Does anyone know if there has been reviews or independant market research into the safest helmets out there right now?
I will be showing in the hunter ring, but I am more concerned with high safety rating then fashion. Between weird games my brother and I played as kids, my clumsiness, and horses, I have more concussions then is necessarily safe. Luckily, all but one have been low on the scale, so I am still able to ride etc. Better safe then sorry though!
I’ve always been told the safest helmet is the one you wear all the time - if it’s certified, then it has to meet/exceed certain standards…so a $50 helmet will protect you as well as an $800 helmet.
That said, pricer helmets tend have more bells and whistles - better materials, snazzier designs, vents to keep you cool in the summer, etc, so you’re more likely to wear it when you ride.
Personally, I like the CO helmets - light, comfortable, and a good fit. They also have a great replacement policy in case you fall! Not sure if other brands offer the same discount, however.
the one that fits you best. 
To my knowledge there is no third party testing and ranking helmets, and all approved (astm sei) helmets can be considered equal.
With that said, I think the safest helmet is the helmet that fits your head the best. I would recommend getting fitted by someone experienced (the right helmet is uncomfortably tight at first!) and periodically having it refitted (inner padding added) by an experienced fitter. Charles owen often has reps and Roy himself at stores and clinics (he was just at the tackeria in Wellington).
Also, replace at least every fall you are aware of hitting your head (maybe every fall, if you want to be very cautious). Follow care instructions (no dishwasher cleans, no leaving in car on a hot sunny day, no weird shampoos and or solvents or odor busters)
Finally, make sure the chin strap is on right (different brands/models usually have little diagrams in packet with helmet)
I think with good fit and proper care you will be doing everything you can to protect your head
[QUOTE=Jumper_Princess1988;8490895]
I’ve always been told the safest helmet is the one you wear all the time - if it’s certified, then it has to meet/exceed certain standards…so a $50 helmet will protect you as well as an $800 helmet.
That said, pricer helmets tend have more bells and whistles - better materials, snazzier designs, vents to keep you cool in the summer, etc, so you’re more likely to wear it when you ride.
Personally, I like the CO helmets - light, comfortable, and a good fit. They also have a great replacement policy in case you fall! Not sure if other brands offer the same discount, however.[/QUOTE]
LOL - I am a “every ride - every time”. Heck, if I am doing ground work, it’s on. If pony is extra frisky, it’s on. My skull was cracked open in two spots thanks to a well timed rear. My memory is spotty, and I need my brain for work. I also grew up riding when our helmets said “This is a item of fashion only. It will not protect your head”
I had a good fall in my current helmet this year. I don’t think I hit my head, but again, short term memory is shot. My plan is to replace for the show season, so I will just go with finding one that fits properly.
Definitely not a typical hunter helmet, but I really love the Tipperary helmets for their fit, and the coverage they give to the back of the head/occipital bone area. Their new T4 series really looks an awful lot like the GPAs, and is likely what I’m going to go with when I replace my helmet this spring. I’ve ridden in Tipps and COs and IRHs, and the Tipperary has by far been the comfiest and felt the most secure.
CO does the most forwarxd research, so I would be inclined to go with them.
[QUOTE=kashmere;8490924]
Definitely not a typical hunter helmet, but I really love the Tipperary helmets for their fit, and the coverage they give to the back of the head/occipital bone area. Their new T4 series really looks an awful lot like the GPAs, and is likely what I’m going to go with when I replace my helmet this spring. I’ve ridden in Tipps and COs and IRHs, and the Tipperary has by far been the comfiest and felt the most secure.[/QUOTE]
I totally agree. I school in a Tipp also, and it’s easily the most comfortable helmet I own. I witnessed a friend (wearing a Tipp) get hung up in the stirrup and drug with the horse kicking her in the head every stride until she came loose and other than some teeth getting kicked out, her skull was unharmed. I think the added occipital bone protection is definitely a plus!
I get so frustrated that this question has such ambiguous answers. I know that helmets have to pass the same test to be certified but I want to know what helmet got an A. Unfortunately the manufactures keep all of that very quiet. I can say for certain that Charles Owen just won a grant for their work on developing safety materials and they also have the only equestrian helmet readily available in the US to be granted a SNELL rating.
http://equineink.com/2009/11/04/which-equestrian-helmets-are-the-safest/
I found this from 2009, you can take it for what it’s worth. I know a lot of people didn’t agree with the old study.
Wasn’t there a really new helmet on the market that was supposed to be super awesome, but they had never really developed riding helmets. If I recall, I believe they did bicycle helmets or football helmets. I want to say a COTH’er snagged one and really enjoyed it. I know Devon-Aire also came out with a new helmet that was supposed to be really nice.
I think it would be great for someone to do an independent, controlled study on the different helmets.
*double post, sorry
[QUOTE=Rayme;8490968]
I get so frustrated that this question has such ambiguous answers. I know that helmets have to pass the same test to be certified but I want to know what helmet got an A. Unfortunately the manufactures keep all of that very quiet. I can say for certain that Charles Owen just won a grant for their work on developing safety materials and they also have the only equestrian helmet readily available in the US to be granted a SNELL rating.[/QUOTE]
This is what I want as well. I learned a lot about how military helmets are tested, what they are tested for, and even saw them being tested. I feel like i could find this for other helmets too, and having the contacts in the industry, if I had the information I could send it to these specialists as a favor and say, hey, how does this look?
[QUOTE=Rayme;8490968]
I get so frustrated that this question has such ambiguous answers. I know that helmets have to pass the same test to be certified but I want to know what helmet got an A. Unfortunately the manufactures keep all of that very quiet. I can say for certain that Charles Owen just won a grant for their work on developing safety materials and they also have the only equestrian helmet readily available in the US to be granted a SNELL rating.[/QUOTE]
I was just going to mention SNELL.
I know a helmet in Britain has one of the highest ranked SNELL’s, but I do not believe it is certified for the US. I believe it is called a PROtector or something like that. A couple British riders wear them.
Yes snell is a big thing. For instance I am a HJ but had a back-round in eventing and still love my skullcap for day to day riding as I think there comfortable. I have the CO 4* helmet which along with the normal ratings has the SNELL rating. What the SNELL rating focuses on is the crushing force of a fall e.g. if you flipped over a fence and the horse landed on your head. You couldn’t wear this helmet in the ring EVER. (which sucks and is a different argument all together) I agree that the safest is the one you wear and fits but there are some that have more standards.
I also have suffered multiple concussions and it has greatly impacted my life. I am always doing research on this subject but there isn’t much available to find.
http://www.parkgateequestrian.co.uk I found this website for the “PROtecter” helmet mentioned.
This doesn’t exactly protect your head, but it can help know if you are hurt: http://www.theshockbox.com/equestrian-helmet-sensors/
GPA has a new helmet that is supposed to have greater impact support (it also comes in a first lady version): https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/gpa-speed-air-4s-helmet-12960
http://www.smf.org/certlist/std_E2001 this is snell list for equestrian helmets. Honestly I have not heard of any of the companies on this list, except for Charles Owen. I think that really says something about our sport. “Fashion over function” truly prevails.
[QUOTE=Belmont;8490981]
http://equineink.com/2009/11/04/which-equestrian-helmets-are-the-safest/
I found this from 2009, you can take it for what it’s worth. I know a lot of people didn’t agree with the old study.
Wasn’t there a really new helmet on the market that was supposed to be super awesome, but they had never really developed riding helmets. If I recall, I believe they did bicycle helmets or football helmets. I want to say a COTH’er snagged one and really enjoyed it. I know Devon-Aire also came out with a new helmet that was supposed to be really nice.[/QUOTE]
These are the ones that are supposed to help with rotation. Devon-Aire sells the Matrix helmet, using the “conehead” patent, and the Back on Track EQ2 helmet that uses the “mips” technology and is sold in Europe. Neither seem to be catching on and I’m not certain why not. The Matrix has an unconventional look, but IMHO neither has been more than half-heartedly marketed.
I too would love to see more additional and independent testing that would tell us more about the various safety properties of helmets. It’s a question that comes up all the time, and it’s frustrating that there are no good answers. There are people who have a particular reason to want or need the safest possible helmet and are willing to pay for it in cash or ugly if need be, and it’s frustrating not to be able to figure out what they should do.
[QUOTE=OTTB_;8491028]
I have the CO 4* helmet which along with the normal ratings has the SNELL rating. What the SNELL rating focuses on is the crushing force of a fall e.g. if you flipped over a fence and the horse landed on your head. You couldn’t wear this helmet in the ring EVER. (which sucks and is a different argument all together) [/QUOTE]
Why not? Because it’s not fashionable?
Meh.
Put one or two big name riders into the rings with them, let them win a class or two, and people will switch from today’s fashionable helmets to those so fast the industry will get whiplash.
As it did when today’s fashionable helmets first came on the market, and people twisted themselves up in knots over how ugly and non-traditional they are… they were just sure that they would never, ever be appropriate for the hunter ring. Ever.
Never say never.
[QUOTE=Halt Near X;8491254]
Why not? Because it’s not fashionable?
Meh.
Put one or two big name riders into the rings with them, let them win a class or two, and people will switch from today’s fashionable helmets to those so fast the industry will get whiplash.
As it did when today’s fashionable helmets first came on the market, and people twisted themselves up in knots over how ugly and non-traditional they are… they were just sure that they would never, ever be appropriate for the hunter ring. Ever.
Never say never.[/QUOTE]
This transition is completely documented on the COTH forums. We went from “you can’t win without a Patey” to “could I wear a GPA in the hunter ring” to “can I wear a non-traditional helmet like this velvet one with harness instead of a GPA?” in only a couple of years. All you have to do is pay high profile riders to wear them.
Also note that the 4Star helmet can easily be made to have a very “traditional”/American look by simply adding a different cover.
[QUOTE=Rayme;8490968]
I get so frustrated that this question has such ambiguous answers. I know that helmets have to pass the same test to be certified but I want to know what helmet got an A. Unfortunately the manufactures keep all of that very quiet. I can say for certain that Charles Owen just won a grant for their work on developing safety materials and they also have the only equestrian helmet readily available in the US to be granted a SNELL rating.[/QUOTE]
I guess what frustrates me about your answer is the highest rating (if there was such a thing) would do someone no good if the helmet does not fit them properly. It is not a car, whose safety features work as long as you fit into the standard demographics for them, it is something that has to stay secured on your head to work. The great name brand and rating is no good if your head is not the right shape for that helmet.
Safest?
I’ve always believed the one that fits you and the one you wear . If it doesn’t fit your head shape, it can’t protect you. Even though we all shop online these days if you are unsure and can get to one, I feel an in person fitting at a good tack store is your best bet. For me, I fit GPA’ s and yes, they look UKK in the hunter ring but, we’re all used to seeing them now. I’ve had quite a few falls where the helmet has protected me very well. They also offer a replacement program that I have used . Replace all helmets after a fall where your helmet makes contact. Also replace after years of use as recommend by manufacturer.
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