Trackday Helmet Help

[RS Grant]

...sorry, this wil have been done to death I'm sure, but I'm looking for a new helmet would be greatful of some advice.

- Don't want to spend hundreds on something,
- I would like the option to use it in an open top car if I get the offer of a passenger seat at any point, therefore it will have to be full face.
- Brand matters not a jot to me, if George at Asda did something suitable then I'd gladly wear it.

I started off looking at things like these:

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/helmets/o...

http://www.racevisors.co.uk/product/agv-k3-black-h...

...then after looking at more and more of them, ended up quite fancying this:

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorcycle/helmets-v...

...not really wanting to spend more than a couple of hundred at the most, so for the money, I thought this Bell sounded good and in particular the re-active visor which would deal with any low sun that I encountered?


Cheers,
Grant

[V8mate]

Great quality. Great value. And if it doesn't fit (because you have an odd head) you just send it back; great service!

http://www.v2sport.com/

[checkmate91]

I have one of these from DT http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/driver/b... not sure if you need full-face but I prefer open.

Very comfortable, FIA approved and DT do a swap pledge if helmet doesn't fit. But, frankly, measure your head properly and you shouldn't go far wrong.

[df76]

Have a look here:

https://www.hedtec.co.uk/products/category/helmets...

I now have one of these and can highly recommend:

http://www.sportseats4u.co.uk/omp-gp7k-helmet/prod...

(I managed to find one in the sale, and got it for well under £200).

[Fonzey]

Hedtec vote here. I ordered a V2 but they had stock issues, so got the Hedtec instead and no regrets.

[e21Mark]

Headtec are hard to beat for value.

Sizes are pretty good also, as I have a big noggin and struggled for comfort with more expensive alternatives.

[Black Flag]

I have just bought one of these. Good quality and lightweight too
http://rrs-direct.co.uk/store/rrs-protect-circuit-...

[jimbobs]

If it's just for trackdays and you absolutely don't need it for motorsports, then my advice would be to get down to your local motorbike shop and try a few on.

That way you'll definitely get one that fits, which is the most important thing. If you really don't care about brand / looks, you'll also be able to pick one up for about 50 quid.

You don't need MSA compliant helmets for trackdays, and I'm not aware of any trackday fatalities caused by the lack of an expensive helmet, so you may a well get a cheapie.

[IdiotRace]

checkmate91 said:

I have one of these from DT http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/driver/b... not sure if you need full-face but I prefer open.

Very comfortable, FIA approved and DT do a swap pledge if helmet doesn't fit. But, frankly, measure your head properly and you shouldn't go far wrong.

Silly question but is there a guide to measuring your head properly somewhere? I keep putting off buying one so always end up with a rental at trackdays.

[V8mate]

IdiotRace said:

Silly question but is there a guide to measuring your head properly somewhere? I keep putting off buying one so always end up with a rental at trackdays.

I'd follow each manufacturer's specific guidance, though I can't imagine there are that many ways of doing it

[Craikeybaby]

I also advise finding somewhere you can try some on and getting one that fits your head properly.

[V8mate]

Craikeybaby said:

I also advise finding somewhere you can try some on and getting one that fits your head properly.

All the online companies offer no quibble returns.

[HustleRussell]

I wouldn’t recommend the budget FIA SNELL approved helmets for trackday use unless you are going to go racing. You are paying a lot of money for the testing and approval of the helmet; the fit, finish and quality of the helmet is going to be comparable to a motorcycle or karting helmet costing around half the amount.

If you are going to go racing I would urge you to spend more. IMO 300-400 quid will do.

I speak as somebody who has bought six helmets in the past eight years or so including kart, motorcycle and race helmets and including, just this month, one of the budget FIA / SNELL approved brands already mentioned.

[corporalsparrow]

Go to a dealer and get properly fitted if at all possible. By far the best route.

[RS Grant]

A lot of food for thought here, thanks very much.

Regarding the V2 stuff, I had been considering them after reading up on them on various threads, however I read that they use the same shell for Large, XLarge and XXLarge and the difference in sizing was due to a reduction of padding inside.. and I'm not sure I'd like a 'stripped out' version of a Large helmet?!

I'll go away and have another look at the manufacturers suggested and also try to get down to a local helmet supplier and try a few things on and see if there's anything they've got which is suitable.

Is there a great deal of difference in view out of either a bike helmet or a car helmet??


Cheers,
Grant

[HustleRussell]

While as I said before I won't recommend the budget FIA / Snell helmet approach, I will say that I believe it is quite usual for helmet manufacturers to have only two shell sizes across the range.

[jimbobs]

RS Grant said:

Is there a great deal of difference in view out of either a bike helmet or a car helmet??

Motorbike helmets tend to have a larger aperture to give more peripheral vision on the road. On the track though, you won't notice any difference.