Alternate helmet choice

[Danderson76 0]

What are your opinions on using a helmet such as this for skydiving? $90 for all normal sizes and an electric visor so that it won't freeze in freezing temps for an extra $80. Obviously so much cheaper. I don't see any snag points, the visor has good visibility from side to side, up and down would be less. I don't know how much it weighs. I know motorcycle helmets can be pretty heavy. It's crash rated though. Thoughts?

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/23957/i/z1r-phantom-solid-snow-helmet?SITEID=MSN+SEARCH+NON-BRAND+none&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=10007&creative=4760510586&device=c&matchtype={MatchType}

[jbscout2002 1]

You're the experienced one, but the first thing that popped at me was the D ring chin strap. With skydiving helmets having the plastic buckle and some having cutaways, is the d ring strap wise?

[Danderson76 0]

That would be something to address if you were wearing a camera for sure, but my guess is that might be an easy swap out or alteration to make if you wanted to put on the plastic snap variety. I think I would want the snap variety in lieu of the d ring if it were a possibility. Cut away systems usually involve camera helmets though which are an animal of their own.

[jbscout2002 1]

Looking at my LS2 full face motorcycle helmet verses my ReVolve, the bike helmet is heavier (by far), and much larger/bulkier on my head. Vision isn't quite as good and head movement isn't as free in bike helmet.

The skydive helmet, as I understand, protects you from bumping your head in the plane, and getting knocked out or dazed in a free fall collision.

Motorcycle helmet is designed to absorb high speed, high impact collision, with hard objects by dispersing energy through an inner and outer shell with foam in between. It the absorbs energy from your head decelerating against the inner shell with very thick foam padding.

[Squeak 17]

Will it work, YES
However we stopped using motorcycle helmets a LONG time ago.
That might be your answer right there.

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?

[councilman24 36]

No, no vision, too heavy, too bulky.

Buy a seconds helmet from square one on ebay. Or buy a protec for $40. I haven't ever been able to justify the price of the carbon fiber scalp slicers. But I'm an old fart.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[riggerrob 558]

Squeak

Will it work, YES
However we stopped using motorcycle helmets a LONG time ago.
That might be your answer right there.

......................................................................

Motorcycle helmets have grown thicker, heavier and mor bulky since they were fashionable (for skydiving) during the 1970s.

[grantunderland 0]

The last time I saw someone at the DZ lament that they couldn't wear their motorcycle helmet, I had him put his rig and that helmet on then do his EPs. He couldn't see his handles. IIRC he couldn't even see his chest strap.
That might be a risk some more experienced people are willing to take, and I do practice closing my eyes and feeling from the lateral/MLW junction up to my handles. But I want to at least have a chance of seeing my handles when SHTF

[skytribe 16]

Helmets for skydiving a design for a different purpose than those for motorcycles.

Looking at them, they all look as though they would function perfectly as a motorcycle helmet but are really unsuitable for skydiving. They look bulkier, more vision limited and heavier than skydiving helmets.

Don't try reinventing the wheel. Choosing the right gear for the job is a much better option.

[Danderson76 0]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Definitely not trying to re-invent the wheel. Skydiving helmets are $400 plus, motorcycle considerably less, which is what spurred the question (and I know the audience is smaller which drives up prices etc). The weight of the helmet seems to be the main factor which was my original concern. I've only seen a few and they were all heavy. I wasn't sure if they were all like that or not. It sounds like they are.

[aschlicht 0]

Sure, cheap motorcycle helmets are considerably less. But then again I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for". The cheapest motorcycle helmet I ever bought was around $400.

[skytribe 16]

Not all are that expensive. A Protec or similar are much cheaper than 400.

Sure, if you want to buy the latest new full face helmet in a specific color then you can spend that much, but older used full face helmets are also much cheaper.

Here's some links to skydiving helmets which range from 55 to just under 300. If you are in no hurry and wait around you can often find a deal from someone who is getting out of the sport or wants to spend the money on the latest greatest design.


OPEN FACE

https://www.chutingstar.com/skydive/pro-tec-classic-fullcut-helmet-3496

https://www.chutingstar.com/skydive/advanced-benny

https://www.chutingstar.com/skydive/parasport-z1-evo-skydiving-helmet

FULL FACE
http://www.square1.com/manufacturers/square1/p1040.asp#FactoryDiver

https://www.chutingstar.com/skydive/phantom-x

https://www.chutingstar.com/skydive/phantom-xv-helmet

https://www.chutingstar.com/skydive/z-1-full-face-helmet

http://www.dropzone.com/classifieds/Detailed/Head_Gear/Used_Factory_Diver_helmet_178111.html

http://www.dropzone.com/classifieds/Detailed/Head_Gear/sky_system_Oxygn_full_face_helmet_176748.html

[Danderson76 0]

Thank you :-) I actually have plenty of helmets. This was a "food for thought" sort of thing. I wanted people's input and thoughts because the question crossed my mind and I just wanted a discussion on it, but I'm sure it might be useful to others reading this thread!

[DBCOOPER 1]

Add in this liner upgrade for the protec and I think you would have the least expensive and most protective skydiving appropriate helmet available.

http://www.oregonaero.com/otherhelmetandheadgearupgrades/helmet&headgearupgrades

Replying to: Re: Stall On Jump Run Emergency Procedure? by billvon

If the plane is unrecoverable then exiting is a very very good idea.

[hookitt 0]

I wish they would work. They're just way too big. You feel like a bobble head, especially in the air. After opening, the helmet is so large, the risers are in the way. I wore a moto helmet for photo once. I was ready for the challenge, but even then, it was a lot more work than expected.

After many years of not jumping a full face, I finally broke down and bought a Cookie G2 and still have it 1000 jumps later. As expensive as it is... it ends up being worth it. It Works great in the sky and the tunnel. I'm still not thrilled about the price but considering how long I've used it, it's paid for itself.

When it gets too dirty for even helmet foam to work, I wash it in the kitchen sink then let it dry. You can pat dry as much as possible and then just point a fan at the inside.

If you have a G3, the pads come out.

My grammar sometimes resembles that of magnetic refrigerator poetry... Ghetto

[Snowcrash 0]

Danderson76

The weight of the helmet seems to be the main factor which was my original concern.

I would say that not being able to see your handles is an equally big problem...