Power Kite Forum

full face helmet

Jason-G - 17-5-2018 at 08:21 AM



I currently use a bike helmet when I buggy at the beach. I am thinking of switching to a full face helmet. On ebay some nice looking ones are only about $40 and are DOT certified. Does anyone have any advice on purchasing a full face helmet. My bike helmet has vents to let air through. Will a full face dirt bike helmet be too hot? What are other drawbacks of using a full face helmet?

Thanks
Jason

cheezycheese - 17-5-2018 at 08:53 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Jason-G  


What are other drawbacks of using a full face helmet?

Thanks
Jason


No one can see your pretty mug... :P

cheezycheese - 17-5-2018 at 08:55 AM

Seriously it's probably personal preference. At wildwood we have a good mix of simple bike helmets to full on MX style helmets from riders of all skill levels. So you will probably get a dozen different answers.

Glx - 17-5-2018 at 10:05 AM

Have not been doing this for long but have tried a few helmets to date, open face and full motorcycle helmet and motorcross helmet.

Bike helmet (not tried) - i would be concerned at high speed
Half (open face) motorcycle helmet - ok but way too hot.
Full motorcycle helmet - way too hot and very reduced visibility.
Motorcross (currently in use) - suprisingly very cool, very nice wide vision and in general quite comfortable.

Glx - 17-5-2018 at 10:09 AM

Have not been doing this for long but have tried a few helmets to date, open face and full motorcycle helmet and motorcross helmet.

Bike helmet (not tried) - i would be concerned at high speed
Half (open face) motorcycle helmet - ok but way too hot.
Full motorcycle helmet - way too hot and very reduced visibility.
Motorcross (currently in use) - suprisingly very cool, very nice wide vision and in general quite comfortable.

jeffnyc - 17-5-2018 at 12:26 PM

Bike helmets are not meant to hold up to the type of crashes we have. They act like an egg shell, absorbing the impact. They're only good for one use. I hate to say this to cheese, but hang gliding helmets are built on the same concept (and pretty expensive, so try not to crash hard!). Having said that, sand impacts probably aren't hurting the helmet too much, just check it for wear.
Best bets are helmets designed to withstand repeated impacts like skate, motocross kayak. Probably some I'm missing.
Bicycle helmet saved my life, so I did a bunch of research. POC helmet I have now would have saved me a blackout I think.

Windstruck - 17-5-2018 at 12:56 PM

I went with a downhill mountain bike helmet with MIPS. The GIRO Cypher (in my case size L in matte black) is sturdy, full faced, and well ventilated.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FPWGZD4/ref=twister_B00FQPZ0KY?...

The downside I have found with having a full faced helmet for buggying is seeing straight down. This is a hassle when I want to hook in and out of my AQR in a seated position; the chin part blocks my view and I have to hook and unhook by feel. When I have gloves on this gets a little, but not a lot, harder. Seems a very easy trade off for having my grill protected it I face plant on the playa.

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bigkid - 17-5-2018 at 01:46 PM

Not sure about the repeated impact use as all dot are to replace after 1 impact.
As stated above its personal preference on what type you use. I have a few helmets that I used until something happened to warrant replacement.
Full face, limits you side view and will cause a broken collarbone or broken ribs from the chin guard as it is smashed into your chest. Done that and won't happen again.
Skate board half helmet, this is the one I wear when I participate in an event that requires one.
Blokart has a nice helmet that's designed for just the sport we enjoy.
I'm curious how many actually had a bad accident that benefited from a helmet and why.
I personally don't wear one after my accident, but if I have too it's the Blokart helmet. Has holes for cooling and is not quite a 3/4 style. It's light and has a strap n the back for you to hold your goggles as yo ride.
Ever see a full face mc helmet that failed after a crash, not pretty. My grand son sill tells the story about dad and his wipe out.

abkayak - 17-5-2018 at 01:49 PM

cheese will go full face and no shoes...nutz
its the beach not black top
jusayin

cheezycheese - 17-5-2018 at 01:56 PM

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak  
cheese will go full face and no shoes...nutz
its the beach not black top
jusayin


I only wore the helmet to hold my camera... :P

Cheddarhead - 17-5-2018 at 02:30 PM

I wear a down hill mountain bike helmet 90% of the time. Light weight, great venting and good visibility for a full face. Rest of the time it's an open face ski helmet. I ride on ice most of the time so a helmet is mandatory in my book.

Ed Cline - 17-5-2018 at 02:48 PM

Rawlings Batting helmet here. Vents work in a walking breeze from any direction.
So in winter a cotton cap goes underneath. It holds on where the nutshell seems unsteady.
Cool factor.?

And why do you want a full face helmet? Do you want to know what's safest?

skimtwashington - 17-5-2018 at 03:17 PM

I don't know. Just curious your original reason for asking and posting.

I wear a ski helmet year round(sand, snow and ice).

The danger after your head is your NECK. If you snap your head(bounce off the ground), or twist it, you can do some serious injury also.

...maybe this would help with neck issue?...:



Then after the neck ...it's the rest of your spine.


I guess the first thing is to avoid crashes and OBE to begin with, huh?

Most kitesurfers don't wear helmets so being on the water must be lots safer.

Jason-G - 17-5-2018 at 04:25 PM


I learned to buggy in a wheat field in Oklahoma. I used a bike helmet and had a few OBE situations in which I did not get hurt. The terrain was bumpy and I was usually using a 4m kite (non depower). Now I live at the beach. Things are way different - a dog peed on my kite (no dogs or people in wheat field). The terrain on low tide is long and mostly smooth but has some sharp shells. I can build up much more speed and I also have kites that I was not too confident using in the wheat field due to gusty shifty winds that I am starting to use now with the buggy (slingshot ranger 9m, sabre 2 7m, and a prototype ozone 4m dp). I like to be safe but also like to test my skills - If things get out of control or I leave the ground I thought a full face helmet would save my face if I planted it - not sure now based on previous comments.

Jason

TEDWESLEY - 17-5-2018 at 04:28 PM

I use a down hill mountain bike helmets as well, they are lighter than motocross and well ventilated. No helmet should be reused after
a real hit, they are all one trick ponies in a real crash. Designed to self destruct to absorb crash energy. Helmet saved my life in an accident that sent me to intensive care for 5 days. They cut it off me . I use Bell helmet Drop models around $ 125 . The old adage
holds; if you have a $10 head buy a $10 helmet

Ed Cline - 17-5-2018 at 04:34 PM

A lot of 3/4 helmets come with face masks or face mask with goggles.
I haven't tried one yet but it may replace a scarf in winter.
I like that it's optional to the helmet, and cheap enough to try one before I inevitably find the one I really needed.

Some of us don't have much room on our faces for any more ugly.
Or even embedded gravel. :D

Randy - 17-5-2018 at 05:42 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Ed Cline  
Rawlings Batting helmet here. Vents work in a walking breeze from any direction.
So in winter a cotton cap goes underneath. It holds on where the nutshell seems unsteady.
Cool factor.?



Hey Ed,

Where is that spot? Near Raliegh? Might have to visit there sometime.

shehatesmyhobbies - 17-5-2018 at 05:47 PM

MX helmet here, always cool inside, goggle fit is near perfect to protect the eyes from blowing sand. As stated, some loss of view when hooking in either strop or chicken loop, but in my opinion, best fit, form and function with plenty of safety in case of an episode.

Have to replace mine at this moment as it took it first major hit at wildwood! Had the same helmet since 2000, and it still shines like new, well till now.

shehatesmyhobbies - 17-5-2018 at 05:48 PM

I do know of a few that wear an Ace helmet, like the ones used for skating or even kite surfing. Very comfy, lightweight and reliable.

Ed Cline - 18-5-2018 at 06:54 AM

Randy, Its a park and ride near the Raleigh fairgrounds. Nice steady wind, really tough gravel though. If there's n event it's full of cars.

BeamerBob - 18-5-2018 at 07:34 AM

I wear a snowmobile helmet with integrated face shield on the dry lakes. Feels secure and keeps my glasses dust free. This week at JIBE I wore a normal bicycle helmet and felt secure. I just bought a bell hard shell bike /skate helmet and will use it for beach riding.

jeepersjoey - 18-5-2018 at 05:54 PM

I wear a full face downhill bike helmet.

Ventilation is awesome.

Replace after any hit.

Troll Craigslist and people often sell after zero to one ride. My first and second were brand new and $50 each. Both were $200+ helmets.

All the gear. All the time.

All it takes is once and everyone you love will talk about why didnt you wear your helmet as they feed you applesauce.

Not even close to worth it.

Don't get me started on dumb Harley guys without helmets! Oh great...there I go!

Paul

jimbocz - 19-5-2018 at 12:46 AM


In Europe, most everyone wears a full face helmet for buggying. I think bmx type helmets are more common but it wouldn't surprise me if people serious about going fast were using motorcycle helmets.
When I went to JIBE, I figured I would buy a helmet on Amazon and have it shipped to the states. Even though I was careful and measured everything, that stupid helmet was waaay too small. The first day I spent hours driving around trying to find a replacement full face helmet only to find everyone just used skate helmets or whatever.

I've had an incident when the kite got behind me and the lines forced my head to go all the way back and hot the axle very hard. If I hadn't have been wearing a helmet I would probably not be writing this now but rather waiting for the nice lady to come feed me some applesauce.

soliver - 19-5-2018 at 05:18 PM

I have the very helmet Jimbocz brought to JIBE that didn't fit him. He offered it to my oldest daughter who wasn't interested... if a size small helmet will fit you, you are welcome to have it if you pay for the shipping. It is a BMX style helmet similar to the one Windstruck is wearing in his photo above and it is essentially new. I tried it on and it was too small for me too, but I do have a big head. Shoot me a U2U if you're interested.

Chook - 20-5-2018 at 03:20 AM

I use a "661" downhill bike helmet ever since I started.
Very light and has 14 mesh vents. Extremely comfortable.
Couple of high speed crashes have ripped the visor off and scuffed it up. The visor is now held in place with silicone



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Windstruck - 20-5-2018 at 05:36 AM

I find it interesting that the overwhelming response has been variations of a downhill mountain bike helmet. The responses have spanned at least three continents and all parts of the US. I used to use a full face motorcycle helmet that I already owned when I started buggying, but in warm weather I'd sweat in it like I was running. I switched to my winter ski helmet for a while and it took me through my freak gasoline fight accident a few summers ago. After I put it to good use and threw it away I looked for an upgrade.

I live in the mountains in Utah and several of the ski resorts around me run some of their lifts in the summer specifically for downhill mountain bikers. I've watched countless people bomb down single track at huge speed decked out in the sort of plastic courage I wear when I buggy. To me their helmets seemed just right in concept. Sturdy enough to absorb one really hard hit while also being well ventilated to keep these athletes cool. Seems others have come to the same conclusions!

Cerebite - 21-5-2018 at 09:15 AM

As a slight variation on the downhill MTB helmet there is a new bike discipline called Enduro where the athlete rides horizontal and uphill terrain in addition to the downhill. I use an Enduro helmet as it has the ventilation of of a cross country MTB helmet [critical when one sweats like a sweaty thing in the desert] while still having the full face/ jaw of a downhill.
I have steered clear of helmets for motorized sports as they are not ventilated for the wearer to be exercising [not saying an aggressive Motorcyclist isnt an athlete but there is a difference compared to an endurance athlete].

RedSky - 21-5-2018 at 11:15 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bigkid  

I'm curious how many actually had a bad accident that benefited from a helmet and why


I wear a full face motocross helmet. The helmet initially increased my confidence almost to the point of complacency. I started taking risks, pushed too hard on uneven ground, inevitably the bug flipped up and over, resulting in the rear axle whacking me on my head.

Glad to have been wearing it, but would I have risked pushing so hard if I wasn't wearing one? No way.

Windstruck - 21-5-2018 at 03:38 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bigkid  


I'm curious how many actually had a bad accident that benefited from a helmet and why.



This is what I refer to as my "freak gasoline fight accident" to borrow a line from Zoolander:

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=32253

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=32253&p...


Jeff - you've told me your story of how you used your full face helmet to attempt to scoop out your heart and lungs and that is truly a gruesome tale. My tale would not have been told without a helmet. I broke mine on impact on a grass field, so while I don't have memory of the impact, I have to assume I "came in hot". One balance I opt to keep my noggin encased in a MIPS helmet both while skiing and in my buggy, and as you know, I use your AQR to keep me in my buggy. I stopped snowkiting and using wheels of doom as I can't ensure my bride that I won't go airborne again. I use a regular MIPS ski helmet that is not full face.