has contributed 13 reviews

(Review ID:2077)

11 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

visor malfunction

Rated by: spootch on 2008-10-01 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: OXYGN A3 in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: tightening strap works good, duct tape now comes in chrome!
Cons: visor opens in freefall, customer service is poor

I purcased my oxygen helmet at the beginning of this year. I put on about 20 jumps before my helmet decided to transform itself into a hood scoop in freefall. It is hard to describe the feeling of having your head snaped back in freefall at 120 mph, other than being in a car accident....backwards. Call me a coward, but the second time I had this happen (it opened twice on the same jump, two jumps later) I started to duct tape it closed. This worked fine until the tape started to wear out and the visor opened one last time in freefall, breaking right down the middle. Nothing like a jagged piece of plastic fluttering in front of your eye before pulling!
Doesn't need snaps?
Don't need tabs?
I think Sky Systems needs to re-think what kind of a product they are putting on peoples heads. These helmets are dangerous. Put a snap or tab on them before someone really gets hurt! I don't care that it has one, if it stops my helmet from "blowing apart".
And then there's the small issue of my replacement lense, which i've been waiting for, for the last two months......
My sympathies to the people who own one you've now spent 300$ on a helmet that has a high malfunction rate. Put the duct tape on and change it often....and if you're not sure where to put the tape, just have a look at the front page of last months Skydive Magazine (the 4 way team jumping out of the porter)all the pros are doing it!

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(Review ID:1663)

12 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

The only other competitor - Z1, but I like Oxygn more

Rated by: Maratets on 2006-10-04 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: OXYGN A3 in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: Great field of vision, easy to put on/take off, easy to clean lense
Cons: A bit too much ventilation, no soft touch finish option

I've been jumping Oxygn A3 for a season, and I do rate it as an exceptional helmet for RW. I think the best way to describe it is to compare it to another (and, perhaps, the only other) great choice for RW - Z1 fullface from Parasport. They're both about the same weight - i.e. very light - and give an equal amount of protection and warmth. Oxygn is way better when it comes to the field of vision - the only part of the picture it cuts out is a small bit around your nose. Every other angle is superb, which is a very important thing when you have to see what's happening 360 degrees around you. Another great advantage of Oxygn is the fact that it's extremely easy to put on/ take off. No need to press the button and tighten the string on the back, then clip the chin-strap like in Z1, just pull and tighten the velco strap on the side of the helmet (which is quite easy to access) and you're all set. This is a really nice feature when sitting in a fully loaded plane at 3000 meters, trying to get your equipment together simultaniously with 5 other guys on board.
In the beginning the main drawback to me in comparison to Z1 was a bit too much air penetrating the helmet in freefall. However, I got used to it in a matter of first couple of jumps and this didn't bother me ever since, whatever the weather conditions are. Maybe someone will find it hard to get over, though. In return, however, the ventilation is great, and I've never seen my A3 fog yet.
Another thing usually noted as a drawback is opening the lense. It requires more force and skill, than Z1, but with putting the entire helmet on and taking it off being that easy, there's no particular need for that anyway. Instead, I can just wait until they open the airplane door for spotting,
and put my Oxygn on in the last moment, since it will take me only a second to do anyway, while folks wearing Z1 has have to put it on beforehand and get the needed amount of fresh air by flipping the visor up (which a lot of people tend to forget to close before exit occasionally).
It has also been noted many times, that Oxygns have trouble with lenses opening and helmets flying off the head in freefall. Never had anything like that, and I didn't make any additional modifications to the helmet (some people use additional clippers for the velcro strap and duck-tape their visors to the helmet).
I beleive the audible clip in A3 was initially made for ProTrack measurements, so it's too loose for smaller models (I use an Optima). However, they usually come with additional fixation strings, so it's not really an issue as long as you don't forget to use those.
To sum it all up, I'd say in the realm of RW helmets Oxygn A3 could only be rivaled by Z1, but I personally would not trade Oxygn's ideal field of vision, ease of putting on/taking off and exceptional ventilation for Z1's easier to flip-up visor.
The only additional feature I'd really like to see in Oxygn A3 is that soft-touch finish, available as an option in Z1, that does a great job of protecting the helmet from minor scratches and dents.

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(Review ID:1148)

5 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

Not such a Merry Christmas with the Oxygn A3

Rated by: AnotherGoodin on 2005-01-01 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: OXYGN A3 in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: Good preferal vison
Cons: Fit, Shape, Visor/Shield, Comfort, Looks (females)

I Finally got my first Oxygn Helmet this year for Christmas. As soon as I get it I put it on my head and notice the width is way to wide. I tried putting my hair up in different ways in hopes that it would give me (a female) a better fit. Well, nope it still doesn't fit.
Another problem I am having with it is that the darn shield is already cracked and I have only had it for two weeks. Although it is only a little crack near the bottom it still sucks because I see people with 2-3 year old helmets that have clear visors. The visor also gets finger prints and foggs easily. You can only clean it with water, but when your in the plane about to exit and you put your shield down (trying to to make it crack) you get prints everywhere! No sinks in the plane when you need them..
Okay so you say don't lift up the shield, except for the fact we paid over $300 for a helmet that is supposed to! I would have gotten a Factory Diver for a whole lot cheaper in that case!
Ok so females you want to look hot in this helmet? Good luck.. it makes my head look so big with all that extra space in it, but yet they "don't have any small's in stock because the average jumper is a medium or bigger." Well this is true and there smalls are too small in length ..but width it probably would fit great it you want your nose shoved down where your mouth should be.
I wish I could give this a better review, but I am just aggervated because that was my "big" gift and I couldn't afford one on my own. It's the thought that counts but I don't we should have got ripped off.
So Merry Christmas to you too Sky Systems.......... :(

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(Review ID:864)

10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

Great helmet, but go with the regular Oxygn

Rated by: TitaniumLegs on 2003-12-02 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: OXYGN A3 in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: Good fit, simple design, all-around good helmet
Cons: Exposed audible, lenses get scratched easily

I've had my A3 for 4+ years, and put probably 500+ jumps on it.

I disagree that there's a big problem with visors opening in freefall. Sure it may be happening to some people, but it's only once happened to me, and don't think Steph's (regular Oxygn) has ever opened in freefall. Others I know have the same experience. People with regular problems either have a bum helmet, visor or ratchet, or it isn't installed or closed correctly. It's really easy to put the ratchet in wrong, which may also explain some people's difficulty in closing the visor. I know a number of people with the Z1, and have made a few jumps with a demo myself, and the Z1 has worse problems opening in freefall. The Oxygn visor is easy to open and close with one hand, even under canopy. I did have to work it a bit with one of the visors, but it didn't get progressively looser after that.

What does suck about the visor is how easily it gets scratched to the point of translucence. Even the water-only washing they recommend does not work after a while, and you end up replacing lenses fairly regularly. Part of this is probably due to how hard you have to push and having to push right in the middle to close it. I'm working on making my own visors to solve the scratch issues. I'll probably have to use an anti-fog spray, but I might be able to get a more scratch-resistant Lexan or something.

I like the Velcro tension strap neck closure or whatever it's called. Easier than chip straps used on other full face helmets, tightens around your whole neck (and therefore holds on better) and keeps the wind out better. Downside is that the loop/pile/female part of the Velcro does eventually wear out just like any other application of Velcro. Shouldn't be too hard for a rigger or other sewing-machine-capable person to replace. Again comparing to the Z1, a friend of mine lost a Z1 in freefall (they later found it). I don't know anybody to lose any model of Factory Diver.

For those who have had fit problems: There is no reliable standard for measuring a head to fit a helmet. You need to try on the helmet. That goes for any kind of helmet.

In hindsight, I really don't like the idea of mounting my audible outside. Even though some A3s have a cover for the audible, it's still pretty vulnerable. The inside pocket is better, and actually easier to get the audible in and out.

Somebody made a comment about wanting to take it off under canopy. I assume the complaint is that there is no way to hang it from your chest strap, since there is no chin strap. Well, you could undo then reconnect your chest strap. However, given that landing accidents are more common than canopy collisions, you are better off wearing the helmet until you land.

I agree that the "documentation" is pretty weak, including incorrect sizing info and no useful info on mounting the audible (but they give all kinds of micro-bungee and ties).

I didn't deal much with support, but when they dinged my credit card twice when I bought Steph's helmet, Kira (Sky Systems) was very helpful and got it straightened out pretty quick.

Another really cool thing is that my MP3 player sounds really great in freefall in a full face, and the Factory Diver neck closure holds the cable nicely.

So in summary, don't buy the A3. Buy the regular Oxygn.

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(Review ID:528)

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

Irritating visor problems

Rated by: narcimund on 2002-12-13 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: OXYGN A3 in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

Pros: Quiet, snug, looks good
Cons: Visor action is terrible, confusing documentation

My boyfriend and I each got one. His was too small and he sent it back for a bigger one. All three helmets had INCREDIBLY stiff visor action. They were so tight we had to strain to pop them open or closed. It took all ten fingertips pushing hard before the visors would SNAP! into place. We seriously wondered if they would open and close or break first. After a 1/2 hour visor loosening session ("Up! Urgh... {snap}. Down! Grunt!... {snap}. Up....") they finally loosened enough to use them. They're still loosening every time they go up or down. We wonder if we have more than a few dozen jumps left before they loosen TOO much and start popping open in freefall.

(By the way, Sky Systems includes an instruction sheet that warns that all the visors have this problem and suggests loosening it this way. If I were Sky Systems I'd fix the problem, not document it. Speaking of documentation, Sky Systems really ought to update the instruction sheet. Terribly confusing stuff for what should be a simple product.)

My boyfriend's helmet had another (possibly related) visor problem as well. The visor has become misshapen. The lower edges bow inward now, so it can't be closed just by pushing downward on the top edge. He needs to use his thumbs underneath to push the edges into position and his fingers to pull it down.

Finally, their sizing chart is wrong. We both know our head sizes and their chart said I'm at the smallish end of "extra large" so it should be slightly loose. Instead it's extremely tight, but bearable. He was supposed to be at the upper end of medium and literally couldn't get it on his head. He's wearing an extra large now and says it's great.

Now seriously, none of this is going to break us. We're adaptable. But who needs extra challenges like this in freefall or under canopy? Equipment should help, not complicate things. And who decided two-handed visor operation was a good idea?

For over $300 each, we expected them to function better. I'm reminded of the BMW brand motorcycle helmets. One button pops the whole front of the helmet open (snick}. One finger pushes it back {snick}! That's elegance. If only BMW made sport helmets...

Added several months later...

Well, my Oxygn did what it was supposed to do - it saved me an injury. I got someone's foot in the face on a jump and the faceplate was shattered. I ordered a new one and it came with an instruction sheet for a different model, so I had to figure it out on my own. When things didn't fit together on reassembly, I called Sky Systems for help. The customer abuse agent who answered seemed to think it incredibly funny that I was having trouble with a simple problem. Even after I told him I didn't appreciate him making fun of me he kept doing it.

In addition, the new visor came with weird white streaks all across it like someone had smeared mayonnaise on it then let it dry. I assume that's an antifog coating but I'd rather have fog.

What a terrible company!

Added yet a few months later (12/02):

OK, yet another problem. Now my boyfriend's A3 lost a faceplate in freefall. Just popped open and snapped off. 60 seconds of terminal wind into his eyeballs.

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(Review ID:283)

5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

Overall, I am very pleased with this helmet.
Rated by: Robin Kellam on 2001-02-19 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: OXYGN A3 in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

I have had my Oxygen A3 for about a year and a half. I normally only wear it on larger RW dives and high risk dives like tubes and cats. While I prefer open air, I must say I really like the fit and feel of this helmet. I have never had the visor come open in freefall. In fact, the seal is so good it is difficult to close. Wind noise is almost non existent but I have to really pay attention to hear the exit count.

While I have never had any trouble hearing my Pro Track audible, I must say I am nervous about it being on the outside of my helmet. They are a touch expensive to leave out in the open air like that but it fits so perfectly in it's port, there isn't much wind noise around it.

Overall, I am very pleased with this helmet. I just wish I could take it off under canopy for the increased hearing that allows. I really love it on those cold days though. Now if I could only find some gloves this agreeable! Blue skies.

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(Review ID:284)

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

Pleased with it, but took a long time to ship.
Rated by: Steve on 2000-03-19 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: OXYGN A3 in Unknown Tag: 'cat_linked'

I bought an A-3 about two months ago. So far I've been very pleased with it. I've had no incidents, yet, with the lens flying open in freefall, although I have heard that there are problems with the lens ratchets on some (maybe all) of the helmets. I like the ability to easily open the lens once under canopy. It opens pretty easily considering how tightly it seals when closed.

I would warn any purchasers that it seems to take Sky Systems a very long time to ship. My order was for a standard A-3 helmet, standard colors, etc., but it took forever to get it shipped to the local gear shop. So if you want one, and it has to come from Sky Systems, be prepared for a wait.

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