a good read on brain injuries and new helmet technologies

[JenEM]

Thanks for sharing that article, JER. It was a wonderfully informative read, and I was excited to see a surgeon that a dear friend of mine had worked for/with cited, because I’ve talked with her about helmet safety on several occasions.

Hopefully by the time I’m ready to replace the CO I bought this spring, some of the new technology that’s coming out in the ski/bike helmets will have made its way over to riding helmets. I would love to see more safety options, rather than just options on what kind of expensive cover you’d like on your styrofoam.

[CindyCRNA]

[QUOTE=Countrywood;7253718]
Cone head technology helmet is used in the Matrix Helmet by Devon Aire, in the USA, Dover saddler etc carries it. $139 I am thinking of getting one.

Amazing that all the bigger more expensive brands are not incorporating it, I read Devon Aire has exclusive rights to the Conehead tech for riding helmets but how could such a thing be possible? Are the other companies just cheap and figuring they’ll keep selling their lines without it as long as they can?

The MIPS sounds terrific. Hope some of the equestrian companies will introduce it instead of getting by with old models year after year only changing the design.[/QUOTE]

I just bought a Matrix. I have an oval head and I was concerned it wouldn’t fit. It’s a little different looking and I wish it came down further in the back but I’m gonna give it a try.

[BlueLodge]

[QUOTE=Lori T;7262791]
Research has shown that spending $400 or $300 for a helmet is not going to protect your head any more than a $70 helmet. It should be about the protection and technology, not the bling![/QUOTE]

Totally agree!

[BlueLodge]

I like Tipperary’s, they have great back of the head coverage. Will definitely check out the DevonAire Prism in the spring. Equestrian helmet manufacturers need to match other sports in the latest safety technology, there’s too much succumbing to trends.

[frugalannie]

Speaking of which, check out the Xenith helmet. I saw a blurb about this company recently and I am intrigued by their approach. Currently only in use for football helmets. To gather data, they’ve donated helmets to a local high school or two (custom fitted for each kid). It will be interesting to see how this works, but if their technology is effective for football, it might have applications for equestrian sports.

[SGray]

thank you JER
this is an important post that deserves a sticky at the least and an article in the Chron would be a good thing

[Countrywood]

From what I read, the Uvex helmets have a crush zone foam layer inside.

[SGray]

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/snow-sports/snow-sport-helmets/Building-a-Better-Brain-Bucket.html

[lorilu]

Lori T, love the look of the helmet - I currently wear a Tipperary - but that dial-fit system - not for me. Have not found one that feels right.

[RubyTuesday]

[QUOTE=Lori T;7262791]
Bensmom, I think the best way to get these into the stores is for the consumer to start demanding them.
People want the Matrix, but the stores have been reluctant to carry them for a variety of reasons, including the style (which I don’t buy into, if you look at some of the other helmets on the market, the matrix is pretty tame compared to some!) and the price point.
We have addressed the price point and have dropped the price on the Matrix by $20.
I have 2 issues with some of my stores.
The first is that the buyer only buys what they like. This goes for breeches, boots, coats and helmets. It doesn’t matter that a certain pair of breeches is a big seller, if the buyer of a particular store doesn’t like it, they are not going to stock it.
The other issue regards some trainers, which I talked about here:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?419549-Spinoff-From-the-Helmet-Thread-Trainers-Who-Dictate-What-Riders-Wear
Trainers want their students to wear specific brands, regardless of fit or cost. It has gotten absolutely nuts. The consumer/rider has no say so in what they can wear. I am not saying all trainers are like this, but I do encounter this problem in most of my stores.
If you want this technology, you have to ask and demand it.
Devon-Aire has a 2nd helmet coming on the market in the spring with the cone-head technology. It retails for $99. Research has shown that spending $400 or $300 for a helmet is not going to protect your head any more than a $70 helmet. It should be about the protection and technology, not the bling![/QUOTE]

Sounds like people need to get their heads out of their derrieres and stop letting trainers lead them around by their noses. I follow my own counsel on keeping myself safe, and I see way too many trainers who STILL get on green horses without a helmet. These are people who one should always take with a grain of salt…start thinking for yourselves, people!

[Moderator_1]

[QUOTE=SGray;7269512]
thank you JER
this is an important post that deserves a sticky at the least and an article in the Chron would be a good thing[/QUOTE]

I’ll send a link to the thread in to the main office. Thanks for the tip!
Mod 1

[wildlifer]

Thanks, this was a really great article, well-written and asking good questions about sports and head injuries in general. I have seen a study the author referenced about how big cheap Styrofoam helmets often outperformed sleek, skinny, expensive helmets – we need a grad student to do a study on equine helmet brands! (Don’t look at me, my grad school days are long over)

[Synthesis]

Thank you SO MUCH, for putting this information out there!
I volunteer coach with the show team at my riding stable. :encouragement:

I just emailed every parent with a child on the team to:

• tell them about the technology improvement, complete with links to the research
• Recommend they contact their local tack store and REQUEST the helmets be ordered (if they are planning to go helmet shopping in the near future)
• Provided links to allow them to be able to purchase the helmets online if the local shops don’t want to special order these ones.

I also made certain that they know how much better the price point is than with the ‘trendy’ helmets. :winkgrin:

There are too many unnecessary brain injuries in this sport, the least I can do is help spread the word to help where I can.

[JenEM]

[QUOTE=Moderator 1;7270442]
I’ll send a link to the thread in to the main office. Thanks for the tip!
Mod 1[/QUOTE]

I have to think that an article in the Chronicle, with a reporter calling up and actually asking riding helmet manufacturers about this, would go a long way towards getting them to actually MAKE them for riders! Thanks, Mod1!

[Lori_T]

[QUOTE=JenEM;7271136]
I have to think that an article in the Chronicle, with a reporter calling up and actually asking riding helmet manufacturers about this, would go a long way towards getting them to actually MAKE them for riders! Thanks, Mod1![/QUOTE]

I know that Andres at Devon-Aire would be a great person to talk to regarding the Matrix and the conehead technology!

[Frizzle]

Question about the Matrix–how come I sometimes see it as Devon-Aire and sometimes as Ageis or something along those lines?
And why the heck isn’t that Back on Track helmet available anywhere other than Sweden?

[Lori_T]

[QUOTE=Frizzle;7271608]
Question about the Matrix–how come I sometimes see it as Devon-Aire and sometimes as Ageis or something along those lines?
And why the heck isn’t that Back on Track helmet available anywhere other than Sweden?[/QUOTE]

Aegis is a greek word that Devon-Aire came up with for their helmet line.
(which from wikipedia, it means…as stated in the Iliad, is the shield or buckler or breastplate of Athena and Zeus, famously bearing Medusa’s head, which, according to Homer was fashioned by Hephaestus "…there is your greek mythology lesson for the day!)
Unfortunately, many stores don’t use the Aegis label in their advertising and so it has gotten a bit confusing. Used to be all helmet boxes carried the Aegis name, but I believe they are phasing it out.

[Frizzle]

Thanks for clearing that up, Lori! :yes: I thought it was a whole different brand, because whenever I see Aegis, it doesn’t say Devon-Aire. But it looked like the same helmet to me, thus the confusion!

[runNjump86]

Think this will bring us any closer to getting a helmet rating system?

[SGray]

skiing helmet advances
http://www.pocsports.com/en/product/1654/skull-orbic-comp

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2579329/290-smart-HELMET-tells-damaged-protect-you.html