*Safest* riding helmet on the market

[Posting_Trot]

The new GPA helmet, linked to above on the Smartpak site, looks interesting, but WOW! at a price that I’m betting few will plunk down. (List price of $800, discounted to 748).

I’ve been using a UVEX perfexxion. I like it because it’s light, well-ventilated, and it fits my head well. I’ve owned Chas. Owens in the past, but found them oppressively hot in the summer. I liked the UVEX partly because they produce helmets for all kinds of sports as well as for the military–it seems like they’ve done the research.

Overall, I agree that it’s important to get a helmet that fits correctly. Not only so that you’ll wear it, but also because a helmet that fits is a helmet that won’t shift or gap, and thus is more likely to provide consistent protection when/if you fall.

[Rayme]

I agree completely that you shouldn’t buy something that doesn’t fit you. However, when multiple brands or models fit it would be nice to compare their performance before their price tag.

[OTTB2]

Those sensors have been in use in football helmets for years. There have been plenty of kids who were sent back out after a hard hit because they felt fine or their sensor didn’t go off. There a good idea but if you hit your head after a fall go see the EMT and get checked out. All of the shows grounds have EMTS on site. Are the sensors a good idea, yes. But don’t treat them like all knowing.

[Snowdenfarm]

http://www.streamhorsetv.com/the-great-eu-helmet-kerfuffle-and-what-it-means-to-you-bhaskar/
http://www.riders4helmets.com/2015/06/hat-rules/

These links were originally posted in another thread and pertain to updated 2016 testing standards.

[jen-s]

[QUOTE=AMWookey;8490916]
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.[/QUOTE]

OP–Seriously? You had a fall in your current helmet. You aren’t sure if you hit your head or not. And you continue to wear said helmet. Honest to goodness, whatever you want buy right now is potentially a crap ton safer than the potentially compromised helmet you keep wearing! JMHO, but get yourself to a tack shop and see what fits your noggin best and bring it home TODAY. Your already-compromised head is worth it.

[SonnysMom]

[QUOTE=jen-s;8492149]
OP–Seriously? You had a fall in your current helmet. You aren’t sure if you hit your head or not. And you continue to wear said helmet. Honest to goodness, whatever you want buy right now is potentially a crap ton safer than the potentially compromised helmet you keep wearing! JMHO, but get yourself to a tack shop and see what fits your noggin best and bring it home TODAY. Your already-compromised head is worth it.[/QUOTE]

Don’t wait for show season. Buy one NOW that is a nice inexpensive schooling helmet that fits: Troxel, Ovation, Tip etc… You can buy a more trendy one that fits for show season too. But please don’t wait.

I personally love my Ovation Deluxe Schooler helmet. They run about $50.00. I have one in brown and one in black. I can use it for local level shows. I will never show rated but if I did I might get a more popular style one but only IF I could find one that fits as well.

Seriously find a cheap schooling helmet that fits you well now and also buy a show helmet that fits well that you only use for showing. This way you protect your noggin now and still have time to really find the perfect show helmet in time for showing.

[wronglead]

Recently purchased the newest GPA on the market- I wish I could go with a more affordable one but they just seem to be the only brand that fits my head right. I originally went to the tack store to try on and purchase a Samshield. This particular tack store said they have stopped restocking/selling Samshield helmets because the XS and XL sizes do not meet whatever those fancy helmet test guidelines are as far as padding and impact goes… Therefore, the tack store believed Samshield as a whole company might not pass the requirements of the helmet God laws for the upcoming year. I don’t know where I found a link, but I did see the updated list of helmets/brands/models/colors/sizes etc that were given the thumbs up, and sure enough Samshield XS and XL sizes were not listed on said list, but all of their other sizes were… Just some food for thought!

[Grasshopper]

I’ve adopted a model of owning 2-3 helmets at any given time. Right now, I have 2 schooling helmets and 1 show helmet. That way if I have an unplanned encounter with the ground (as I did recently) I can toss the helmet I was wearing and have a backup. Also, here in FL, my schooling helmets get a day in between wears to air out as I alternate them. One is slightly cooler (Ovation Deluxe Schooler) and the other has a sun visor (One K).

I have wanted to try the Matrix but last I checked my local tack stores don’t carry it, and fit is so important I don’t want to order without being able to try on.

[AMWookey]

[QUOTE=jen-s;8492149]
OP–Seriously? You had a fall in your current helmet. You aren’t sure if you hit your head or not. And you continue to wear said helmet. Honest to goodness, whatever you want buy right now is potentially a crap ton safer than the potentially compromised helmet you keep wearing! JMHO, but get yourself to a tack shop and see what fits your noggin best and bring it home TODAY. Your already-compromised head is worth it.[/QUOTE]

Sorry - my current schooling helmet. So I have been riding in my “show helmet” which means it’s looking rough because I wasn’t smart enough to buy a cover for it and my dude is mouthy. No I am not riding in the one I took a fall in. To be fair… I am 99% sure I only fell on my butt due to the hemotomas that developed there but to be safe the helmet was retired.

[Snowdenfarm]

[QUOTE=Grasshopper;8492638]
I have wanted to try the Matrix but last I checked my local tack stores don’t carry it, and fit is so important I don’t want to order without being able to try on.[/QUOTE]

This. I ordered the Matrix and ended up giving it away. It did not fit my head at all, even after returning it for a smaller size. For reference, I do fit in COs.

[juliaeharper]

I just bought a new helmet in the past month and I bought a Samshield Shadow Matte. I had an IRH before that and I was debating between a GPA Speed Air and the Samshield Shadow Matte. I ended up going with the Samshield because I just felt safer and more secure in it but really as long as you find one that fits properly, it’ll be perfectly safe!

The helmet regulations changed as of January 2016 so Dover was having trouble getting in certain brands in, such as the CO and Troxels. The manager told me it was because they only tested their Medium shell size while other manufacturers like the GPAs, Samshields, One K’s, IRH’s, etc. safety tested all of their shell sizes. So in other words they weren’t having to ship out new models. So if you’re going to buy a Troxel or CO then you may have to wait a little while until their updated models come out. She said that they did not know how long it would be until they got more of the COs and Troxels. You could always buy a temporary if you want to buy a CO or Troxel as your permanent! Good luck!

[Linda]

I have a Charles owen snell certified helmet. This is my second. and this helmet , just like the first, is snell rated. It is the only helmet in the US that is snell rated. Europe does a much better job of making helmets that qualify for snell rating. Unfortunately, in the US (now anyway) the CO is the only one

Just for kicks, I read up on snell ratings and wow there are very few helmets that pass that certification level. Its standard for motorcycle riding - so that should give you an idea of how strict their rating protocals are. This particular helmet is my second snell certified helmet. Coming home from a trail ride on a nice afternoon, I was crossing a road and my horse had a huge spook. I went off - landed head first on the asphalt. Even with the helmet on, I was a bit woozy. So I can only imagine what would have happened if I had a helmet on that did NOT meet that level of certification. I swear that helmet made the difference for me ! So after that fall, I bought a new one and wear it every single time I ride. Yes its not lovely but I’m not wearing it as a fashion statement. My husband did the research into snell riding helmets as he rides his fancy morotcycle all the time and always wears a snell helmet. So now I do too.

[walkers]

Thought I’d bump this as I need to buy a new helmet and since they are so expensive (i know its my brain) And with hot weather arriving I wanted to buy a approved safe helmet but the CO are just to hot. I think they are still the only Snell certiied helmets? I don’t sweat so I can get seriously over heated quickly.
And thanks for any help!

[ecileh]

And with hot weather arriving I wanted to buy a approved safe helmet but the CO are just to hot. I think they are still the only Snell certiied helmets? I don’t sweat so I can get seriously over heated quickly.

I have two OneK Defenders and they are–without a doubt–the coolest helmets I have ever ridden in. I have had a GPA with vents, a Troxel with vents, and a CO Ayr8…the OneK is the first that I can actually feel air move through (most noticeable when said air is cold, of course).

[btswass]

According to my rep the GPA 4s is supposed to be the safest helmet (I take that with a grain of salt as she’s obviously partial to the helmet she sells). With the whole snell rating thing I’d be interested to see which helmets they actually tested. GPA and Samshield are not American made helmets so I have a feeling they probably weren’t tested.

Personally, I’d love to test all the top helmets out there…if I have the money to trash them. I’m an engineer and would love to design some tests to get to the bottom of this. I recently upgraded my helmet and still have my old helmet in hopes of dissecting it to demonstrate why its critical to replace your helmet but haven’t quite figured out how to do that without creating additional damage to the internal shell. I’m fairly certain its cracked in at least one place. Anyway one day hopefully I’ll have enough money to test at least the most popular helmets and better yet design one that beats them all.

[ecileh]

@btswass

GPA and Samshield are not American made helmets so I have a feeling they probably weren’t tested.

I am not familiar with the SNELL standard, but one of the times I was shopping for a helmet, a tack store owner told me that helmets made in the UK and Europe are generally safer than American made helmets because they test to higher standards than we do.

[btswass]

@ecileh

I am not familiar with the SNELL standard, but one of the times I was shopping for a helmet, a tack store owner told me that helmets made in the UK and Europe are generally safer than American made helmets because they test to higher standards than we do.

I do know their testing is different. I can believe that they’re probably higher standards. GPA originally used to make (maybe they still do) car racing helmets which probably have even higher safety standards than equestrian helmets. While impact is not necessarily the same (meaning not falling from a height onto your head) crashing into something going 200+ mph can probably cause a lot of head damage

[dani0303]

I’m a big GPA fan because they fit my head the best. I remember when they first came on the market and they had a lot of science behind them. It seems like all of the higher end brands are pretty comparable at this point.

I’m the daughter of a TBI survivor. I wouldn’t wish my dad’s challenges on my worst enemy. I’m definitely an “every ride, every time” person as well and that transfers to biking and skiing as well. I don’t show anymore (or right now anyway) so my “schooling” helmet is the GPA Speed Air.

[McZ19]

I no longer ride in cheap schooling helmets. They may protect my head as well as more expensive helmets but i had the harness fail in two difference Troxel helmets when I had falls. Fortunately, the protection to my skull wasn’t impacted in either case but it certainly could have been. I now spend money for a helmet with a secure harness.

[OTTB2]

There are a few different ratings though. For example the Charles Owen 4star skull cap meets the SNELL standard for crushing impacts. Obviously more tailored to eventers where that kind of injury is more likely to occur. I have one and I love it but it is big and bulky.