Maybe this should go in gear and rigging, but I thought that this was an appropriate post for this forum.
Have there been any advances in skydiving helmets that actually offer some crash protection, aside from a protec?
I have two helmets, a full face and a camera helmet, so 9 times out of ten I end up doing all my hop and pops with googles and nothing more.
My landings and turns are getting much better and I am getting faster and faster landings. It probably isn't a bad idea to wrap my brain up in something.
I need somthing to hold my optima, and something that I can still hear well enough to communicate during CRW.
so 9 times out of ten I end up doing all my hop and pops with googles and nothing more.
For competition a hard shell helmet is a requirement.
In Reply To
My landings and turns are getting much better and I am getting faster and faster landings. It probably isn't a bad idea to wrap my brain up in something.
Depending on the plane and exit you can hurt yourself even before landing, so that is not a bad idea.
In Reply To
I need somthing to hold my optima, and something that I can still hear well enough to communicate during CRW.
I guess most of the open face helmet can meet these requirements.
The short answer is no. There is nothing new in skydiving helmets that offers even a modicum of protection against an impact.
Having been first on scene in several accidents/fatalities related to low turns/swooping I can tell you that in all cases the CF skydiver shell has always been cracked open like an eggshell. Not that I think a better helmet would have prevented any of those fatalities/accidents but in your case where your landings are getting faster you might want to consider alternatives to the average skydiver helmets if head protection is your concern.
There are several options out there that offer a good level of protection but many to none of them look "cool" for skydiving or swooping. Skiing or snowboarding helmets may be the closest thing to providing you more protection than a CF shell and still allow you to hear and use an audible. SNELL rated helmets are at a higher standard then DOT helmets as the standards are more stringent and only the best "pass". Typically the SNELL rating is found on motorcycle type helmets. For helmets that you could actually consider for skydiving use check out this WEB SITE for ratings and explanations.
Depending on the plane and exit you can hurt yourself even before landing, so that is not a bad idea.
Very true, I did don some head gear for the Mr. Bill that we attempted on Sunday. Imagine the look of suprise on my face as I looked over sluggos shoulders as he towed his pilot chute for about 7 seconds after exit.
So I have heard that in a lot of instances a hard hemlet with a poor liner can actually increase injury. Is there any truth to this?
Maybe I will get a protec after all and fit up my own audible pocket.
A couple of years ago my son was into BMX racing and the full face helmets they use offered some face protection along with the normal helmet(that are lighter than Snell or Dot motorcycle helmet). Here is a link to Protec take a look at the Augar or the Shovelhead http://www.pro-tec.net/bike/main.html, or just go to a local bike shop that deals with BMX bikes they should have others similar. Kirk
(This post was edited by TheCaptain on May 13, 2008, 10:30 AM)
Maybe I will get a protec after all and fit up my own audible pocket.
I put an audible in my Pro-tec by just larksheading a rubber band around one of the bars of the "grill" on the ear hole and putting the dytter in the loop.
Warning: if you're used to hearing the beep through a layer of foam in your helmet liner, it's really loud!
