets worn by students. Ugly as sin eh? BUT they actually are better protection than most purpose built skydiving helmets. So, if you're looking for something from another sport . . . you might consider the PROTEKs used in rock climbing and skateboarding. Just a thought.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #5 October 31, 2003 Can you see your cutaway and reserve handles wearing a motorcycle helmet? I don't think so. You may want that option. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggermick 7 #6 October 31, 2003 QuoteCan you see your cutaway and reserve handles wearing a motorcycle helmet? I don't think so. You may want that option. t Can you get your head all the way back? (and not interfere with your reserve) Mick. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tombuch 0 #7 October 31, 2003 Some interesting replys, with most suggesting your motorcycle helmet might not be such a good idea because: * It may be too heavy and that weight is multiplied by the g-force at opening making a neck injury more likely. *It may restrict your vision making it difficult to see your handles. *It may not protect you as well from side impacts like being kicked in the head on exit. *It may snag a riser on opening. On the other hand...Skydiving helmets do NOT meet any federal, state, or industry standard. They may provide adequate protection, but there is no testing to verify that. The only exception that I know of is the Protec, and that helmet is actually made in two versions, one selling in California and the other selling around the rest of the country. The California version meets a higher state standard than the national product. We should also be aware that motorcycle helmets are pretty common and emergency crews know how to remove them without causing further neck injury. Skydiving helmets are a bit different, and while WE know how to take them off, that process doesn't always work as well when a patient is unable to help and the rescue crew is struggling with an unknown. If you want to use your motorcycle helmet on a skydive, please try it on the ground with all your gear. Make sure you can see your handles and that it won't interfere with risers or deployment. It sounds like you have limited skydiving experience and may even be a student. In that case please check with your instructor and S&TA for their views of your specific helmet. Keep in mind a few people may give you a knee-jerk-no, while others may really consider the question. Listen to their answers and evaluate them based on the skydiving experience of the people involved. Obviously, if you are a student then your instructor rules. I know a few jumpers who have used motorcycle helmets with success, but they usually don't stick with them for very long. Tom Buchanan Instructor (AFF, SL, IAD, Tandem) S&TA Author JUMP! Skydiving Made Fun and EasyTom 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
mr2mk1g 10 #8 October 31, 2003 an emergency crew struggling with a skydiving helmet would just cut the thing in two. You can do that with our thin ass helmets... cant see it happening with a motorcycle helmet. Stick to skydiving gear for the most part. I have seen a couple of new skater/BMX type helmets which would actually work well and look cool. They just tend to be not low profile enough for my likeing though. The only exception to the weight issue I have found with moto helmets is an ex police motorcycle helmet that has a fully liftable visor section. Very comfy and had radio equip built in (dubious application in our sport). That was as light as my full face but strong. Shame it was simply too big. Ultimate insult has to be the Gath. A helmet designed for surfers... [rant]extreme sport my ass[/rant]. If you read the lable it says it protects your head against spray and UV light. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skipro101 0 #9 October 31, 2003 Its actually really light. I am more concerned with the profile. It is big. I dont plan on trying it...I can see my handles, I am just too worried about something snagging on it with its big profile.... It's not that I think I need to protection offered by it, I just always hear of full face skydiving helemts falling apart. That combined with their price really turns me off to buying one.... I think I will just fork it over and go with a bonehead...those look like they are made well.... Thanks everyone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflyguy 0 #10 November 1, 2003 I have seen some of the new snow-ski helmets on some loads recently. They seem to have better protection, light, and room to put in a dyter, with a little dremel time. ---------------------------- bzzzz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
