I’m buying a new hat for SJ but I’m torn between KEP and Samshield. I’m not entirely sure if one is better than the other as I think Samshield is more popular but KEP seems to have a better reputation. Any help?
Both are popular, but I see more Samshields where I am (I think simply because they happen to be carried by more retailers).
Does one fit your head better than the other? If so, but THAT one for THAT reason alone.
There have been problems with KEP. Here is a very extensive thread on H&H.
Having read the thread at the time, I would avoid the KEP helmets. https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/t…e-open.703085/
I’ve owned them both. The KEP I bought for a “show” helmet. I wore it twice and the second time I ended up in a wall, helmet was obviously damaged but my head was fine, no problem at all and by all accounts the fall was a hard and loud one. I decided not to shell out the money for a new one because there was no replacement policy on them. I went and tried a samshield purely due to the replacement policy, nothing else. It fit me much better. I wear it as my every day helmet and I have no issue wearing it through multiple horses, it’s like wearing a baseball cap that protects my head. I just bought my daughter one last week.
I think that KEP has had some bad publicity but, if they had a replacement policy, I would buy one again.
I found they fit very different. My head had too much pressure at the front in the KEP and hollow feeling on the sides, but feels like heaven in the Samshield. Please make sure you try them on to compare.
It all depends on the shape of your head, more oval or more round. Find a helmet that fits that you can wear for hours. Brand is not so important.
Remember that you need to throw it out and replace it if you land on your head. For that reason a $1000 helmet is not great protection if you can’t afford to replace it.
KEP (and Samshield) helmet shells are produced in standard sizes (small, medium, large), and the fit is achieved by sized liners. KEP liners are also available in round or oval (oval having added/stiffer padding at the sides) to accommodate different head shapes.
You need to go with whatever brand fits your head the best even if it’s not one of these two.
ive had 3 keps they’ve all fit me great and protected me on multiple occasions. I replace them every few years simply because they do get knocked about every once in awhile. Samshield ive borrowed before fit me decently but ive never owned it. I’ve seen them break internally you can tell but knocking on the outside and listening for a hollow ish sound.
