Open or Closed Helmet for track day?
Discussion
Off to the 'Ring shortly and need to get a lid sorted out.
Reading around seems like makes sense to go for Snell2010 and/or Type A/FR standards.
Only ever do really track days in closed top cars rather than outright racing events so thinking a touring or open face plus would give better peripheral visibility.
Shortlisted Arai GP5W or Bell GT5 for the touring style or Arai GP Jet or Bell MAG7 for open face. Any one got any experiences with either?
Reading around seems like makes sense to go for Snell2010 and/or Type A/FR standards.
Only ever do really track days in closed top cars rather than outright racing events so thinking a touring or open face plus would give better peripheral visibility.
Shortlisted Arai GP5W or Bell GT5 for the touring style or Arai GP Jet or Bell MAG7 for open face. Any one got any experiences with either?
Whichever you choose, these guys offer the best value helmets you can buy.
www.v2sport.com
My son and I use open face helmets for comfort and regretfully decline pax rides in open-toppers.
www.v2sport.com
My son and I use open face helmets for comfort and regretfully decline pax rides in open-toppers.
V8mate said:
Whichever you choose, these guys offer the best value helmets you can buy.
www.v2sport.com
My son and I use open face helmets for comfort and regretfully decline pax rides in open-toppers.
To counter that with an old racing adage; if you have a fifty quid head, buy a fifty quid helmet.www.v2sport.com
My son and I use open face helmets for comfort and regretfully decline pax rides in open-toppers.
My advice is to buy the best that you can afford, but try it on in a shop to make sure the fit is good as a poor fitting top of the range helmet will do less than a cheap, but well fitting helmet.
Make sure you buy one that fits and not just because of the name. For this reason don't buy one mail order and unless you have physically tried it on for a good while.
I made the mistake of buying a Bell once - great helmet but their view of the "standard" shape of a head is different to the shape of my head so a medium Bell pinched the front of my head leading to headaches after a relatively short while. Most manufacturers differ in their view of the shape of the head from each other. I ended up replacing the Bell. Just couldn't live with it. I tried on about 6-7 and ended up discovering that my head shape suits a small Sparco best.
Note that all helmets meet the min standard, so even a cheap helmet offers protection deemed to be adequate. In my view its would be best to buy a cheap helmet that fitted properly rather than an expensive helmet that did not. Unless you can afford to get one made to measure that is.
I made the mistake of buying a Bell once - great helmet but their view of the "standard" shape of a head is different to the shape of my head so a medium Bell pinched the front of my head leading to headaches after a relatively short while. Most manufacturers differ in their view of the shape of the head from each other. I ended up replacing the Bell. Just couldn't live with it. I tried on about 6-7 and ended up discovering that my head shape suits a small Sparco best.
Note that all helmets meet the min standard, so even a cheap helmet offers protection deemed to be adequate. In my view its would be best to buy a cheap helmet that fitted properly rather than an expensive helmet that did not. Unless you can afford to get one made to measure that is.
Edited by andy97 on Sunday 5th May 13:21
Life Saab Itch said:
V8mate said:
Whichever you choose, these guys offer the best value helmets you can buy.
www.v2sport.com
My son and I use open face helmets for comfort and regretfully decline pax rides in open-toppers.
To counter that with an old racing adage; if you have a fifty quid head, buy a fifty quid helmet.www.v2sport.com
My son and I use open face helmets for comfort and regretfully decline pax rides in open-toppers.
My advice is to buy the best that you can afford, but try it on in a shop to make sure the fit is good as a poor fitting top of the range helmet will do less than a cheap, but well fitting helmet.
And the guys who run V2 offer excellent service, with no quibble swaps/returns if they turn out not to fit.
But do feel free to spout your adages
Life Saab Itch said:
V8mate said:
Whichever you choose, these guys offer the best value helmets you can buy.
www.v2sport.com
My son and I use open face helmets for comfort and regretfully decline pax rides in open-toppers.
To counter that with an old racing adage; if you have a fifty quid head, buy a fifty quid helmet.www.v2sport.com
My son and I use open face helmets for comfort and regretfully decline pax rides in open-toppers.
My advice is to buy the best that you can afford, but try it on in a shop to make sure the fit is good as a poor fitting top of the range helmet will do less than a cheap, but well fitting helmet.
Get a close face though - u never know when you'll get an opportunity to drive a Caterham or something where you need a close face lid
V8mate said:
Many, many PHers use V2 helmets. They are well built and, obviously, meet the safety regs. They don't look or feel like a cheap helmet.
And the guys who run V2 offer excellent service, with no quibble swaps/returns if they turn out not to fit.
But do feel free to spout your adages
Great.And the guys who run V2 offer excellent service, with no quibble swaps/returns if they turn out not to fit.
But do feel free to spout your adages
When I was instructing at Palmersport I didn't see one on an instructor's head.
If you're going to the ring for Touristfahrten then you don't need one. Frankly if you are going quick enough to need a helmet during Touristfahrten then you're probably going too fast. 
If it's a track day though I'd go for a full face. My preference is for open face but then I'm quite ugly so it's going to be a closed casket anyway...
If it's a track day though I'd go for a full face. My preference is for open face but then I'm quite ugly so it's going to be a closed casket anyway...
Buy whatever fits. If a cheap helmet fits and meets the required safety checks then it'll be far safer for you than £2000 of carbon Arai that doesn't fit properly. Read up on how to check if a helmet actually fits properly, it's not immediately obvious and comfortable does not mean a safe fit especially if you're not used to wearing a helmet.
andy97 said:
Make sure you buy one that fits and not just because of the name. For this reason don't buy one mail order and unless you have physically tried it on for a good while.
I made the mistake of buying a Bell once - great helmet but their view of the "standard" shape of a head is different to the shape of my head so a medium Bell pinched the front of my head leading to headaches after a relatively short while. Most manufacturers differ in their view of the shape of the head from each other. I ended up replacing the Bell. Just couldn't live with it. I tried on about 6-7 and ended up discovering that my head shape suits a small Sparco best.
This. I seem to have an Arai shaped head not a Bell shaped head, only found this out by trying loads on in the shop.I made the mistake of buying a Bell once - great helmet but their view of the "standard" shape of a head is different to the shape of my head so a medium Bell pinched the front of my head leading to headaches after a relatively short while. Most manufacturers differ in their view of the shape of the head from each other. I ended up replacing the Bell. Just couldn't live with it. I tried on about 6-7 and ended up discovering that my head shape suits a small Sparco best.
Edited by andy97 on Sunday 5th May 13:21
As for open vs closed I always go closed face now. Handy if you get offered a ride / drive in a Caterfield, but also nicer to have the extra face protection in the tin top.
Part of what you're often paying for in an expensive helment are features like it being very light weight, which is nice for comfort and adds a bit of safety but not a huge deal. Also things like having fireproof lining etc is kinda pointless if you're not wearing any other Nomex.
Just pick something from a recognised brand & ratings and focus on getting a really good fit as that is really important.
I find open helmets a lot more comfortable and also a little less hassle with wearing glasses.
Gwagon111 said:
If you're heading to the ring on a Touristenfahrten day, don't use an open face lid. You will almost certainly come back with less teeth than you left with 
.
Total, utter rubbish. I've done loads of TF laps (over 100) in an open face helmet and not lost a single tooth..In fact I haven't lost a tooth driving a car ever.
Re. the OP, from your requirements: first, buy a helmet that fits; equal first, buy one that meets the relevant regs; last, by a long way, look at the price.
You mention tthe Arai GP5W, I have one, and really like it, certainly suits me, but it may not suit you.
.davepoth said:
If you're going to the ring for Touristfahrten then you don't need one. Frankly if you are going quick enough to need a helmet during Touristfahrten then you're probably going too fast.
My mate & I were 1st on the scene of a serious accident there on a TF day. Looking at the remains of the car I'd suggest full face is a pretty good idea.RH
Thankfully not a TF day, organised trackday with limited cars so hopefully incidents of ambition greater than talent will be low.
Thanks for all advice people.
Going to go check out some options at http://www.gprdirect.com up at Silverstone.
Thanks for all advice people.
Going to go check out some options at http://www.gprdirect.com up at Silverstone.
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