Helmets!

[krunchkin]

I'm thinking of buying a helmet for track days. Could anyone in the know recommend some suitable makes and models and good places to buy them?

cheers

[agent006]

You'd do best having a quick look back through the forum. It can't be many weeks since we last had the buy a £1000 Arai vs buy what fits argument.

[juansolo]

Go to bike shop, try on everything, buy one that fits. Simple.

[Trev450]

Buy the best you can afford and as already said, try before you buy to ensure a good fit.

[holtyuk]

Very good advice to try them on as fit is the most important thing. But if its for track days in a car some TDOs might insist on a Snell rating of some sort, but whether the policy ever or always gets enforced I couldn't say.

[GreigM]

holtyuk said:

if its for track days in a car some TDOs might insist on a Snell rating of some sort, but whether the policy ever or always gets enforced I couldn't say.

think I've used every TDO at pretty much every circuit in the UK and I've never seen anyone check a helmet (beyond "do you have a helmet on?") -in fact if there were any sort of standards imposed most circuits would be in trouble because they rent out some appauling pieces of crap from their "helmet stores" on a daily basis

[Andy Bell]

also take into account what you are driving. If you are open top you would want a duck bill to avoid it lifting at speed (think its called that). My Bell R3 Pro has it.

[g40steve]

Comfort & fit are the tops for me, sparco pro jet for me.

[krunchkin]

all good advice here chaps. I do track it with an open top - so does that mean I need to have full face style?

[Olivera]

juansolo said:

Go to bike shop, try on everything, buy one that fits. Simple.

Which won't be fire resistant like a car helmet, won't have any type approvals for car use (relevant for trackdays/racing), and won't be constructed in a manner suitable for multiple impacts inside a car.

[b0rk]

You should wear a full face for a open top car, can't think of a TDO that would accept open face + biggles style googles. One stone chip to your face and you'll soon realise why full face is the way forward.

[juansolo]

Olivera said:

juansolo said:

Go to bike shop, try on everything, buy one that fits. Simple.

Which won't be fire resistant like a car helmet, won't have any type approvals for car use (relevant for trackdays/racing), and won't be constructed in a manner suitable for multiple impacts inside a car.

An argument I've never understood. A bike helmet is designed to protect your head as it's bouncing along tarmac at speed. Pretty bloody hard stuff. I suspect they're quite well designed in that respect. Stickers are irrelevant unless you're racing. The only real benefit of a car helmet that I can see is that they have a fireproof lining. If you're not going to go the whole hog with overalls/underwear/balaclava, then I'm not sure that's particularly beneficial either.

Bike helmets have the advantage of not having VAT on them. Get last years model when they sell them off and you can stick a £400 Dainese on your bonce for half that. Is that going to be a better lid than a £200 stickered up V2 Sport for the same price..? Who knows. But I know which one fits my head a lot better.

[g40steve]

b0rk said:

You should wear a full face for a open top car, can't think of a TDO that would accept open face + biggles style googles. One stone chip to your face and you'll soon realise why full face is the way forward.

My sparco pro jet is open face, I drive a soft top car, never had an issue or been asked.

????

[heebeegeetee]

b0rk said:

You should wear a full face for a open top car, can't think of a TDO that would accept open face + biggles style googles. One stone chip to your face and you'll soon realise why full face is the way forward.

We don't wear helmets on the public road, where there is more traffic and likelihood of encountering stones on the road.

[GreigM]

heebeegeetee said:

b0rk said:

You should wear a full face for a open top car, can't think of a TDO that would accept open face + biggles style googles. One stone chip to your face and you'll soon realise why full face is the way forward.

We don't wear helmets on the public road, where there is more traffic and likelihood of encountering stones on the road.

I think the reference must be for open tops like caterfields/radicals etc with no screen...other soft tops with a screen are fine

[krunchkin]

Seem to have opened a bit of a debate here. Not sure I am any more enlightened. So what are we saying I should buy that will be approved, effective, and reasonably priced for open top (s2000) track driving ?

[hot66]

I borrowed one of these the other day @ a trackday

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sparco-Club-J1-Open-Face...

fitted me really well ....

any comments on the helmet ? It does seem cheap compared to otheres being talked about

[jimbobs]

To try and summarise the preceding arguments...

It all comes down to your personal risk tolerance. When I was just doing a few trackdays I (personally) was completely happy with a bike helmet for the following reasons:
- they're cheap
- It's easy to try on many different types to get the best fit (there aren't many motorsport suppliers around the country so it's a real faff to try different types of pukka motorsport helmets).
- On a trackday I'm *probably* not going to have an accident
- If I do have an accident, a bike helmet is *probably* going to be completely adequate.
- No one is going to check it

Now that I'm doing the odd sprint / hillclimb, I have a properly stickered up, fire proof one because:
- The regs say I have to
- I'm a bit more likely to crash
- I'm probably going to be going faster if I do crash
- The scrutes check it every time

So, in your shoes, for trackdays only, I personally would get a bike helmet. But it's entirely your choice!

[QBee]

g40steve said:

My sparco pro jet is open face, I drive a soft top car, never had an issue or been asked.

????

Just been to Cadwell last week. Open top car, had to wear full face helmet.

[QBee]

krunchkin said:

Seem to have opened a bit of a debate here. Not sure I am any more enlightened. So what are we saying I should buy that will be approved, effective, and reasonably priced for open top (s2000) track driving ?

The V2 ones are a Snell 2005/2010 standard helmet for well under £200. Fitting chart is accurate, so measure around your head with a dress makers tape measure, horizontal, one inch above your eyes. Mine are both very comfortable. You get them by googling V2 helmets. They refund if you are not 100% happy.
You need full face for open top cars (or for when you blag a ride in a Caterham or an Ariel Atom), open face or tin top. I bought both, then I have one for passengers.