I’m writing the next column about building a better helmet. How would you change yours? What would make it more effective? More comfortable? And we’ll just forget about more flattering:)
thanks
Jody Jaffe
A heat-moldable insert of shock absorbing foam made to fit the exact shape of my head which is then installed into the outer shell/harness.
Such already exists for ski boots.
Bowler and Top Hat style.
Yes, really.
mildots idea sounds excellent.
As does using lighter weight materials, (i’m referring to the traditional hunt cap style) Wearing a heavy helmet out foxhunting tends to be fatiguing, even when we’re used to it. For people with arthritis… it’s more than fatiguing.
A good way to be able to wash/clean out the sweaty inside.
I love the way my Tipperary helmet fits, but hate that it is not easy to clean the sweat and dirt out.
Other helmet styles that have a removable liner, don’t fit my head shape as well.
I like Midlot’s idea of shaping to the individual’s head.
[QUOTE=JSwan;6006247]
Bowler and Top Hat style.[/QUOTE]
How uber cool would that be?
+1 My hunt style helmet (IRH) is noticeably heavier than my schooling helmet (Tipperary).
Carbon fiber is ultra light and very expensive, though.
these are great suggestions. thanks so much. i hope to talk to helmet engineers at various companies and i’ll ask about these intriguing ideas.
jj
Please ask them not to abandon the traditional style - some of these funky new helmets look like something out of a bad sci fi movie. I know folks in other disciplines might really focus on trendy, fashionable colors and designs… foxhunters aren’t generally into that stuff. Not for hunting.
[QUOTE=JSwan;6006377]
Please ask them not to abandon the traditional style - some of these funky new helmets look like something out of a bad sci fi movie. I know folks in other disciplines might really focus on trendy, fashionable colors and designs… foxhunters aren’t generally into that stuff. Not for hunting.[/QUOTE]
Yes, there is absolutely no reason why an advanced, highly technical helmet cannot also be a traditional velvet covered helmet.
[QUOTE=JSwan;6006247]
Bowler and Top Hat style.[/QUOTE]
They are starting to be made. The Dutch company L’Hiver rolled out a dressage top-hat helmet with a harness earlier in 2011.
http://www.lhiver.nl/productgroep/9/50/hats_safety_hat.html
I may not have the most up to date information, but I don’t think this helmet has gotten all of the safety approvals yet, but it is a start. They are handmade and pricey ($1,300-$3,800, according to one report).
I’ve never seen one in person, but Mr. Bobbin makes a certified bicycle helmet shaped like a bowler with a harness:
http://www.bobbinonline.co.uk/Mr-Ben-Bowler-Helmet
I always wondered if it would serve as a safe-yet-traditional looking riding helmet, but I’m not spending 225 pounds sterling to find out. 
Someone that makes Pegasus helmets said they were working on a bowler/top hat design too. But I don’t know if it’s off the drawing board.
Maybe these folks should send samples to Jody - she can try them out and write about them in her article.
Folks made jokes about “mushroom” head ASTM helmets when they came out - but I’ve noticed said helmets have now become a hot fashion item.
A traditional looking, velvet-covered helmet–with lots of vents underneath the velvet!
I just spent more $$ than I really wanted to on a CO AYR8, because it fit my head the best, had vents (necessary–really–if I don’t want heat exhaustion here in FL) and looked the closest to traditional of the vented options. Still considering getting a velvet cover for it…
I wonder if they could make a helmet with vents and perhaps a bowler cover and a top hat cover that would fit over the helmet? It would probably be too bulky, but perhaps not, since the bowler/top hat portion would be purely cosmetic.
And I like Grasshopper’s suggestion of vents under the velvet. My motorcycle helmet has a sliding vent that you can open and close as needed.
From a technological standpoint you should look at what Riddell is doing for football helmets. There is some very advanced technology in those.
I think that the fit and comfort of the Charles Owens helmets cannot be beat. HArd to ever imagine something else going on my head!
I can’t get past how silly the safety derby/bowler helmets look when actually on somebody’s head.
http://www.troxelhelmets.com/athletes/jeanne-mary-morrison
I think that is the reason they are on so many people’s drawing boards, but on so few heads. They look fine empty in a picture, but in the mirror nobody will buy one.
My favorite helmet was a Casco Duell that seems to be discontinued now. It had great ventilation and a lining that did not absorb sweat. I assume current Cascos have a similar lining, but they don’t sell them in the US, so are EN1384 approved. I’ve not found an ASTM approved helmet that is as comfortable in the heat.
The last helmet I bought is also not ASTM approved. The Charles Owen Fiona’s Hat looks very much like their other velvet style helmets, but is about half an inch narrower. It’s the slimmest traditional style safety helmet I’ve seen.
Oddly enough, I don’t care for open vents for something I’m going to hunt in. I like the idea of ventilation, but our territory is dense and it’s pretty common for pointy branches to poke and stab. Many a time I’ve been glad that my helmet can take that sharp stab and not my noggin, especially at speed.
Cedar branches are the worst stobs. Birch whips like the devil. Ouch.
Tangledweb, that’s the ASTM one I was thinking of. No offense to Troxel but it looks like they just took some big unwieldy skull cap and stuck a skin over it. I’m sure the design can be improved upon.
I have seen one custom-made top hat with a skull cap inside that looked more-or-less normal, so it can be done. The person who has it is a fairly well-known Irishman who takes great care with his livery, so I’m not surprised that it was well-made and nice looking. It did not have a harness, however, which would obviously be safer but detracts from the look. If someone could make a sleek ASTM approved top-hat with an invisible harness – now that would be the ticket!
[QUOTE=tangledweb;6006909]
I can’t get past how silly the safety derby/bowler helmets look when actually on somebody’s head.
http://www.troxelhelmets.com/athletes/jeanne-mary-morrison[/QUOTE]
It’s a Troxel. They have yet to figure out how to make a flattering helmet of any kind.
I actually think that Troxell bowler isnot bad looking at all.
And here somebody with a safety top hat.
http://d1engbabf2cb77.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/top_hat_helmet_800.jpg
(details here http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/english/dressage/top_hat_helmet_022210/ )
I’m not knocking the motivation, but a safe helmet can’t possibly be slim so giving it a brim at the sides and back is going to make it look like a bobble head doll accessory, especially on those of us who tend in the bobble head direction anyway.
