Which track day helmet (will not be used for racing)

[cib24]

I want to buy a helmet and stop renting one each time I do a track day. I am ramping up my number of track days next year to around 5-8 so it makes sense for me to buy a helmet now. I pretty much stick to Open Pit Lane days and I drive a relatively standard Mazda RX-8 (not the fastest thing out there but it grips in the corners very well). The majority of the track days I attend are sponsored by Javelin Track Days and they require a minimum BSI 6658 Type A helmet. I have been looking at three helmets:

V2 Tour

Sparco Club J1

OMP Star

The most important thing is to make sure that the helmet meets the requirements of each track and track organizer. All of these helmets are ECE 22.05 approved but only the V2 Tour is Snell SA2010 approved. I have no idea what this means in relation to the BSI 6658 Type A requirement. I'm also not sure if the larger tracks like Silverstone, Spa, Nurburgring, etc. require a higher specification than what I've listed above, but if so then I need to make sure the helmet meets those requirements as I am planning on doing Spa next year and possibly the Nurburgring if I can fit it in alongside the Spa trip. Finally, I prefer open faced helmets.

Thanks for the help.

[Trev450]

Get yourself to the Autosport show at the NEC in January and try them all on to see which one fits best.

[TypeRTom]

I bought a Black cat open face one, similar to the V2 but slightly cheaper and has the same approval. I felt it was worth paying a bit extra for one with proper motorsport approval just in case I did ever need it but also because the cost per trackday still works out roughly the same or cheaper than hiring one (depending how many you do - I bought mine after my first few TDs) and if you ever decide to hang up your helmet you'll have a bigger market to sell it to and should be able to get more for it.

I bought a large size based on my previous experience of borrowing helmets at trackdays and karting, it fits me fine with no discomfort. That said, if you don't mind waiting it would be better to try before you buy at the Autosport show.

[QBee]

I bought three V2 Tour helmets.
Two in XL, one open face, one full face
One in L, open face.

I have a convertible, and while I prefer the cooler open face helmet, some TDOs insist on full face helmet in an open top car. It also means I have spare helmets for passengers.

I find them really comfortable. You measure your head with your wife's dressmakers tape measure, horiziontally around the head just above the eyes. Their size chart is accurate. If you find you are right on the cusp between sizes, go for the larger size. Your head swells slightly as you get hot (and you will!), the helmet doesn't.

If the helmet doesn't fit nicely, just send it back for a full refund. Nice small company, as good as their word.

[terenceb]

Have you thought about the UVEX range? Available in full or open face, also in carbon fibre.I use the open race for day to day use, very light and certainly better to use than my Aria.Priced at around the same as most of the range you have been looking at.

[andy97]

Don't buy the cheapest or the more expensive, buy the one that fits best. Don't buy mail order, try them on.

[spikeyhead]

andy97 said:

Don't buy the cheapest or the more expensive, buy the one that fits best. Don't buy mail order, try them on.

• *This^^^

We've all got different shaped heads, so unless you can provide a 3D model of your head then anything anyone can suggest could be very uncomfortable.

[DocSteve]

Agree with all the above advice to try them on. I went to the Autosport show a couple of years ago and thought I'd go for a cheaper helmet but I found they just didn't fit me that well. A Bell helmet turned out to be very well suited to my head and although it cost me a fair bit more than I was going to pay I've been using it ever since and very happy with it.

I imagine that some of the trade sellers that have open showrooms e.g. Demon Tweeks will also allow trying on helmets so if you don't want to wait until the show you could try that.