Factory Diver

I´ve bought a factory diver helmet one month ago, I've made 15 jumps with it, and it was really comfortable; but today jumping, I landed safe and walking to the dropzone I slip on the grass with the helmet on my hand and it broke; I don´t know how it happen; because I was just walking and I fall really soft.

I couldn't believe that this helmet broke like this, and I don´t want to think what happen if I land badly and my head hits the floor, or the wing or whatever.

I don´t know if it is common to happen to other people, but I'm sure I wouldn't recommend this helmet to anybody,

I was told that this helmets used to be really good, that is why I bought it, but this NEW one is for sure the worst helmet I've ever seen.

I'd tried out this guy and the Z1 before buying a headgear, and let me say if you don't think you want a full face because it takes away from the experience, the FD doesn't give me that issue like the Z1 you still get the wind and sound, but less so, and it's way more convenient than goggles+helmet.

The lack of a flip up caused a bit of fogging for me on winter jumps, the small mouth hole didn't help, like any full face, if you are jumping in the cold it takes a bit to get used to breathing with just your mouth. the one other thing is there is no chin strap to hook it onto your chest strap in the plane, which just means you leave it on top of your head or in your lap, but its super easy and quick to put on and tighten, I LOVE the skylatch.

I've been jumping with a Factory Diver since off student staus. This helmet is very quiet and provides protection to the minor knocks to the noggin sustained in freefall or minor landing mishaps. The biggest downfall to this helmet is the occasional fogging of the visor, especially after opening, due to a non-flip visor.

Before I started buying gear, I tried on a number of helmets to see what would suit me best. I didn't like any of the full face helmets (with the visor in) because I felt trapped and my field of vision was restricted. The Factory Diver was the only full face I tried that offered a great peripheral view.

I recently bought a used Factory Diver, as winter is coming and even with the visor removed it's a lot warmer than my Bonehead. The inside audible pocket is a nice feature, too -- no duct tape required!

One day, I may be able to convince myself to jump with the visor installed, but I would still have the concern about it fogging up and not being able to fix the problem without removing the helmet entirely. So Sky Systems, are there any designs in the works for a flip-face Factory Diver? If so, I'm sold.

I bought my Factory Diver this year and started to "jump" it in an airpipe. The temperature was pretty low and people with half-shell helmets complained but my full-face helmet kept my nose warm :)
Since that I use it for every type of jump. In freefall it gives good vision, reduces noise and I found it very comfortable. My Solo audible fits into its small pocket just perfectly.
The only disadvantage is that the original visor I bought it with cracked when I first tried to fasten it into its place. I think it happens because the lens is not shaped to fit the helmet, it's just a more or less flexible piece of plexi. So I bought a new one and asked my rigger to put it in. I don't remove it but I try to keep it clean. It is worth to use a helmet bag and be careful not to touch the visor with your fingers. After 40 jumps it still looks like I'd put only 2-3 jumps in it.
I use it even for accuracy because I find it safer than a leather hat.
All in all Factory Diver is a good choice.

So i've been jumping a factory diver for the past 2000 or so jumps and literaly trust it with my life. I'm a competitive canopy pilot on the PST along with the organizer for the NWCPC and i've had some "hairy" rides where my factory diver prevented injury and in one case maybe even death. it's durable, comfortable, has great vision, and i think good looking.

i don't jump it with a visor any more just cause i like the wind on my face, but also they don't make a tinted visor which i prefer, which might be the only draw back.

thanks to Sky Systems

This was the only helmet I found where XXL really mean XXL and it fits nicely.
The rest of them are XXL in name only, but in reality they feel tight and uncomfortable.
Will vendors ever get it, that some of us need LARGER HELMETS, not just thiner liners in the same small shell?

The visor gets foggy in the plane and, because it's not a flip-up, I had to put the helmet on only after the door is up.

Eventually I just remove the visor and use goggles.

I've had my Factory Diver for 5 months now and have noticed that the visor started cracking.I'm also not convinced that the velcro fastening system is he way to go.The velcro wears out very quickly and doesn't really secure the helmet whilst in freefall.(Almost lost it last week).

Yes the Factory Diver is relatively cheap however I would recommend spending a bit more and getting real quality like a Havok.

Bought my helmet "used" about one year ago, and fell in love with it. Very well made and provides excellent protection without limiting my side view. The factory diver helmet fits like a glove and is very comfortable while in freefall. Never had any issues with it moving around or feeling loose since it fits very nicely. I do not wear the helmet with the visor, but instead wear a pair of googles underneath leaving the visor off...that way I can switch fast/easily between clear lens or dark lens goggles depending on the weather (sunny or cloudy). I have jumped with this helmet all winter long and endured 10-20F degree altitude temperatures and much colder wind chill temps....and my factory diver kept my head warm and my head/face never felt cold. I highly recommend this helmet. If I ever buy another helmet in the future...it will be a factor diver (even if I have to get another used one).

No complaints here, the helmet performs as well, or better (I think) for the price. The only drawback is that after those hot days, you can't take off the liner and wash it. You have to send the whole helmet in and it will take about 3-4 weeks to get it back with a new liner.

Bought the Factory Diver last year after getting tired of baclavas, scarfs and red noses. Really made a big difference in winter comfort. Never had a fogging problem as long as I breathed through the vents. I have worn it when the temperature at altitude was -40 with no problems whatsoever. definitly recommend it for rw.

I bought my factory diver while on one of my trips back to Phoenix, I bought it in Eloy at the Square 2 shop.

The wind and a dust storm prevented jumping that day. But since I got home to Austin I have jumped it a couple times from Skydive San Marcos, and it has made a huge difference with the enjoyment of my jumps. No more wind up my nostrils, and free-fall is much more quite so I can think better. I enjoy jumping 5x time more since buying the helmet.

I just noticed after my 2nd jump with it that it even has a pocket near the left ear for an audible/Pro-Track.. Very cool. I had wanted a Z1, but opted for the Factory Diver after reading about the Z1 liners coming loose.. I am very happy I went for the Factory Diver and would suggest it to anyone! =)

I like my factory Diver because its so comfortable and warm on those not so warm days.
But I do agree with the downside of it misting up if theres any moisture around, a jump not so long ago I was going thru cloud and it misted up bad, I couldnt see hardly anything under canopy and had to peer thru the gap where the visor sits over the mouth vent. That wasnt so nice. I have done over 150 jumps with it on tho and it doesnt happen that often. I am considering getting one with a flip up visor, but open face- no way jose. Full face is the best.

Had to sell my Factory Diver. It did not have a flip-up visor. In California it worked just fine. But when I moved to Alaska I began having troubles with lense's fogging. On the point when I was on the final approach ready for landing I could not see anything! That really scared me, so I got rid of it.

The Factory Diver is great for 2 reasons: It's simple, and it works. Visibility is great, you don't notice it in freefall. It's warm, and as long as you exhale through the vents... it doesn't fog up. I've jumped mine when it's been less than -25 degrees at altitude with no problems. They've also got their delivery time down to 4 weeks for custom orders. Troy even sent me a free t-shirt for telling him that I liked the helmet! Can't beat that!

I currently own a factory diver. It is the best thing going. I hear people having trouble with the lenses and in some cases the helmet coming off in free fall. I have three words for them, inspect your gear. All the world champion skydiving teams wear these helmets. I am sure it works well for them or they wouldn't be using them. You have very little noise and when the winter time comes your face and head are kept very warm. I hope the best to everyone.. Blue one.

I bought a factory diver carbon-fire helmet in 1997 because I thought it would offer some protection in four way jumping. I was completely disapointed very soon after I started jumping it. The helmet scratched so easily that it soon looked like it was ten years old. The visor was even less resistant to scratching and became very hard to see through after only a handful of jumps. After a few months of jumping it the visor actually blew right out while I was diving down on a formation load. I found out then how expensive the shields are and that they are only held in with a tiny piece of velcro. I quickly replaced it though and hoped it was only a fluke. Over the next little while I occasonally got hit in the face during training but the shots all went right through the cheap flimsy visor as if it wasn't even there. It simply bends in or falls out when hit with the slightest touch. If you don't believe me just try poking it with your finger sometime.

Anyway, None of these complaints really matter because in august of 1998 my helmet latch came undone and the whole helmet blew away at 7000ft. This is a week after installing new velcro. As you can probably guess, I did not buy another one because I believe they are a total ripoff and a false sense of security for people who think they have some level of protection. Hopefully someone will invent a better helmet someday. Until then I will jump without one.

Wayne Schreiber
Ontario, Canada

When I heard that Janet Gaylor was knocked unconscious in freefall and killed, I decided that it was time for me to set aside my trusty leather hat and try the full face helmet.

With the women's record attempts coming up, I went to our local gear store and tried on a number of helmets. The factory diver fit my head size and shape the best. I put a couple of test jumps on an Oxygen model and loved it. I ordered the standard factory diver without the flip up lens. I felt that if I had a flip up lens, I would end up touching the lens more and therefore scratching it up more quickly. My new helmet did not arrive in time for the "Jump for the Cause", so my gear store allowed me to borrow a demo for the event. (Thank you Square Two!!) I was glad that I had the demo model for the event because the flip up lens made it easy to manipulate the oxygen tubing for our higher altitude jumps. I'm very happy with the standard model for regular recreational relative work skydives. I have never had a need to keep the lens up (and I do wear it from take off til 1000 feet). My old "change resistant" friends suggested that the full face would make seeing the emergency handles more difficult, so I specifically checked that out. Visibility is actually much better than goggles, and view of the handles is not obstructed in any way. As the weather turnes colder, I'm looking forward to wearing my new helmet even more!!!! My only complaint was that delivery time was longer than I was told.

This summer after seeing someone knocked out in freefall (wearing a Protec) I decided to start looking at fullface helmets. I decided on a Factory Diver and was amazed at the different view it gave me on jumps. First its very quiet and with no wind on my face I seem less rushed. I have the flip lens version and would recommend it to anyone. A factory diver can change the way you jump, check it out.