Old timey types - lend me your ears....

[JSwan]

Any one can answer - not just the old timey types.

I realized I was derailing another posters thread when I posted about a new Troxel helmet.

“Traditional” attire would normally mean that for headgear, a foxhunter might wear a derby (bowler).

You don’t see them often nowadays, since more and more people wear a certified helmet.

But Troxel made a derby style certified helmet for the gaited folks.

http://www.troxelhelmets.com/products/features.php?ProductID=32

Romany seems to like it but thinks it’s sitting too low on the models head. I tend to agree but since I’ve never tried one on… I dunno.

Is it uglier than a baboon’s butt or could you see yourself wearing this in the field? Seems that if it looks decent on the rider, it could be a more “traditional” turnout but be safer for the rider who prefers a certified helmet.

[SLW]

I think it is a step in the right direction. Still, you would have to see it in person to know if it looks in balance and okay.

Seeing that derby gives me hope that a western helmet where a traditional straw or felt cover could be used is coming down the pike. In timed events at Open shows more kids & adults are wearing approved helmets but the idea isn’t crossing over into rodeo. Understandable but not safe.

[lesson_junkie]

Old Timey Type

It’s baboon ugly-especially for petite types. I hunted years ago with a wonderful gentleman who always wore a bowler. He was short and very round, and rode a small black Percheron mare who was just like him. It will always be one of my best hunting memories-the a series of rounds starting at the top and ending with that mare’s beachball rear!!

[Equibrit]

You have to be very careful about wearing a bowler if you are even slightly overweight. You tend to look like a blob on a cob.

[JSwan]

@Equibrit;3014077

You tend to look like a blob on a cob.

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

You know - you and the other poster are right! Was it Laurel or Hardy that was fat and wore a bowler?

So this particular helmet might exacerbate the blob on the cob look. Well - something to consider. Even if the rider has a round face it might not work.

More reason to ask Marion to arrange for some demo models.

SLW - I agree about the western style helmets. It would be nice. I’m sure with improvements of design and new materials, they could eventually look very very similar to the cowboy hat. English style helmets sure have come a long way - remember the really giant bubble head ones we used to see? Not quite as bad now.

Except for the GPA. If it was a kid you’d have to tie a pork chop around its neck to get the dog to play with it.

[gothedistance]

I used to wear a bowler hunting back in the late 70’s. Sorry now that I ever sold it, but … it always left a dent in my forehead which gave me a headache if I had to wear it for more than a few hours. Plus it was already going out of style in the face of the harnessed hunt helmet.

Recently I tried on one of the new safety bowlers… and it looked hideous. I am petite, and the helmet looked like I had a blimp on my head. <sigh!> :no:

[JSwan]

What lovely form!!!

[Beverley]

Oh, I still wear my bowler now and then, though it is in need of a little sprucing up, because mine dates to the early 70s, too!

But I think this Troxel one shows promise- brim is not quite right, but they’ve got some fine print that says ‘customizations available.’ So what if one sent them a bunch of pics of a hunting bowler so they could get it right?

PS enjoying hunting in Nevada this weekend, joint meet w/Red Rock and Blu Pine (private pack since 2001, now going subscriber). Details to follow, just now I must dash to dinner!

[JSwan]

Oooo - I want details!

I’m going to town on Monday and will be visiting Horse Country - perhaps the owner will be interested in visiting with a Troxel rep, arranging some demo models, or working on more of a proper bowler.

For the thin riders, anyway:)

@Beverley;3014255

Oh, I still wear my bowler now and then, though it is in need of a little sprucing up, because mine dates to the early 70s, too!

But I think this Troxel one shows promise- brim is not quite right, but they’ve got some fine print that says ‘customizations available.’ So what if one sent them a bunch of pics of a hunting bowler so they could get it right?

PS enjoying hunting in Nevada this weekend, joint meet w/Red Rock and Blu Pine (private pack since 2001, now going subscriber). Details to follow, just now I must dash to dinner!

[TBlitz]

Before you go and buy this, you do need to remember that it’s the thickness of a real helmet, with a hat over it, and will make your head look HUGE. To get the picture of what this will look like on, put a skull cap on and then imagine a derby on top of it. They came out with western-type hats on them along time ago, and I tried one on and looked UGLY (to the point SLT had them on sale for $2 and still couldn’t get rid of them)!

[JSwan]

This may be why last year, these helmets were around 400$, and now they’re 100$.

Hopefully designs will improve over time.

[Romany]

Chin straps…

Maybe, as well as it’s sheer bulk, it’s the chin strap on the Troxel bowler (and the Western safety helmets) that makes it look odd - wonder why they don’t do it in a skin-tone vs black.

As a kid, my helmet had a saggy and well-chewed piece of 1/2" elastic holding it on - nowadays, it’s a veritable system of strings and pulleys that keep it in place, and it’s a look we’ve all got used to, I suppose, from watching racing, perhaps.

Happy shopping, J Swann - we’re agog!

[Rt66Kix]

I saw a prototype of this derby/bowler helmet at Equine Affair a few years ago. The hat part comes off, leaving a “skull cap” helmet underneath. I was interested in using it as a base for hats when I rode sidesaddle. I figured a big Victoria hat could be put over it, and then the helmet wouldn’t be so obvious.

Last I checked, they were $400. A bit out of my budget, plus when my Belgian draft died, my sidesaddle days came to a screeching halt. The saddle would probably fit a few of my other horses, but my heart just hasn’t been in it at all. :no:

[JSwan]

Romany - you have discovered my pet peeve about helmets. It’s completely silly, but it really does bug me. So many have a light colored harness and a black nylon thick chin strap. I think the material used for the chin strap has to be a synthetic fabric (I may be wrong on this but I seem to remember something about the ASTM/SEI criteria and harnesses).

But I know that the nylon is made in a tan color. And it’s easily available - just ask the military. It’s used all the time. So… you could make the chin strap in a light tan that is readily available - and the harness could be made darker to match more riders skin and hair.

It just bugs me. Doesn’t stop me from wearing the helmet, of course.

Rt66Kix - I’m sorry about your horse. The prices on these helmets have come down dramatically - either they are not selling or they’re selling a lot. Dunno.