After having my third surgery on my head/skull/neck, I was wondering if any new helmets have come out that go really low in the back. I currently have the Tipperary T2 but it doesn’t fit my head perfectly so I’m curious if there are any new great helmets out there with a very low back profile. I saw the Devon Aire Matrix but I can’t quite tell how that back actually fits? Thanks for any suggestions!
The Matrix does not come down very low. Definitely stay away from Uvex! It’s not low at all, and it’s one that has actually caused me pain. Honestly, my Tipperary Sportage has been my favourite as far as coverage on the back of the skull. I would assume that the Sportage and the T2 fit the same, though.
Devon-aire also has another helmet, the Spectrum.
http://www.devonaire.com/Devonaire-1019-Spectrum-Adult-Helmet-Brand-0-CPath-5-pid-1333.html
I haven’t seen it in person, so can’t speak to how it fits, but I could shoot my rep an email and see what she has to say. She might even send me one.
They’re also coming out with a new Prism.
http://www.devonaire.com/Devonaire-1017-Prisim-%26quot%3Bpatented-Conehead-technology%26quot%3B-Helmet--Brand-0-CPath-7_28-pid-1330.html
Release date not announced.
Have you looked at any of the new Troxels?
https://www.horseloverz.com/product/helmets/926258-troxel-intrepid-helmet.html
My International Riding Helmet is low in the back and fits like a comfy, snug glove. I love it and would recommend it any day.
I would not recommend a Troxel. I started out with one of them and suffered headaches after every use. Then I got my IRH and haven’t even considered changing.
I haven’t seen the newest models, so I don’t know if they still have it, but the older GPA SpeedAirs had a neck pad that extended below the back of the helmet. I took one heck of a fall last year - horse swam through the oxer “in” of a 2-stride in a 1.40m class, flipped me out of the tack, and then jumped the “out” vertical with me clinging to his side like a monkey, and I fell HARD a stride or two after landing. I hit so hard the helmet cracked right up the back and I had the air knocked out of me (I was hesitant to move even after the EMTs checked me out). I somehow miraculously felt fine the next day and didn’t even have bad whiplash. I credit my SpeedAir and that little neck pad with that, though it could, of course, just have been the luck of how I hit.
Charles Owen is the only one that even comes close to feeling like it goes low enouhh. The AYR-8 not the Jr-8
I have a JR8 that comes low on my head. I have a small head, though, so maybe that is why.
Have you considered getting an air vest?
PNWJumper beat me to it - if you can find one, there were some GPAs that had extra protection in the neck area. The Air S is the model that I was thinking of: http://www.tackroominc.com/gpa-pro-series-air-skin-helmet-p-8223.html
Regarding the troxels mentioned earlier, I had one for schooling a couple years ago. Although I found that it was quite comfortable, it did not come down very far at all. I don’t have much experience with them, but the GPAs look like they have excellent coverage in the back/neck area.
Perhaps a skull cap would have better nape protection? I don’t know what exactly constitutes nape protection as a lot of the ones that come up just seem to show a lower cut harness?
The Charles Owen J3 and Wellington are the only helmets I have found that sit low on the back of my head.
That GPA speed air looks very interesting and might work. I had taken a look at the CO skull caps before my second surgery and they didn’t go loe enough. I’m missing an area of my lower skull and portion of my top vertebra so I need the most padding/protection available!
I was going to write a column about this and interviewed the head of Charles Owen, who is passionate about brain injury research. He said there is disturbing new evidence that that part of the head needs even more protection than other parts. I’m guessing the company will be addressing this at some point with a helmet that has more padding in that area. In the meantime, if a Charles Owen helmets fit you, that’s what I would go with. That’s what I wear, and I’ve had my share of head injuries.
Jody, do you know which of their helmets go the lowest down the neck?
I know there are a lot of factors that probably lead to my concussion, but I got a concussion in a troxel, and I have always been find in my IRH helmets. I now have a Tipperary as I wanted as much head coverage as possible.
LoriW,
No I don’t know. I would guess that there isn’t much difference in how low they go between models. But I could be wrong, that’s not a question I’d asked.
Can you get to a tack store to try them on, to see which model fits you the best? Or you can write to them via their website. They are quick to reply.
I do know that their highest-rated helmet gets that rating because the shell is made stronger to withstand a horse’s shoe on your head, as opposed to it offering more coverage.
Good luck. Have you seen the inflatable bike helmets? Talk about lower head coverage:)
I will write them - thanks everyone for all the wonderful advice!
Tipperary’s by far.
[QUOTE=jody jaffe;7930567]
I was going to write a column about this and interviewed the head of Charles Owen, who is passionate about brain injury research. He said there is disturbing new evidence that that part of the head needs even more protection than other parts. I’m guessing the company will be addressing this at some point with a helmet that has more padding in that area. In the meantime, if a Charles Owen helmets fit you, that’s what I would go with. That’s what I wear, and I’ve had my share of head injuries.[/QUOTE]
I took your suggestion and contacted Charles Owen directly. After emailing with both the UK and US reps, I got a recommendation from their managing director in the UK! I’m supposed to look at the 4 Star Skull Helmet as it will offer my “involved parts” the most protection! Very impressed that they took the time to really help me with this issue and will go try the helmet as soon as I’m healed!
Thanks everyone for your help! I’ll let you know his it works out.
We’ll I went to Dover today and the smallest 4Star they had was a 6 7/8 and it was way too big! I tried a couple more then realized it’s too soon from my surgery to be trying helmets on - god awful painful. Need some more healing before I can do this. But, the Tipperary definately does go the farthest down in the back so I may just have to pad it up.
