And because they are largely hand made, there are subtle differences between helmets of even the same design, which makes in-person fitting with an trained fitter even more important.
More and more research is coming out about concussion and it is perturbing.
Well, I ordered one. I’m pretty consistent in sizing and I want to support someone doing something so innovative. I’ll have the fit double checked locally with some tack shop fitters that are good. Will report back!
Is there a list somewhere of “professional helmet fitters”?
I’m planning a trip later this year with the intent to visit places I can try on multiple helmets and hopefully find one that fits me better than my current Trauma Void Lynx. Current short list of destinations are Ocala, Wellington and Aiken. So if there’s a “professional helmet fitter” in one of those locations that would be helpful
Right off the top of my head the first two that spring to mind are Kim Chick from Fair Hill saddlery (Which is also the ONLY tack shop in the usa that stocks ALL the MIPS equipped helmets)
And Catherine Winter from Ride Equi Safe which is based in North Carolina with stores at Tryon Equestrian Center and another location in Raleigh that is open by appointment only.
The most problematic place for helmet fittings so far (Based on feedback in my group) tends to be some Dover Saddlery locations. The helmet fit training and MIPS understanding across the board is a bit low. We have had some doozies of comments from the reps employed by Dover. That said, the Latham, NY store has a solid helmet fitter in @Linny. She does know her stuff hands down.
I’ll see if I can’t get more feedback from the reps. Give me a little bit.
Em
I would have warned you before, I did NOT fit my normal size. I had to go down one size to come close.
Hopefully you can swap out easily but if I were you I might reach out to them and see if they could swap you down one size.
I was literally swimming in a 57 and I am a 57 in every brand.
Em
Also just announced,
The new Charles Owen “Kylo”
It’s a sub $200 helmet with MIPS available and a dial fit.
(There are non-Mips models as well, so be careful in your ordering if you do want the MIPS)
Pics attached
Seconding this - I’m a 2 (or 7 if you want to go with helmet sizing instead of skullcap sizing) in my MS1 Pro skullcap (Charles Owen) and a large in my One K, and I measure at a 57. Even the 56 in the Arro that I tried on was a bit large for me and the person that I spoke to at their booth (not Rhys) said I would likely need a 55.
Now THAT is a snazzy helmet for the price and tech. I’m a huge fan of dial fit for people who change hairstyles regularly (and kids!). And this one looks pretty discreet.
Can’t wait till these are for sale here!
I ordered the smallest size they had available, so we will see! I hope it works, I’m excited about the technology and the ability to have a “safe” wide brim. Summer in the south makes them a necessity!
I feel like if you had a removable cloth brim visor that crumpled on impact that would have no effect on safety.
I did touch base with Rhys on this and this requires a bit of a correction.
In full transparency here’s what I said and what Rhys clarified in reply:
Me: Ok so one of the people commenting is suggesting that because it’s made by hand, that there is a “variability” of sizing between identical helmets. Or at least the possibility of variability.
Would that be true or no?
Rhys: “Not on the sizing as use a head form. The inner shell (eps) is from a fixed steel mold. However, definitely can get defects from a cosmetic point of view, it’s in the patterns and when u compare carbon fiber helmets can see where the weave is not straight.”
Em
Thanks for that clarification. I was repeating what my local fitter told me as we tried on various helmets last time I needed a new one.
Hopefully this is not too off track from the main convo, but since dial fit came up, does anyone (@Xctrygirl) have info about possible impacts on the neck from dial fit harnesses? Impacts meaning both acute injuries and maybe long term stress?
The short answer to your specific question is “I don’t know.”
The longer answer is that I know that the dial fit helmets of Yore went through a big overhaul and have since become some of the safest types out there.
That said, I know that we can ask our resident experts and see if they have any data. Not opinions, but actual data.
So let me reach out to Dr. Stephanie Bonin and Dr. Barry Miller. They would likely both have at least some more concrete info than I have currently.
Emily
ETA: emails sent to both. Now we wait.
Thank you!
Of course, I ask because I love dial fits, have been using them for 20 years at least, and also have a recently creaky neck (as of my 40th birthday). I only started thinking about a connection when i picked up extra rides this past winter and noticed my neck was “tired” after multiple rides in a day.
I would volunteer my neck as a research subject!
FWIW, most bicycle helmets (which have far more testing out there) are dial fit. I wonder if that industry would have some insight into dial vs not.
Though I think horses might be closer to downhill mountain biking and motocross in type of protection needs - both of which generally require a full face helmet, and that would change the type of research out there.
Oh I LIKE these! I am usually not a dial fit kind of gal but I will check with our local tack store to see if they plan to stock so I can try it on.
Dr. Miller replied:
Hey Em!
We don’t specifically test for that as our head impacts are to the helmet and thus the dial fit knob doesn’t come into play as they are below the test line. During helmet impacts the dial fit system does generally loosen and allows the helmet to decouple which is the desired outcome.
The dials are made of plastic and not all that durable when looking at impact energy and thus would likely just crack and break; especially if it’s on the occipital lobe (very hard bone)… Additionally the neck area has a decent amount of pliability so if that dial was impacted over the neck area the effects would likely be minimal when considering the entire injury event; much worse things would be in play! I suppose some lacerations could occur as the dial may break and scrape across your neck but those are not major concerns!
I like the dial fit helmets because the most important component when it comes to “fit” is making sure the helmet remains in place for that initial impact. Having the flexibility to adjust them for the wide array of activities, hair style, small adjustments for helmet size, … seems to be a benefit!
Hope this helps and let me know if I can further assist! Barry
Thank you Emily for the incredible amount of work you have put in to research and share with the rest of us 
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