Helmet for my enormous head?

[CaitlinandTheBay]

I came off today (while lazily walking bareback on my 24 yr old :lol:) and bonked my head hard. Luckily, I had on my Tipperary Sportage. Since I have it such a good wack, I need to replace it (the outer shell got cracked).

I never loved the fit of the helmet. It pressed on the front and back of my head, slightly. But, it held my long hair and obviously did its job. I had to get an XL though for it to fit my head and hair (I’m a hairnet fanatic). My old IRH fit much better. Not sure if that means I have a round or oval head.

So, I’m sending it to the COTH experts. Any recommendations for a stylish helmet that will fit my 23" head, atrocious amount of hair, and won’t break the bank? We don’t have any local tack shops, so I’ll have to purchase online.

[alibi_18]

If your head is rounder, I would try GPA.
If not, Charles Owen would be your best bet.

[CanteringCarrot]

I had a Sportage XL and felt the same way. I also had an IRH fit me well many years ago. I recently bought a Uvex Perfexxion II and it is by far the best helmet I’ve ever put on my head. Charles Owens was ok, but this one fits so well, and doesn’t have as much bulk. The dial system in the back is nice too. I do not wear my hair in my helmet anymore, so I’m not sure how that would work.

[Highflyer]

I really like the Ovation schooler helmets.

[Bluey]

Tipperary is for oval heads, doesn’t fit me, I have tried them.

Troxel fits round heads, it does mine, if you need one more option.

Glad your head is ok.
A hit to split a helmet must have been a big hit!

[WendellsGirl]

I have a giant pumpkin head. My favorite helmet over the years was my Lamicell. GPAs fit round heads great but are pricey. CO has a version for round heads, the Wellington, but it is pricier too. Unfortunately it seems most schooling helmets are made for ovals.

[TheHotSensitiveType]

The Tipperary Sportage pressed just a little bit on my forehead which became more and more uncomfortable the longer I wore it (talking after ~1.5 hours it got uncomfortable). I tried a Tipperary Sportage Hybrid Helmet which fits wonderfully! I expected the same fit since it is the same brand, but nope!

I have a giant head with very few helmet options…

[CaitlinandTheBay]

@TheHotSensitiveType

The Tipperary Sportage pressed just a little bit on my forehead which became more and more uncomfortable the longer I wore it (talking after ~1.5 hours it got uncomfortable). I tried a Tipperary Sportage Hybrid Helmet which fits wonderfully! I expected the same fit since it is the same brand, but nope!

I have a giant head with very few helmet options…

This is good to know! I’m hoping to not spend an arm and leg because I don’t want to be tempted to not replace it when I fall again. However, I (vainly) don’t want to look like an updowner with a $25 bucket on my head (already done that :lol:). I’ll have to look at the hybrid. Did you purchase the same size?

@Bluey

Tipperary is for oval heads, doesn’t fit me, I have tried them.

Troxel fits round heads, it does mine, if you need one more option.

Glad your head is ok.
A hit to split a helmet must have been a big hit!

I got launched into a pipe fence post. Six inches either way and it probably would have been a minor fall. I’m so very glad I had my helmet on. I’m at a new barn and many of the “cool” adults don’t wear them. I almost didn’t grab mine yesterday because we were just walking around and my boy is typically a saint. Luckily, there were several juniors in the barn. I don’t ever get on without a helmet when they’re around because I want to set a good example.

Good tip tip about Troxels! I rode in one as a jr and it fit well- guess i have a round head.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

Another vote for Troxel. I loved the look of the Tip Sportages and bought one, but it pressed on my forehead so that I had a headache within an hour. I never have this problem with Troxels.

[x-halt-salute]

The Ovation schooling helmets look way nicer than the “$25 bucket on my head” schooling helmets, IMO, and only about double that price point – cheap enough for remorseless replacement after a fall. They now have an L/XL size that fits up to 7 5/8 hat size. Ovation seems to be somewhere between oval and round in fit. For my huge, moderately oval head it has been the best cheapo option, but to be perfectly honest I now avoid dial-fit helmet styles with a truly enormous head (having to open up dial all the way every time you put the helmet on = dial mechanisms wear out = I quickly lose trust in their ability to protect my noggin).

I’ve ended up thinking that Charles Owen is the best overall fit for a huge oval-ish but not super long oval head. OneK Defender is a little rounder but still do-able with an XL head that isn’t as perfectly round as a Troxel. I’ve had each of these recently and for daily riding find the comfort worth the extra money over a plasticky schooling helmet. I guess it depends on how your scales balance when you weigh style vs. price vs. comfort, and that is always an individual decision.

If you had pressure on the front and back of your head in a Tipperary, though, I wonder if your head truly is round… Tipperary tends to fit fairly oval and you’d expect pressure at the sides, not front and back, if the helmet is too oval. Is there anywhere you could try a few different brands on to get a better sense of shape?

[DoubleDown]

I’m the same size as you, and I wear Charles Owen, they fit me great, and are super safe.

If you like Tipperary, they are coming out with a new line around May that is a similar look to the One K and Samshield helmets at a $189 price point, higher than what they have had, but still not the Samshield price point. They’ll also have some crush protection like the CO. I tried one on, and it fit amazing.

[ChestnutArabianMare]

I also have a rather round, large head with a lot of hair (7 1/4 inch hat) and a large Troxel fits like a glove. In the last couple of years, they’ve come out with some much more flattering styles than the old “bucket on your head” they used to be. Personally, since I trail ride, I like fun patterns, but the fit of their new helmets is also very slimming.

This is the one I have:
https://www.troxelhelmets.com/products/rebel?variant=8365122627

[mswillie]

Another vote for Troxel. I tried on the Tipperary and it pressure on the front and back of my head. Had it on long enough to take it off. Absolutely a no-go for me. The Troxel OTOH fits wonderfully and at around $100.00 I won’t be tempted to not replace it when I need to.

[PNWjumper]

I have a bunch of Ovation schooler helmets for both me and my daughter. I also have more expensive helmets that I show in (GPA and Samshield), but I decided a while ago that I wanted to ride daily in helmets that I would actually replace if either of us took a tumble. And actually, the Ovation helmets are nice enough looking that I’ve shown in them quite a bit also.

But I don’t know what 23" is equal to in helmet size. I wear a 7 3/8 and the Ovation helmets are just big enough on the biggest setting. So if 23" is more than that, they may not work.

[furlong47]

@TheHotSensitiveType

The Tipperary Sportage pressed just a little bit on my forehead which became more and more uncomfortable the longer I wore it (talking after ~1.5 hours it got uncomfortable). I tried a Tipperary Sportage Hybrid Helmet which fits wonderfully! I expected the same fit since it is the same brand, but nope!

I have a giant head with very few helmet options…

I had the same experience. My last Sportage (the 8500 version) would press on my forehead a bit and after a period of time it would start to hurt. (I did not have that issue with my first two Sportages, which were the original version with the tan part in the back.) I have the Hybrid now and no longer have that issue.

[TheHotSensitiveType]

@CaitlinandTheBay

This is good to know! I’m hoping to not spend an arm and leg because I don’t want to be tempted to not replace it when I fall again. However, I (vainly) don’t want to look like an updowner with a $25 bucket on my head (already done that :lol:). I’ll have to look at the hybrid. Did you purchase the same size?

I did purchase the same size! If you have a rounder head but still a bit oval (sorry…that really does not make a lot of sense!), a One K Defender might fit you. The One K put some pressure on my forehead, but since I couldn’t return it, I kept using it. I was wearing this helmet the time I came off of my horse and bonked my head, and I was a bit too happy to throw it out! It did its job well though.

[Natalie_A]

So my favorite helmet has always been the Sportage, I had one or two original ones, tried on a Hybrid at the tack store and seemed to like it as well. But… I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to rock that in the show ring? I have a tiny head, but apparently it’s a odd shape - most helmets were too big in general (the OneK literally covered my ears!) but also tended to sit too high for my liking (the IRH I just returned) - just ordered an Ovation, I’m hoping the dial-fit will be my key and it looks show-appropriate. If I wasn’t worried about cost some of the fancy COs would probably work, but I just think I’d be irrationally worried about damaging it. I liked the JR8 but have body temp regulation issues and the no air flow worried me… hoping the Ovation is the solution, until then I’m in my Troxel Sierra which actually doesn’t look too bad from afar…