I suppose it is the Canadian in me but the teptation to use a good hockey helmet has always seemed logical ?

I used to choose my helmet with crossover to H2O as my prime choice but don't see that as a requirment this time around.

Hockey helmets go through some extremely strict testing unlike bike helmets and even snowboard up until recently.

Why is it Hockey Helmets aren't considered as an option for kiting ?

Is is 'cause they're F'UGLY ?

The "face cage" would scare people.



Posted a week after Friday the 13th?!?! The possibility that you might ask about face protection next has me a little worried...


Dare to be F'UGLY!!! Could start a anti-fashion trend.

We borrow gear from other sports all the time..... so what the heck.

ATB,
Sam

Think of it in terms of basic physics: force = mass times acceleration. A puck or stick hitting your head may be moving fast, but the force is nothing like that a head backed up by a human body hitting pavement at speed.

Aren't hockey helmets designed with ethafoam or some other kind of 'elastic' foam that doesn't permanently deform on impact? Been years since I looked at one, but that's how I remember them. Foam liners in bike helmets and snow sport helmets are designed to permanently deform on impact, absorbing energy and slowing deceleration a lot more than multiple impact helmets. 20 years ago, before all the Snell and CPSC standards were developed, there were some bike helmets that used elastic foam. They didn't pass the tests.

krumly

different force. I would only use a good helmet like a 8800 which will run you the same as a snell motorcycle helmet anyway

Yeah - if a hockey helmet were designed to absorb one big impact instead of multiple smaller ones, you'd be replacing it every 5 minutes.

I have a Giro full face helmet, designed for DH mountain biking.

krumly

when I'm just cruising I use a snowboard helmet and when I put the speed on I switch to a scorpion vx helmet, snell/dot rated. you can pick one up for about 120. I really like the helmet. Good vents for cooling in the summer and warm in the winter :D

Quote:

Originally posted by krumly Think of it in terms of basic physics: force = mass times acceleration. A puck or stick hitting your head may be moving fast, but the force is nothing like that a head backed up by a human body hitting pavement at speed. Aren't hockey helmets designed with ethafoam or some other kind of 'elastic' foam that doesn't permanently deform on impact? Been years since I looked at one, but that's how I remember them. Foam liners in bike helmets and snow sport helmets are designed to permanently deform on impact, absorbing energy and slowing deceleration a lot more than multiple impact helmets. 20 years ago, before all the Snell and CPSC standards were developed, there were some bike helmets that used elastic foam. They didn't pass the tests. krumly

Hockey helmets are designed to protect you from cracking your head open on the ice or boards when traveling at 30+mph? They are designed with great peripherial vision and max cooling.
I can think of all sorts of reasons that hockey helmets are a good fit for our sport. The fact they can stand up to multiple impacts is good but I believe even hockey helmets are supposed to be replaced after a major impact . Even if damage is not evident.

My one and only problem is that I think I would look a whole new kind of foolish if I wore one ! I have never seen a hockey helmet I liked since the " mushroom " helmet of the 70's

This hockey playing newb just had to add a little spare change as well...

Hockey helmets are designed to absorb the force of one impact. After that, the eps is damaged and the helmet must be changed out.

For land boarding and now all this kite craziness, i picked up a new Troy Lee Designs D3 downhill full face bike helmet. Yes, it is pricy at $425ish but no one likes a chic with a bashed in face- especially my soon to be husband!

Having already been concussed twice from snowboarding and hockey, I have to say i feel safer with the D3 technology even though after one major impact it needs to be replaced just like the hockey helmet. PLUS, with the full face design,
I don't have to worry about others seeing who the crappy kiter is!