danielskydiver 0 #1 March 1, 2012 Hey guys, I'm planning to buy an open-face helmet, I think the Tonfly 2x. This helmet has a chincup with hard or soft ratchet straps. The soft ratchet straps remove the rigidity of the chincup and allow the mouth to be moved better. I'm used to rental helmets with a normal chinstrap, those hemets aren't very comfortable. Is a chincup is more comfortable? Since I have just 23 jumps, I'm not allowed to jump camera yet, but I want a helmet with the possibility to mount a cam when i'm allowed to. So all in all: should I buy soft or hard ratchet straps? Or should I consider a different helmet without chincup? Blue skies! Ps. Does anyone has good/bad experience with Tonfly helmets? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
holie 0 #2 March 2, 2012 ... what about that? http://www.boneheadcomposites.com/m8/101--hell-s-halo-camera-helmet.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #3 March 2, 2012 A good helmet is easy to swap out chin straps. You can always add a chin cup later. Bonehead Mindwarp comes to mind amongst so many others too. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #4 March 2, 2012 I would be tempted to say : buy a cheaper but still comfortable helmet, spend your money on more jumps. Once you have the jumpnumbers for video, figure out if you have the skills. Do a couple more jumps. And THEN start looking for video equipment and helmetscissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
axelandr 0 #5 March 4, 2012 The Tonfly 2x is a VERY NICE helmet, its miles away from any other model I ever tried, and I tried quite a few before deciding on the Tonfly.. no worries about the comfort of the chincup - takes a little getting used to, but all in all you'll find that the helmet will sit better on your head, as tightening the chincup will add to the stability of the whole thing.. no more having the helmet flapping around your head in freefall, providing you have a nice tight fit.. added bonus is that it wont get stuck in your beard like normal chinstraps.. if you're sporting one, that is.. as for soft or rigid rachets, go with the soft if you think it'll be more comfortable (they probably are), but I haven't had any problems with my rigid ones.. If you're getting prepared for camera work sometime in the distant future, make sure you get the cut-away system installed right away (normally they won't charge for the installation if you get it straight away. installing it later on might set you back some dollars).. I prefer to have mine mounted on the back of the helmet, although standard Tonfly installation will have the release mounted on the chincup.. No difference except cosmetics, but I think it lookes better on the back. You just have to remember which side it's on.. Honestyly one of the best pieces of equipment I have ever bought! Alex. Alex. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danielskydiver 0 #6 March 4, 2012 Thanks for all input! I still think i'm going for the tonfly, because i've read a lot of positive reviews, almost no negative points. @piisfish: Jumping isn't going to be a problem, this season i'm trainee at a DZ so I can jump for 'free'@axelandr: Good to know that the helmet fits snug to your head with a chincup, sounds really good compared to the helmets I've tried. I will add the cutaway system indeed, it will come in useful at a certain time. For the ratchets, i'm not sure yet, but as you said, both versions will do their job good. I've read about some helmets which you can bake to ajust the liners to your head, is this possible with the Tonfly? Daniël Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #7 March 4, 2012 QuoteI'd rather spend some extra money on a helmet which can last for years, so I don't have to buy a new one when I want to go video. By the time you're flying a camera, something newer and neater will have come out. There will be times in future when you will want to jump without a camera. Having a helmet that doesn't have camera mounts on it will make that easier (and safer). Buy what you need now, now. Buy what you need then, then. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
axelandr 0 #8 March 4, 2012 I find myself both agreeing and disagreeing with you on this... The 2X doesn't have mounts on it (converter mounts integrated into the helmet), meaning it can be jumped just as safely without a camera on top.. As for buying 2 sets of helmets - if he wants to go with something fancy, quite a bit more comfy (and thats an understatement!!) than your average Benny or Gath, and has a wish to fly camera in the future, I don't really see why not to go with the 2X in the first place.. If your saying this because you assume the OP will take forever to get to fly a camera and that he NEEDS to get the newest, fanciest, shiniest toy available at that time, then yes, buy 1 now 1 later.. somehow I don't think this is necessarily the case.. Alex. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #9 March 4, 2012 Quote if he wants to go with something fancy, quite a bit more comfy (and thats an understatement!!) than your average Benny or Gath Much less SAFE though. And what's not comfy about these helmets? I think most experienced jumpers that did start with a pro-tec like helmet either still have that helmet, or sold them and kinda regret it. I still have my pro-tec helmet, for one. I almost always fly camera, so my regular helmets have, well, camera stuff on them. Not good for flying in the tunnel, doing CRW, doing accuracy, doing a speedstar, or just going for a funjump when no cameras are needed/wanted. These jumps don't happen often enough that I'm going to buy a "fancy" (your word) helmet for them, when I have a perfectly good and very safe pro-tec in my closet. Which I'm never selling ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
axelandr 0 #10 March 4, 2012 safety is for sure another factor, didn't really consider that in my previous post.. safety issues aside, I still find my 2X to be miles ahead when it comes to being comfy, compared to the Bennys, Gaths, Giros, Berns or other multi-purpose helmet I've tried.. Can't really see any issues with taking my 2X into the tunnel (have done so on numerous occations), on speedstars or on regular funjumps (Idem) either.. if you don't wanna jump the camera, untwist it from the mount, pop in a 2nd converter-thingie to cover the hole and you're ready to go - takes 2 seconds.. both cheaper and easier then buying and carrying 2 helmets around IMO.. another added bonus is the audible pockets which you won't necessarily find on the low-range helmets.. I believe this adds to the safety-aspect as well (as long as you add the audible(s)), although it won't help you much on impact.. Alex. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danielskydiver 0 #11 March 4, 2012 QuoteHaving a helmet that doesn't have camera mounts on it will make that easier (and safer). QuoteMuch less SAFE though. Safety is of course my first priority. But could you explain what's less save about flying a helmet with camera mount without camera? The helmet has the same shape as a multi-purpose helmet, only with a (quite small) flat area on the top and a integrated camera mount. In my (sky puppie) eyes, the mount won't increase the risk of line snags etc. or am I wrong? Daniël Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #12 March 4, 2012 QuoteQuoteHaving a helmet that doesn't have camera mounts on it will make that easier (and safer). QuoteMuch less SAFE though. Safety is of course my first priority. But could you explain what's less save about flying a helmet with camera mount without camera? The helmet has the same shape as a multi-purpose helmet, only with a (quite small) flat area on the top and a integrated camera mount. In my (sky puppie) eyes, the mount won't increase the risk of line snags etc. or am I wrong? Daniël It should be safe enough to jump until you start putting camera stuff on. A helmet without a camera but with quickrelease, ringsite, sidemount bracket and whatnot on it, isn't suitable anymore for non-camera jumps, although a lot of skydivers try to make that work anyway. That's why we say you will want a non-camera helmet later on anyway, so why not buy one now and get a camera helmet when you are ready to jump camera and know what you want. F.i. the helmet you list isn't that suitable for any "serious" camera flying, for a SLR + videocamera you want a rear-entry type helmet. You might want a fullface camera helmet. Whatever. Point is, right now you don't know, but you seem to be set on buying a more expensive helmet. Why get a camera helmet at all at this point..? ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danielskydiver 0 #13 March 4, 2012 Quote Why get a camera helmet at all at this point..? You've got a point there, and indeed this helmet isn't made for big photo/video setups, and I don't expect it to be. I just want to be able to jump a gopro (or similar small cam) safely; with the non-camera helmets, you are forced to use the standard gopro mounts, which I think aren't very save.. So the main point for me to buy a camera helmet is the flat top section, this allows me to install a bracket and mount the cam on a saver way. (correct me if i'm wrong) So all in all, I want a funjump helmet, with options to mount a gopro etc. on a save way.Here's an image of the helmet+bracket http://www.tonfly.com/res/site15975/res618219_new-2.jpg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dragon2 2 #14 March 4, 2012 You're missing my point. You're likely to save money plus be safer if you buy a helmet now that you will NOT be using as a camera helmet later on. Just get a plain open-face helmet without cutaway and other stuff on it. It doesn't need to be fancy if you don't want to spend the money, your choice. Then after you have a couple hundred jumps, see what the current trend and your need is for cameraflying at that time, and go buy a 2nd helmet that is camera-ready (i.e. has a cutaway, has a flat top or side, etc). Expect to pay a good deal more for a good camera helmet then you did for your first open-face helmet. When you get the 2nd helmet, keep your first helmet around for those jumps without camera and for tunnelflying. Like with jumpsuits, if you keep jumping you will likely end up with more than one helmet. Use each for that they're for, that will work better (and safer) than trying for an "all-in-one" approach that won't work. ciel bleu, Saskia Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
danielskydiver 0 #15 March 7, 2012 I've got your point now, I think we just disagree. Indeed it would save me some money if i'd buy a non-camera helmet. In this case it would save me about 100-150€ when i buy the Tonfly Performer or Speed instead. For that 100-150€, i'd rather want a helmet which is capable of flying camera. Even if I never going to fly one, it's still a good plain helmet. But when I want to try camera, or I only fly camera at some jumps, It's possible on a save way with the helmet without buying a new helmet right away. Like axelander said: QuoteIf you don't wanna jump the camera, untwist it from the mount, pop in a 2nd converter-thingie to cover the hole and you're ready to go - takes 2 seconds.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #16 March 7, 2012 You have 23 jumps in 2 years. You shouldn't even have the word "camera" in your head when thinking about gear. Any gear. Get the right helmet for you now. Not what you think you may want in 6 years (at your current rate).Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
