Z1

Bought a Z1 helmet 8 jumps ago, and I'm loving it so far!

It's warm, the visor doesn't fog up, and there's a lot less noise from the wind. Because of this I feel more focused during the jump, hear my audible altimeter a lot better (there are pockets for 1 on each side of the helmet), and cold air doesn't bother me nearly as much.

The helmet itself is basically one-size-fits-all; the actual size of the helmet is determined by the liner (fabric) on the inside, which can be replaced. I've heard some people that had some trouble with the sizing - apparently not every shape of head fits perfectly in this helmet. Would I recommend it? Yes! However, if you're buying it online I would recommend trying one on before you order it (either from a friend, or in a store).

The only downside, is that it's a bit tricky opening the visor with gloves on (although not impossible, just takes me a few seconds).

I like it better than my factory diver, but only because the visor opens. Fit is about the same.

I bought a Z-1 used from DZ, sized per the manufacturers chart.
I'm 6'2" and have a 24" head so I needed an XXL.
The helmet looked nicely made, but fit my face really tight.

My nose just hit the inside of the visor, my lower jaw was pushed back and I couldn't talk at all (painful), and the sides pressed hard on my cheekbones.

It fit the top, back and sides of my head nicely - it seems that it is designed for more narrow faces.

Fortunately it was really easy to re-sell at the local DZ - but the purchaser thought that it had a snug facial area fit too.

I love my helmet as it actually fits my weird head, and shields my face from rain in the tropics. yes, it is not cool falling through rain.

the biggest pain in the ass was me trying to replace the padding with the original from parasport.

order took 3 weeks to ship, and they made a mistake in the address - a very SILLY typo, resulting in the package being returned to them. instead of checking if they have entered the right address, they told me that I have given them a wrong address and insistently asked for a new address.

all was revealed when they sent a photograph of the label on the package. but it took another 4 emails with highlighted text showing them where they messed up, and still counting.

NOT WORTH the pain...

I was really excited to open the box and see my brand new Z1 in metalic blue.

I was really disappointed to see the defects in layup of the helmet such as grinding marks, pitting etc. I was even more disappointed with the hair, dust and other inclusions in the paint as well as the incomplete coverage and inconsistent pattern of the metal flake.

I should have bought a carbon fibre.

This helmet can take a hit if you leave the visor up it will still be there and I have been kicked in the face more than once and my helmet still latches just fine and it's tough I bounced off the step and it didn't break

I am a freeflyer. I have grown used to helmets that are very quiet while in freefall, this one however is not. Don't get me wrong, this is a great product. However, if you are looking for something that lets in a little less noise, this is not for you.

Just baught mine, had a bad landing first use, face first into hard ground, this Helmet saved my head, visor smashed and has a few scratches, liner easily removed and washed, didnt loose shape. Great helmet !

i recieved my CAT about a year ago and bought my helmet as soon as i got my B licence. i found it very comfortable, and very strong. ive had a couple of bad landings and the helmet has survived well, apart from a few scratches. the only downside is that the back of my helmet is very scratched from head jamming on larger aircraft doors

I love mine, it fits well and keeps my head warm. When I first used it the visor opened in freefall but that was because I hadn't snapped it shut before exiting the plane. I thought it was closed but you have to actually feel or hear the button on the chin "snap." The pull tab on the back is used just to reduce the cold air from reaching the head, not to keep the Z1 from falling off. The chin strap is required to use---of course. The size can be changed just by using different sized padding. Very convenient.

I got my Z1 over a year ago and put about 150 jumps on it. I have had no major problems with it at all. I only had it pop open once in freefall, after receiving a hard kick to the face that i think would have knocked me out if it wasn't for the helmet. The few times that I've left the plane without closing it, I've been able to shut it in freefall, no problem. Never had a problem with the liner, or the latch for the faceshield.

The paint on it seems to scratch easily, but a wet rag removes 90% of the scratches, which apparently are just surface scratches.
The only problem I have with it is that its almost impossible to talk to people when you are wearing it. But i think this is just a general fullface problem.

Both a DZO and myself experienced helmet falling off after opening on more than one occasion. Luckily she caught hers and I did not.

The helmet felt snug before leaving the plane as all straps were tightened. A hard opening caused a whiplash effect, resulting in the back of my head slipping out of the helmet.

A year ago this happened and I was fortunate enough to catch it.

This has happened to AerOhio DZO and USPA Midwest Representative, Sherry Butcher.

Moreover, what if I had fallen and the helmet came off; how much protection could that really give someone?

Mentioning protection, the helmet does not provide that much coverage of the cerebellum, mendulla and spinal cord- the lower back part of the head. This area of the brain controls vital life skills, motor skills and coordinationl.

The most disappointing thing, so far, is that the face shield cracked after 6 jumps, starting just above the hole for the latch. The chin strap cuts into my neck, which I knew before I bought it --not too bad, but I don't fasten it until just before exit. Downward visibility toward the handles is a bit limited, such that seeing a chest mount altimeter takes an effort. This is also true on the other full-face helmets I've tried.
I have to open the face shield quickly after canopy opening, or my eye glasses will fog. It makes for warmer jumping in the winter, but I don't jump in extreme cold.

I have been using my Z1 for several jumps now and have found it to be quiet and best of all comfortable. It keeps your face warm and covered on those frigid mornings and fits well. After I deploy, I flip up the visor, but your range of vision is not impaired by the fact that it is a full face. I have recommended it to many people! Enjoy!

What can I say, it's comfortable, Good for cold weather, Easy to flip the visor ,once deployed,
Haven't had any probs with the liner. Looks cool in headdown and quiet.
And it's nice to shut out those unpleasent odours on the way up.If you know what I mean.
And I can change my visor when I want, Tint , clear
It's alittle warm in plus 100 degree's, but then you can take it off for the ride up.

Just bought the helmet last week-end.

Second jump with it got a nasty "riser slap" and started seeing little stars...
The paint / plastic has a nice scratch from the riser ... it is there if you know where to look. But the helmet is still in one piece - no cracks, and it didn't leave my head. My neck is still pink and a little sore under the helmet line, but my ears are in place and i am happy about it. Highly recommended !

I love my Z1.......

It fits well, it's comfy, it's warm in winter, it opens/closes well, the lining is removeable therfore easy to wash.

On a downside, the delivery time was very slow (aprox 3 months!)

i have been jumping the Z-1 helmet since march 1997(900+jumps)and i have not had the problems that i have read in some of these reviews posted here. I think part of the problem is some dont understand that the collar adjustment in the back is designed to set once and leave it. also i have seen the change they made to the opening/closing pin on the front for the visor and i think they should have kept the design they used for my helmet (metal pin) instead of the varios plastic designs since. as far as the glue-no problems.
in regards to the shell itself mine as well as almost every helmet i have seen have cracks and that could be made better.But remember the helmet should absorb shocks and if it cracks and your head does'nt then it has done its job.

It's quiet, warm, and secure. The visor stays in place, even during more radical maneuvers. The liner does get a little loose, but not enough to matter. Highly recommended.

When this helmet is new, it's unbeatable. But if you read the rest of the posts, you may want to go to www.amazon.com and order a glue gun before they go out of business. And maybe before Parasport does! The other BIG problem with the liner is that the pocket for the altimeter doesn't have a closing flap. I lost my Pro-Track walking back from a windy-spot landing in a field last weekend, and the Pro-Track costs more than the helmet does! Couldn't they put in a ten-cent closing flap?

Other than that, it's a fantastic helmet.

David

As a 8 way team, we all had the Cool&Groovy Fridge helmets. They Broke if you remember them. Then we bought Factory Divers when they just came out ( non flip visor ). Always problems with vapour on the visors. Then we changed to Z1 when it first came out ( first generation ). All of us still have it after 4 years of intensive use. One of us had the fabric collar come loose and glued it again. Two other mounted a special camera plate on it ( side and top ) no problems. I've jumped it for more than a thousand jumps now, it is a very good helmet. I fergot to close the latch on a C-130 exit in Thailand WT99, closed in in freefall, no problems at all. Mine is full of scratches from touching metal aircaft parts on climbout or exit, but it's made for protection and comfort, not for show.
It's the best helmet i've had/tested till now, and my teammates say the same ( we have 31000 jumps all together )

I've read all of the reviews claiming problems with the liners with much interest. I decided to buy a Z1 despite these reviews because I liked the features, and also because I've not heard of the Z1 openning in flight. I've only had my Z1 for about six months and put about 35 jumps on it. I have yet to see any problems starting to develop with the liner seperating.

Some things I don't do. I don't rip the helmet off my head without loosening the elastic cuff. I also don't hang the helmet from my chest strap using the safety chin strap. I also don't crank down the chin strap since it is only there as a safety. I love the helmet. Nice and warm, deadens the sound very well. It protected me when the otter hit turbulence as I was falling away and smacked me square on the jaw.

I bought a used Z1. Yeah, right, now I'm carrying a gluegun with me. But that does not bother me much. I still love it MUCH better than a factory diver that I owned before. Here is why : the chin strap is way more secure than that tiny piece of velcro that SkySystem is using; I am using the Z1 for freefly. Can any of you, factorydivers and oxygens users do the same ? Nope, the visor just flips wide open in freefall. Nothing like that happens with my Z1. I also love the washable liner!

After reading the other reviews I immediately checked mine to realize that wind collar is also starting to separate. I love the qualities this full face offers; however the plastic screws have become a source of concern. After crash testing the face shield :p the screw popped out and the shield partially detached. It is obvious this flimsy part will not take much wear and tear before breaking; metal would have been a wiser material choice. I have had it fog up a couple of times, not to bad though. However on this past, and particularly COLD new years eve jump, just as I turned to track away from a formation the whole face shield frosted over in a split second leaving Zero visability. This was a slightly unnerving situation. I own a size medium which fits nice and snug, though after placing a pro-track in it quickly became uncomfortable. Given these draw backs I still feel it is a good helmet and would buy another, though I think for the cost this helmet could be constructed a little better.

The first problem was the neck liner has repeatedly separated from the bottom of the helmet. The original glue lasted no longer then 20 jumps. I've glued it three times now with varying success, I've found a hot-glue gun works best. Secondly the lense began separating from the visor frame after about 40 jumps. Again, hot glue has fixed this, but I doubt it'll last. Thirdly, the paint has simply de-laminated around the chin-guard, presumably from taking the helmet off and putting it on. These are not scraches, simply the paint peeling off.

Which brings me to another point, when the paint does peel off (and it will, trust me), you'll learn that underneath that stylish coat of paint is a very white piece of plastic, that looks gaudy when the paint starts peeling.

Lastly, I've recently had dificulty keeping the visor closed. I push it closed, it bounces open. Push, bounce. Push, bounce. Push, bounce. Slam, click! However, once it does get closed it has tended to stay that way during freefall, it's ONLY saving grace. I'm frustrated with the Z1 because the visor system seems to be the best out there, but the manufacturing process has so many issues I just can't in good concience recomend this helmet to ANYBODY. The quality simply is just not there.