I recently killed my KEP which was super comfortable and did a great job protecting my head from a concrete wall on its second use (oh how I mourned the money from that but was thankful that it worked well). I’m replacing it with a samshield because a) they fit my head and b) they have a replacement policy. I’ve been drooling over the kask helmets but can’t bring myself to buy something that expensive without a replacement policy.
I’ve always (since some years in plastic helmet days) been a CO wearer. It’s just what fits. But yeah, hot and some of them aren’t easy to clean. I have an SP8 that is getting old and needs to be retired. I moved from the GR8 for cooler weather to the AYRBRUSH, which is comfortable and has a removable liner.
I was looking for a replacement for the SP8 since it has good sun coverage but is still quite hot, and I tried on a bunch of brands. I just could not get them to fit well. The only one that seemed to fit, was comfortable, much lighter weight and more breathable was KASK (with the lady brim for the SP8 similarity). I’m eyeing one on sale right now. Had the lightness of a bike helmet but the coverage of a horse helmet, and I kind of liked the neck support thingie. The liner is also removable and made of merino wool.
They don’t go down far enough in the back for my head
Kask has a crash replacement policy.
i have an IRH 4G velvet helmet that I got on consignment for $80 and I LOVE it!
i couldn’t find anything when I was looking.
My first helmet was definitely the 0 protection - plastic black velour style with a classy brown leather strap. I graduated to a black velour CO mushroom style hat that provided my brain more solid protection (pony jumpers). I had 2 GPA titanium’s, then a black and grey CO GR8 and found a chocolate and grey GR8 as well! Quite a few years later I found a beautiful Chocolate Brown GPA Speed Air on eBay. Recently I have purchased a GPA First Lady. I’m very satisfied with all!
I have pics of me riding in my Blue TraumaVoid EQ3 yesterday at this link. It’s a bit down the page I am wearing a pink top.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/xctrygirl/albums/72157665631111158
I’m somewhat surprised at the general lack of interest or talk about this helmet on the HJ board. Usually we’re all over new options and fashion items, and this bucket isn’t ugly (I mean, compared to what other manufacturers have out)! Seems like such a different/big step in safety innovation should get more attention, but oh well.
Love mine, I also got the blue smooth shell.
Cudo looks awesome by the way, hope to see you around at Upperville this year!
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I just booked our AirBnb…got the Friday off and am hoping that in 3 months we’ll be looking good. (LOTS to still figure out but going VERY well so far)
Fingers and toes all crossed. I do love this helmet though and I am a bit surprised too. Maybe if we make a thread titled… “Should I bedazzle my GPA or buy the new MIPS helmet?” 
Em
I’m very interested. I would like to know more about the safety features of this helmet. I remember that several years ago, DevonAire came out with a couple of helmet prototypes incorporating the “conehead” technology that was supposed to be much more likely to help prevent TBI; I was so excited and couldn’t wait to order the Prism (the other one, the Matrix, was too “out there” in appearance for me). I emailed the company probably 5 times over the course of a couple of years; they kept telling me it was about to come out, but it never did. I guess there wasn’t enough interest.
However, if this helmet is actually safer than others available, I might get one. The price point is pretty good.
I added this link to my post on the first page as well, but it’s worth repeating:
http://the900facebookpony.com/2018/0…ips-technology
@MsRidiculous did an interview and got some great info on the helmet, which you can find in her blog post, above. MIPS seems to be a well-regarded technology in other sports (cycling, motorcycle, and snow sports), and it’s coming into the horse world for the first time. Since I’ve had concussion issues in the past between my involvement in horses and ice hockey, I figured it was worth investing in. Seems like the next best thing compared to the conventional riding helmet, which as more or less tested on straight impacts and are designed to minimize skull fractures, not necessarily the rotational forces on the brain. Will it prevent all concussions? Absolutely not. But I figured if it can make some concussions less likely, or at least minimize or reduce severity, it’s worth my $250. Fingers crossed I don’t have to find out anytime soon!
There’s a MIPS helmet-specific thread already on the Eventing forum too:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/eventing/10020290-bot-brings-out-mips-helmets
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I’m a big fan of my One K helmet. I also have a GPA but I find myself reaching for the One K far more often.
From Xcountrygirl’s photos, it looks very similar to a matte OneK in appearance. Part of it may be that there hasn’t been much of an online PR push for it that I’ve seen on H/J social media. Part of it may be that there is less head trauma discussion generally on the HJ forum than on Eventing. Part of it, frankly, is that no one has seen anyone wearing it–put it on the heads of a few pros down in Welly World, and it’ll become A Thing.
Personally, while I’d be interested, I’m never going to buy a helmet without going to a store to try it on first. And I haven’t seen anyone offering it where I can put it on my head, or even information on round versus oval fit.
OP: After more than a decade in various CO models, I’m in a OneK (oval fit) and really love it. So much cooler in the summer than the COs. Barnmates with rounder heads have the Samshields and love them, too.
I had a One K but it gave me major bobble head. Used it for one year until the GPA Little Lady came out and switched over! Super comfortable and secure on my head + compliments my head shape and face shape too.
I also switch out to an IRH equipro while at home from time to time too.
Thanks. I looked at the blog post and also read through the thread on the Eventing forum, which also includes a place to get the helmet for a bit less than at Back on Track. I am seriously considering it. Thanks for posting. I am all about safety! I even show in a vest in the hunter ring.
Edit: I just ordered one from the TooTacky site for $199.20 with free shipping. Will review when it comes if anyone’s interested.
:winkgrin:
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I know it’s not common, but I love my Uvex helmet. It’s a German-made helmet and it’s adjustable. I really like it. https://www.uvex-sports.us/performance/ They also make helmets for skiing, cycling, etc.
Ingrid Klimke wears Uvex. 
https://www.uvex-sports.us/performance/klimke/
I keep trying to get a different helmet, but I keep going back to the CO AYR8 because it fits my head the best.
Samshield was not quite oval enough and dug into my forehead. I have tried on several since in various sizes and I have had the same problem.
One K is slightly better, but still not quite oval enough. I’d like to try the long oval, but we’d have to special order it at work.
CO JR8 didn’t fit my head either. Oval enough, but too narrow side to side.
GPA Speed Air fits, but the First Lady looked stupid and did not fit at all (way too round).
Good points and understood…just color me surprised anyway, because in a long history on this forum, usually stuff is up and discussed before I even knew it existed.
And everyone is different regarding their purchase preferences. Personally, I am comfortable returning/exchanging if something doesn’t fit, so not having a brick and mortar store to try the helmet on wasn’t a huge deterrent for me (especially after researching how it seemed to fit shape/size wise). If I had to pop it back in the mail because the fit was bad, then that’s a minor inconvenience I was willing to risk, and I get my money back anyway. Not like I was lighting money on fire for absolutely no reason.
Many of my friends are interested, but are waiting until local shops carry it, or will be trying it on at (the event formerly known as) Rolex next month. And that’s perfectly fine if that’s where their comfort zone is. For those that might be interested in ordering without trying it on, there is a lot of feedback on shape/fit in the Eventing thread, including feedback from BOT staffers of varying head shapes/sizes who were trying it out.
Yay @Dewey - bargain shopping like a BOSS!! 
@Dewey HUGE THANKS!!! I just bought a backup in Brown microfiber for daily use. The Blue one is SOOOOO pretty I want to keep it clean.
They had disabled that link when I had asked BoT why they couldn’t lower their prices to match Too tacky’s. LOL I think we both should be prepared that they may come back and say we either need to pay more or that they don’t have it.
But I’m hoping that it will go through.
Em
