I know there’s a few helmet posts out there, but I’m looking for some specific helmet help. I have an oval shaped head, take a size 59 or 7 1/4, and have been riding in a GPA titanium forever (have replaced over the years when needed). I love them and they fit great and are the only thing that don’t make me look like a bobble head doll, but I want more protection for my head and want to get one with MIPS tech. I’ve tried the Charles Owens years ago and not only did the make my head look enormous they sat on top of my head rather than around it. Can you guys/gals tell me about the MIPS helmets you have pros and cons? Good fit is most important but so is ventilation, I wear my helmet for many hours everyday and its HOTTT and heat headaches suck!
Come join and ask on my new MIPS Information Facebook group.
We have reps in the group for many of the brands and there’s a lot of folks out there that can chime in with their experiences.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MIPSHelmets/
We’re at 301 members so far, but there’s always room for more.
Em
The back on track Tauma void has 2 different liners, one is designed specifically for oval heats. I also have an oval head size 58 and it fits me really well.
To clarify it’s the EQ3 that has 2 liners. The Lynx does not.
If anyone goes to try an EQ3 in a store, please please please do try it with both liners just to ensure that you know that the helmet definitely does or doesn’t fit. And don’t be afraid to try going up or down a size if it seems like that might help.
Em
Thanks for the added info! I was able to try it on at WEG with a representative helping test the fit. If I hadn’t tried on the other liner it wouldn’t have fit. I’m on my second, took a fall cracked the back of my head into frozen gravel and maintained consciousness and walked away without any major head trauma or concussion. I’ll never ride in a reg helmet again!
I have a pretty long oval head (like, the long oval One K was still way too round for me :lol:) and my “perfect fit” helmet is a Charles Owen GR8. The Tipperary Sportage also fits me very comfortably and nicely. I bought a Trauma Void Lynx, and it’s…passable. I do sort of wish I’d gone up a size…I’m usually a 7 1/8 so was right on the “medium” side of medium and large. It doesn’t hurt, but now that I’ve had the helmet for a bit, it’s not what I would consider super comfy, and leaves an awesome imprint on my forehead when I take it off. Now that it’s 1 million degrees out, I’m wearing my Sportage because it’s so light I forget I have it on. But, it’s a nice helmet…I might very well like it more if I’d just bought the darn large. The Charles Owen MIPS also looked weird on me too and while a nice quality helmet, was heavy and bulky feeling.
Talk to Adams Horse Supply or Rider’s Warehouse. They have more of the brands you have not tried yet.
Champion and Tipperary.
Em
@Natalie, you and I are the same person! My perfect fit helmet is the IRH Elite Extreme long oval. My head measures 58.5 cm (so in between 7 1/8 and 7/14). I have two EQ3s–the 58 is VERY SNUG and the 59 with the oval liner in it is better. I was looking at getting a Lynx but a review on SmartPak from another person who is in between sizes like us said it was hopeless, the Medium wouldn’t fit all the way down onto her head and the Large wouldn’t adjust snug enough.
I also tried on the Charles Owen MIPS and the thing was ENORMOUS. Like the old mushroom head helmets from the '80s.
The Champion Ventair helmets are quite oval.
I have a weird fit issue as well. I have a size 58 EQ3 that I use with the oval liner, and after about an hour it hurts my forehead BUT ALSO if something jarring happens (like a really awkward jump on a greenie) it slips down my forehead over my eyes, which doesn’t bode well for it protecting me in a fall. So it’s like it’s too big and too small at the same time. Unfortunately my local tack shop has zero MIPS helmets so I guess I have to do some research and order a bunch to try. IRH used to be my favorite.
