Good track day helmet

[Jer_1974]

Bought an Evo 6 and planning on doing some track days next year and was looking at a helmet as a Christmas present. I have been looking at loads and don't know what to go for.

Budget between £50 and £400.

Looking at everything from the Sparco club x1 to Simpson Bandit.

What do you have? Can you use any old motorbike helmet?

[LeoSayer]

One that fits properly and you feel comfortable in, primarily.

Try as many different ones as you can.

[Jer_1974]

Unless I go to a motorbike dealer don't think I will have much chance to try on.

LeoSayer said:

One that fits properly and you feel comfortable in, primarily.

Try as many different ones as you can.

[mighty kitten]

If you have a roof and windscreen an open face is all you need , I got a pair for £150 with all the correct safety markings and added peltor headsets for the same price so can have normal conversations as my car is a bit noisy

[Trev450]

Yes you can use a motor bike helmet for track days but not for MSA motorsport. So if you are considering doing some events in the future you may as well get an approved car helmet straight off.

Companies like Demon Tweeks have a fail safe returns policy whereby if you purchase a helmet from them and don't like it for any reason they will refund without question. Alternatively, go along to the Autosport show at the NEC in January and you can try on as many lids as you like.

[Synchromesh]

I like my Sparco Club X1. If you can wait until January get yourself to the Autosport show and a) try a few on and b) get a better deal. I got mine from the Demon Tweeks stand there with a decent discount.

[BobSaunders]

Highly suggest going into a motorcycle store and trying some on. I went in and tried about four of five on after getting some tips from them on fitting and what to look for.

All helmets worn on UK roads must either:

meet British Standard BS 6658:1985 and carry the BSI Kitemark
meet UNECE Regulation 22.05
meet a European Economic Area member standard offering at least the same safety and protection as BS 6658:1985, and carry a mark equivalent to the BSI Kitemark

Yes, aware that a track is not a UK road, however, these are some good guidelines on what to look for.

[QBee]

Snell 2005 and Snell 2010 compliance are also a good thing to look for - they are the approvals of the American Snell Foundation.

[Ursicles]

mighty kitten said:

If you have a roof and windscreen an open face is all you need , I got a pair for £150 with all the correct safety markings and added peltor headsets for the same price so can have normal conversations as my car is a bit noisy

I'd be careful here.

Going to Brands on the 2nd through Javelin trackdays, and their literature says no open faced helmets.

[LiamM45]

I paid about £40-50 for an 'LS2' full face helmet from a local motorbike shop. It gets used for track days and arrive and drive karting and I find it very comfortable.

[Ursicles]

I bought this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shox-Sniper-Solid-Motorcyc...

Figure im inside a car - and if people are rating it to use on a motorbike, then im safe in a car with it!

[zz000mm]

I've got an open faced Bell. Very good make, but if I could go back in time, I'd not get an open face.

I once heard a quote from Nick Mason (I think) whose wife was hurt when wearing an open face. He said he wished it had not been bought.

If you do not have full harnesses and side head restraint to your seat then I'd go with a full face.

All good fun..

[QBee]

Ursicles said:

mighty kitten said:

If you have a roof and windscreen an open face is all you need , I got a pair for £150 with all the correct safety markings and added peltor headsets for the same price so can have normal conversations as my car is a bit noisy

I'd be careful here.

Going to Brands on the 2nd through Javelin trackdays, and their literature says no open faced helmets.

I'll see you there!
In my experience of both Javelin and MSV at other tracks, if you ask them directly they quote what you have said. If you just get on with it they don't complain. But there's always a first time.....

[R8VXF]

I have a Fox Racing FMX rated open face helmet with the whole chin guard thing that just needs goggles to complete full face coverage. Has the right kite marks for road use etc, is that enough for track day use?

[QBee]

The truth is they don't check the helmets. Wear one and you are in.

BUT - how much is your head worth? Race circuits are dangerous.

I did my first track days in a soft top car with no roll over bar, so no protection in the event of a flip over.

So when reality kicked in I tried to put a value on my head and neck, rated them at a tad over £640, so fitted a roll over bar for £500 and got a racing helmet, Snell 2010 rated, for £140.

Your head - your valuation.

[R8VXF]

QBee said:

The truth is they don't check the helmets. Wear one and you are in.

BUT - how much is your head worth? Race circuits are dangerous.

I did my first track days in a soft top car with no roll over bar, so no protection in the event of a flip over.

So when reality kicked in I tried to put a value on my head and neck, rated them at a tad over £640, so fitted a roll over bar for £500 and got a racing helmet, Snell 2010 rated, for £140.

Your head - your valuation.

This is the thing, am totally willing to get a new helmet but an FMX rated helmet would hopefully protect against falls from great heights so if the rating is good, would rather not pat out!

[eldavo]

It might be a little OTT but for around your £400 budget you could get a HANS device and appropriate helmet from Demon Tweeks?

[captainsl0w]

OMP sell SNELL fia approved full face helmets for good money. I use mine for karting and track days


Ybracing.co.uk

[checkmate91]

Another vote for Demon Tweeks here. If you measure your head properly their sizing chart is pretty accurate and, as has been said, they offer a return/refund service which is pretty good. I have an Impact Racing Velocity (US and no longer stocked) open faced job and a Bell Mag 1, both are Snell 2005/2010 and as far as I know perfectly fit for purpose for track days. Each around the £200-250 mark.

I'm yet to be convinced of the need for a full-face helmet in a closed cockpit car on a track day. Soft top/Caterham etc different story!

[QBee]

Open face - cooler on a hot day. Full face - never wrong.

I agree with the last poster re tin top, no need for a full face helmet. I am just an inveterate blagger, so having a full face helmet with me means I can blag a passenger ride in a Radical or Caterham.

But then, if the open top passenger ride of your dreams comes along, you can always borrow or hire a full face helmet.

I have a soft top and have the lid off on warmer track days - and have rarely been stopped from driving in an open face helmet. But I have the answer anyway.

My solution was simple. I went for two V2 helmets, at around £150 each. One open face, one full face. Both Snell 2005/10 compliant. Covers all options and means i always have a spare for passengers.
Good sizing chart, money back guarantee if not suitable (you are protected by the distance selling regs anyway.).