Midrange helmets vs high-end helmets?

Of course, this is a topic up for debate. Currently, I have an IRH, whatever the top model is right now (the name isn’t coming to mind), and I can tell you that I feel, (yes, it’s stupid that I feel, but whatever) a lot better riding an my nearly $300 helmet then in a $50 schooling helmet. Honestly, we can never really know which is safer, without helmet prices skyrocketing since the companies would have to pay for tons of testing. I would say that there probably is a difference safety wise between a $50 schooler and a $1000 pro-level helmet. The way they absorb impact would be nearly impossible to test, if you consider all the factors of a fall, such as the strength of your horse, your height, what gait you are riding at, if you’re jumping, how fast you fall, what angle you land on, etc.

I was recently informed that for my new show barn, I need a GPA or CO. CO doesn’t fit me, sooo… I need $500. I can let you know if I find out the hard way if a GPA is worth it.

[QUOTE=hunter98;7242016]

I was recently informed that for my new show barn, I need a GPA or CO. CO doesn’t fit me, sooo… I need $500. I can let you know if I find out the hard way if a GPA is worth it.[/QUOTE]I’m always stunned that trainers get away with these kinds of “rules.”

I ride in a GPA because it fits me the best. I don’t know if there are any studies about this but I would think that a helmet with actual sizes like 7, 7 and an eighth, 7.25, etc would be better than those that are just sm, med, lrg. Any data on that?

So, what I’m debating between is a CO AYR8 someone is selling for $115 (no falls, basically new) and ordering a Troxel Spirit on Amazon for $55. Thoughts?

Also, I find it weird that helmets don’t come with detailed specs, considering they’re safety equipment…

helmets are $$$$$, because people will pay $$$$$ for them. Simple as that. New type of helmet becomes the next big status symbol that everyone must have and they can charge whatever they want for it and people will pay. It has nothing to do with safety.

OP, buy what fits. If you know the CO AYR8 fits you, and you are comfortable with the owner’s statements that it had not been in a fall ( I wouldn’t be) and don’t mind wearing something that someone else has (I find that Ewww! on the gross meter…but that’s me), then go for it. If another helmet fits you better, do that.

My next helmet will most likely be the Ovation Sync. It’s quite a nice helmet and very flattering.

[QUOTE=equisusan;7242063]
I ride in a GPA because it fits me the best. I don’t know if there are any studies about this but I would think that a helmet with actual sizes like 7, 7 and an eighth, 7.25, etc would be better than those that are just sm, med, lrg. Any data on that?[/QUOTE]

Those helmets are more expensive because each size has to be tested individually, which of course adds to the cost. (Certainly producing and distributing more sizes also adds to the cost.)

The 2003 study - which is not valid for today’s helmets but is still information - noted that the size of the helmet mattered also. So for example a Small in helmet A might be better than the Small in helmet B but that Medium might have gotten a better rating in helmet B. Kind of an interesting tidbit/insight into the engineering, design, and testing of helmets.

Everyone agrees that having a helmet that fits well is beneficial. The sized helmets tend to have the whole helmet liner in contact with your head. The S/M/L helmets have different suspension systems to try to fit more heads with the same mold. I suspect that both approaches work well.

It’s interesting to note that bike helmets don’t seem to come in hat sizes.

[QUOTE=Hot-2-Trot;7242064]
So, what I’m debating between is a CO AYR8 someone is selling for $115 (no falls, basically new) and ordering a Troxel Spirit on Amazon for $55. Thoughts?

Also, I find it weird that helmets don’t come with detailed specs, considering they’re safety equipment…[/QUOTE]

I’d consider ordering from Smartpak, because they have free returns on all sized items.

$55 is actually high for a Troxel Spirit. You can probably get it for less at a local store - nearly any horse store will sell them.

The Spirit is pretty good for protection but it is less comfortable than many of the others, especially if you will be riding in the heat. It uses the old dial system, also. You might want to try some on, if you can.

You can buy a Troxel Liberty or an Ovation Schooler for about the same price, or an Intrepid (that’s what my daughter actually has, I miswrote earlier) for a bit more.

I’m always stunned that trainers get away with these kinds of “rules.”

I had a trainer like that once. My mother basically told her to buzz off because I’d be wearing the show helmet my aunt got me, that, although not trendy, was safe and within the rules. (I was about 8 at the time)

Theoretically, the safest is what fits you best. For that reason I bought a CO AYR8. I also liked the speed air but the enormous price difference didn’t make it worth it for me when the AYR8 fit slightly better.

[QUOTE=tua37516;7241932]
To be perfectly honest with you, I think quoting an almost 11 year old study on helmet safety stating Troxel to be one of the safest brands to be almost unusuable. Remember how in 2003 almost everyone was still showing in velvet helmets with tan leather harnesses? (Not to mention two way stretch high waist green beige TS breeches and pull on boots…) I firmly believe the padding and shell in my One K helmet to be far more substantial than the Troxel Grand Prix Gold II (my circa 2003 show helmet) to be the pinnacle of safety.[/QUOTE]

Just so you’re aware, the top rated helmet in that was not the Grand Prix Gold but the Troxel Spirit. That study included helmets from Charles Owen and also from GPA.

The study was taken off the website a few years back for a couple of reasons. One, was that they were getting pressure from at least one helmet manufacturer to do so. Two, was that the models had changed significantly since then.

I think any helmet that passes the standard should be considered safe enough. That’s really all the data can tell you about what is out there right now.

The new MIPS technology (as in the conehead helmet) is the first true innovation out there in a long time, and it’s meant to minimize concussions from rotational forces.

I’m glad you like your One K helmet - many people do - but the padding you can see and feel responding to your fingers is not what is going to save your life in a 300G impact. It may well make it more comfortable for everyday use, which hopefully is how it will be used for its full lifetime.

Great article on choosing helmets for safety, and on the new MIPS system.

http://www.bicycling.com/senseless/index.html

Used to own a tack shop and received info that riders can actually over buy with helmets. A casual trail rider, arena rider, dressage rider taking a fall while wearing a helmet designed and marketed for jockeys and eventers may find that the harder shelled, harder foam helmets do not crush and absorb the impact properly in the relatively low speed, soft surface crash. So there’s a place for the softer, lighter helmets and the hard shell “skull cap” styles.

[QUOTE=Hot-2-Trot;7242064]
So, what I’m debating between is a CO AYR8 someone is selling for $115 (no falls, basically new) and ordering a Troxel Spirit on Amazon for $55. Thoughts?

Also, I find it weird that helmets don’t come with detailed specs, considering they’re safety equipment…[/QUOTE]

NEVER BUY A USE HELMET.

You have no idea if it has had any falls, been dropped, been left in a hot car - not a risk I would be willing to take. Buy the helmet that fits you the very very best. Go to a tack store and try all that you can.

You should be able to put the helmet on, and it should be snug enough that when you shake your head upside down - withOUT the chin strap on - and have the helmet stay on your head.

I bought one of these helmets when it came out and use it as my daily riding helmet. My husband is an engineer and I showed him the literature on the new form of padding and he thought it made more sense from a safety standpoint.

I foxhunt in a Charles Owen because that’s the one that fits me best.

I remember the study that is referenced here. As I recall, the takeaway on it was that price does not correlate with quality and that helmets with larger profiles (the opposite of the close-to-the-head fit that people like) are safer.

Personally, I don’t think any helmets are particularly attractive – at least not to the point where I’d choose looks over safety. I wish there was more data out there but right now your best bet is to choose the helmet that fits YOU the best and then WEAR it.

For the record, I was going to buy my samshield when they were on sale 20% off from one of the big places, but they did not have my size. It’s the only helmet that fits my giant oval head, that I can change the lining size if I ever decide to cut my hair so it fits better, and doesn’t make me sweat like a river in the heat. I tried them all on. My last helmet was a CO GR8 that didnt fit after a yr b/c the padding got flat and nothing I did made it fit better. I also prefer the way the harness fits on my samshield; I was told it was created to fit like a motorcycle helmet so it sits further down on your head.
Bottom line- buy what fits you best and what you can afford. I splurged on the samshield b/c of its fit.

But did you all know that? that the shell of the helmet is one size, and its the liner that determines the specific size? So my shell is the large, but I can change the liner from a 7 5/8 to a 7 3/8 if I need to? Just a fun fact I found out when I bought it.

[QUOTE=jewll27;7242199]
For the record, I was going to buy my samshield when they were on sale 20% off from one of the big places, but they did not have my size. It’s the only helmet that fits my giant oval head, that I can change the lining size if I ever decide to cut my hair so it fits better, and doesn’t make me sweat like a river in the heat. I tried them all on. My last helmet was a CO GR8 that didnt fit after a yr b/c the padding got flat and nothing I did made it fit better. I also prefer the way the harness fits on my samshield; I was told it was created to fit like a motorcycle helmet so it sits further down on your head.
Bottom line- buy what fits you best and what you can afford. I splurged on the samshield b/c of its fit.

But did you all know that? that the shell of the helmet is one size, and its the liner that determines the specific size? So my shell is the large, but I can change the liner from a 7 5/8 to a 7 3/8 if I need to? Just a fun fact I found out when I bought it.[/QUOTE] The Samshields are awesome and seem to fit a wide variety of people well, as I have a gpa round head and the samshield felt great on me. Unfortunely I look just god awful in it.

If owning a “trendy” helmet is important to you (as it is to many equestrians, although few will ever admit it!) then the absolute cheapest place I’ve found to purchase online is a British based ebay store. You can check it out here:

http://stores.ebay.com/World-Equine-Supplies

It may seem counterintuitive to purchase a helmet overseas, but believe me, even with the high shipping costs, you’re saving a bundle over buying it in a US tack store.

[QUOTE=littlebaypony;7242135]
Used to own a tack shop and received info that riders can actually over buy with helmets. A casual trail rider, arena rider, dressage rider taking a fall while wearing a helmet designed and marketed for jockeys and eventers may find that the harder shelled, harder foam helmets do not crush and absorb the impact properly in the relatively low speed, soft surface crash. So there’s a place for the softer, lighter helmets and the hard shell “skull cap” styles.[/QUOTE]

As far as I know, all the current ASTM models are rated for a similar impact. If you have a link for this, it would be good to see. Otherwise, I am skeptical that this is accurate information.

Eventers use all the helmets - there is no special “eventing” helmet and hasn’t been since the ASTM standards came out.

Ohmigod yes. I’d totally buy the cheaper new Troxel than any used helmet, even if it was one of those $600 ones. Especially given the seller feels the CO is worth half its market price??? Why the 50% reduction? Totally sketchy.

The safest helmet is the one that fits you best and is comfortable enough and attractive enough (to you, not to anyone else!) that you’ll wear it every single time. Price doesn’t make a difference, as long as it is appropriately certified. Personally, I can’t fit my large, very long and narrow head into anything but an IRH long oval (only certain models), so that’s what I wear. It’s comfortable, stays on my head and is good looking enough that I don’t mind being seen in it. If I spent $500 on a helmet to be fashionable, I wouldn’t wear it because my head would hurt!

If fashion is important to you and the chosen helmet fits you well, have at it, if you love the helmet and feel good in it, you’ll be sure to wear it!

[QUOTE=PNWjumper;7241834]
I own a Samshield ($600-ish), a GPA Speed Air (now cracked and “dead,” also $600-ish), an IRH ($150-ish IIRC?), and an Ovation Schooler ($70-ish). [/QUOTE]

Yet another example of sisters from another mother. Yes, I do own a speed air, IRH($300 ish - it’s the brown leather one) and an ovation (for daily riding). And I debated long and hard about that samshield but decided that was really admitting to a helmet problem and put it down. :wink: (I also have a charles owen GR8, but I’m not a fan - it’s now a winter riding helmet and the ovation is the rest of the year - great ventilation on that thing and I love the washable liner).

And (big surprise), I agree with everything you said. I use that ovation (sync maybe?) for every day riding because it is cool and lightweight and I will feel no pain when something happens to it. Like, say you spritz some fly spray in that general direction and it ruins the finish. But for a more polished look, my other helmets fit the bill, as do many that cost less then either of them! So in my case, it was paying for a lot of air holes - the speed air. Turns out you pay more for less helmet/more holes in said helmet! And the brown leather helmet is just beautiful. Even on a hunter pace, it’s beautiful!